Georgia · SECSmart praises Oklahoma defense before Georgia matchup
The Sooners have allowed 23 points in three games, while Isaiah Sategna and John Mateer give Georgia two threats to contain on Sept. 26.
SEP 25, 2026
Points Oklahoma has allowed through three games
Isaiah Sategna’s production through three games
John Mateer’s passing production through three games
01 · The NewsSmart Warns Georgia Not to Sleep on Oklahoma
Kirby Smart praised Oklahoma’s aggressive defense and singled out Isaiah Sategna and John Mateer ahead of Georgia’s Sept. 26 home game, warning against treating the Sooners’ uneven offense as a routine SEC test.
“Very fundamentally sound, aggressive, attacking,” Smart said. “They lead the country, or tops in the country every year in tackles for a loss and sacks. I don't think people give their coaches and their kids enough credit for how they play.”
Sategna gives Oklahoma another way to change a possession. He has 12 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns through three games, and Smart said the Sooners use schemes and designed touches to get him the ball. His return ability adds another concern for Georgia.
“They find schemes, find ways to get him touches,” Smart said. “He has to touch the ball to be explosive, and they've done a good job with that. You look at the history at what he's been able to do in the return game and being able to touch the ball. He is a very good playmaker.”
Mateer has 652 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. The passing production has been uneven, but his legs give Oklahoma a second off-schedule threat when Georgia’s defense closes the original play.
“Obviously his athleticism pops out at you,” Smart said. “He's hard to tackle. He breaks a lot of tackles. He's tough. You talk about the run game. He runs inside. He runs outside. He runs to pass. He scrambles to throw. He's made explosives with his legs.”
02 · The StakesWhy It Matters
The matchup may turn less on whether Oklahoma can score 30 than on whether Georgia can stay on schedule against Venables’ front. Smart also credited Oklahoma’s coach, saying he has “the utmost respect” for Venables and calling him one of college football’s premier defensive coaches.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Oklahoma’s defensive résumé is about to meet a scoring scale it has not seen. Georgia has scored 178 points in three games, including 45 at Arkansas, while the Sooners surrendered 23 total against UTEP, Michigan and New Mexico. That makes Sept. 26 more than another test of Mateer’s offense: It is the first direct stress test of the defense keeping Oklahoma afloat. A win would preserve Georgia’s unbeaten start before the Oct. 10 trip to Alabama and support Josh Pate’s preseason projection of Georgia as the No. 1 seed and national champion.
“Very fundamentally sound, aggressive, attacking”
Kirby Smart04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Can Oklahoma’s defense keep Georgia from scoring at its usual pace?
Georgia has averaged more than 59 points across three wins, a sharp jump from the offenses Oklahoma faced while allowing 23 points. The Sept. 26 final score will show whether Venables’ unit can hold up at that level; Georgia’s point total and early-down success will be the clearest tells before Oklahoma meets Texas on Oct. 10.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Georgia stay on schedule?
Watch whether Oklahoma’s aggressive front disrupts Georgia before the Bulldogs can sustain possessions.
Do Sategna and Mateer create explosives?
Track Sategna’s touches and Mateer’s off-schedule runs when Georgia closes the original play.