Georgia
Oklahoma
ATHENS, Ga. (09/24/2026) — The Georgia Bulldogs beat the Oklahoma Sooners 41-13 on Thursday night at Sanford Stadium in front of 93,033 fans. Georgia gained only 10 more yards than Oklahoma, but it won the turnover battle and turned its chances into points. Oklahoma controlled the ball for longer, and Georgia still won by 28.
The Bulldogs finished with 306 total yards to the Sooners' 296. Georgia converted that small edge into a 41-point night by winning the takeaway battle and getting two touchdowns from Chauncey Bowens and 11 points from kicker Peyton Woodring.
How It Happened
The box score shows two very different ways of playing. Oklahoma moved the ball through the air. The Sooners completed 25 of 34 passes for 231 yards, earned 16 first downs to Georgia's 12, and held the ball for 35:27. Georgia had it for just 24:33.
The Sooners' efficiency didn't produce points. Oklahoma ran for only 65 yards, which left the offense leaning heavily on its passing game. The Sooners converted just two third downs. Too many long possessions ended without a touchdown.
Georgia was more balanced and much more productive per snap. The Bulldogs ran for 129 yards and threw for 177 on 15-of-27 passing. Georgia needed fewer plays and fewer first downs to put points on the board, and 41 points from 306 yards shows how well the Bulldogs finished their drives.
Oklahoma's scoring came from quarterback John Mateer, who accounted for two touchdowns. Tate Sandell added an extra point to make up the Sooners' 13 points.
Both defenses got to the quarterback. Raylen Wilson recorded a sack for Georgia, and Jayden Jackson had one for Oklahoma.
Turning Point
Turnovers decided the game. Oklahoma gave the ball away four times and Georgia twice, so the Bulldogs finished plus-two in turnover margin. On a night when the Sooners had more first downs and nearly 11 more minutes of possession, those extra giveaways cancelled out the work Oklahoma did between the 20s.
In a game with nearly even yardage, the gap in turnovers explains most of the gap on the scoreboard. Georgia had fewer drives and used them better. Oklahoma kept losing possessions before they could produce points.
Star of the Game
Chauncey Bowens, Georgia — Bowens scored two touchdowns and led a Georgia rushing attack that outgained Oklahoma 129 to 65 on the ground. That run game gave the Bulldogs the balance the Sooners lacked, and his two scores were a large part of Georgia's 41 points.
Peyton Woodring also deserves credit. The Georgia kicker accounted for 11 points, and his steady contributions helped the Bulldogs pull away from the Sooners.
What It Means
For Georgia, the win over a conference opponent showed what the Bulldogs can do without dominating the stat sheet. They had fewer first downs, less time of possession and only slightly more total yards, and still won by four touchdowns. They did it with takeaways, a better running game and efficient scoring, which gives Georgia a formula for tough SEC games.
The game also leaves the Bulldogs with things to work on. A 15-of-27 passing night and two turnovers of their own show where Georgia can still get sharper as the conference schedule goes on.
For Oklahoma, the loss had positives buried in a lopsided final. The Sooners completed 73.5 percent of their passes, won the time-of-possession battle comfortably and earned more first downs than Georgia in a hostile road environment. Mateer's two touchdowns kept the offense on the board.
Oklahoma's priorities are clear, though. The Sooners have to protect the football, and they need more from a running game that produced only 65 yards. They also have to turn long drives into touchdowns more often. Fixing the turnovers alone would change the outlook for Oklahoma's upcoming SEC games.
Georgia leaves Thursday night with a decisive home conference win. Oklahoma leaves Athens with a clear list of corrections to make.
