Georgia-Tennessee most compelling college football matchup this weekend

There are three Top 25 matchups that will put the winner in a strong position in the early jockeying for College Football Playoff spots. 

Can No. 15 Tennessee beat No. 6 Georgia for the first time in nine meetings?

Can No. 18 South Florida, which visits No. 5 Miami, extend its early season magic with a third straight win over a ranked opponent?

Can No. 8 Notre Dame, which hosts No. 16 Texas A&M, avoid an 0-2 start? No team has lost its first two games and made the playoff.

In Knoxville, QBs Gunner Stockton and Joey Aguilar make their first starts in an SEC game.

Georgia’s Stockton has been solid, but he hasn’t faced a strong defense yet and injuries on the offensive line are a concern. Aguilar has been a revelation as Nico Iamaleava’s replacement, but he can’t do it alone. He will need the Vols ground game to take pressure off him, a big ask against the Bulldogs.

The Volunteers have come within two touchdowns of Georgia only twice during their current 0-8 series skid.

Elsewhere, the early Heisman Trophy watch is already underway at LSU, Oklahoma and South Carolina.

Oklahoma’s John Mateer made a grand entrance into the Heisman race with his performance in a 24-13 win over Michigan. He’s considered to be just a shade behind LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier for trophy consideration.

Mateer threw for 270 yards and a touchdown and ran 19 times for 74 yards and two scores against the Wolverines and is second in the nation in total offense at 380.8 yards per game. Mateer’s 662 yards through the air are the second most by an OU quarterback through the first two games of a career since Josh Heupel had 773 in 1999.

Nussmeier will be in a spotlight game Satuday when No. 3 LSU hosts Florida. Mateer and the No. 13 Sooners visit Temple. No. 11 South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers plays against Vanderbilt at home.



(AP Photo George Walker IV)