This Saturday, college football will take the spotlight in Austin, Texas, as the No. 1 Longhorns (6-0) host the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (5-1) in a highly anticipated SEC matchup.
Injuries continue to impact Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs as they enter Week 8. Last week, Georgia played without former five-star linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., who led the team in tackles in 2022 and was second in 2023, during their 41-31 victory over Mississippi State.
The senior linebacker has been sidelined for the last two games due to a foot injury, a recurring issue that kept him out last season as well. After undergoing surgery in the offseason, he returned for fall camp but aggravated the injury in late September, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports. Mondon has not played since Georgia’s 41-34 loss to Alabama on September 28 and is unlikely to participate in Saturday’s game in Austin.
Last season, Mondon earned second-team All-SEC honors, tallying 68 tackles and three sacks. His absence will be felt by Georgia, but the team has successfully recruited talented players for the position. Blue-chip sophomores CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson both have significant experience, while five-star true freshman Chris Cole has seen an increase in playing time with Mondon out.
Additionally, Georgia will be without redshirt sophomore running back Branson Robinson, the team’s third-leading rusher. The former four-star prospect left the Mississippi State game with an MCL injury, and his return timeline is uncertain. The Bulldogs will rely on starter Trevor Etienne, true freshman Nate Frazier, and walk-on junior Cash Jones in the backfield.
The Texas-Georgia game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox, with the Longhorns favored by 3.5 points according to ESPN Bet.
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