“Can You Win a Game When It Gets Ugly?” — Rusty Mansell’s Blunt Texas-Georgia Reality Check

Summary

Episode Summary: “Can You Win a Game When It Gets Ugly?” — Rusty Mansell’s Blunt Texas-Georgia Reality Check

Podcast: On Texas Football
Host: Bobby Burton
Guest: Rusty Mansell (DogsHQ, Georgia Analyst)
Date: July 21, 2026

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode examines the ongoing Texas-Georgia rivalry, the similarities and differences between their football programs, and what it takes to win tough, physical SEC games. Bobby Burton welcomes Rusty Mansell for a candid discussion about where Texas stands in relation to perennial powerhouse Georgia, the cultural and strategic adjustments Steve Sarkisian has made, and broader trends in SEC football. The conversation features direct comparisons, unfiltered takes on team toughness, NIL impact, and the ever-important quarterback position, all with a focus on what it takes to win "when it gets ugly."

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Georgia's Edge Over Texas in Recent Matchups

• Georgia currently holds a three-game win streak over Texas, including the SEC Championship two years ago.
• Finishing Games: Rusty points out that Georgia "has found ways to finish those games" even when momentum could swing either way.
  (00:57)
• The Bulldog's ability to seize and maintain momentum is likened to what Alabama has done to Georgia in the past.

2. Physicality: The Missing Piece for Texas

• Texas’s Image vs. Reality: Rusty gives a colorful analogy of Texas being like "that really good looking dude" who hasn’t "hit anybody in the mouth."
  • Notable quote:

    "He's got the baddest boat and all that. But he ain't been really hitting him out, you know what I mean?... he really put nobody down." — Rusty Mansell (01:44)

• Emphasizes the need for Texas to match Georgia's physical play, especially in the trenches and during the fourth quarter.
• Highlights the hiring of Will Muschamp as Texas’s move to address this physicality gap, aiming to import SEC toughness and know-how.
  • Notable quote:

    "For Texas, the next step... is to actually get in there and beef it out with some, um, four quarters." — Rusty Mansell (02:42)

3. Similarities Between Texas and Georgia

• Roster Comparison:
  • Rusty remarks that, physically, Texas now "looks like" Georgia and Ohio State — all have that “alien” 1% athlete look.
    • "I said, yep, that's what a team looks like… Georgia, Texas, Ohio State. They’re aliens… 1 percentile humans." — Rusty Mansell (03:44)
• Drawing on his sideline impressions, he sees no visual gap in size or athleticism between the top national programs.
• Coaching Mutual Respect: Discussion clarifies that despite outside narratives, there’s mutual respect between Sarkisian and Kirby Smart.
  • "I think there's a lot of respect there… Sark, offensively… your ass is ready to roll. He's gonna throw something different every time you play." — Rusty Mansell (04:28)

4. Georgia's 2026 Roster and Returning Talent

• Georgia boasts 16 returning starters, including a second-year starting quarterback, Gunner Stockton.
  • "The teams that have done well… the older teams with an experienced quarterback — both [Georgia and Texas] are going to walk into this season at least with that on the list." — Rusty Mansell (05:19)

5. Key Challengers in the SEC

• Lane Kiffin's Team:
  • Noted as assembled with heavy NIL spend ("$40 million roster"), with particular emphasis on the threat posed by star player Trinidad Chambers.
    • "The one player in the league… that would scare the piss out of me is Trinidad Chambers… this guy is a really damn good player." — Rusty Mansell (06:30)
• South Carolina:
  • Focus on quarterback Lenore Sellers as a potential difference-maker: “Lenore Sellers can freaking play… talent equalizer where they win a game they're not supposed to.” (08:00)
• Tennessee and Florida:
  • Tennessee’s season will depend on their quarterback choice and how their offense comes together.
  • Florida flagged as “scary good” but fragile due to lack of O-line depth.
    • "They lose one of those five guys… going to be in a pretty tough situation." — Rusty Mansell (09:47)

6. The NIL Arms Race

• Direct comparison of Georgia's NIL resources to those of Texas, Texas A&M, and Ohio State:
  • Rusty’s take: while Georgia may not outspend for high school recruits, they’re investing heavily in roster retention — players get paid to stay, not just sign.
    • Notable quote:

      "I know people are like, 'they bleed red, black.' No, they bleed green. Just that enough states like every other human… Kirby didn't pay to keep those kids?" — Rusty Mansell (11:52)

• Future Georgia challenge: decide whether to go into the portal for experienced players as roster turnover increases or trust young talent.
  • Notable quote:

    "Do I go into portal heavier than I've ever been or… trust my young kids and maybe have to roll the dice… When you get into portal heavy you gotta start spending." — Rusty Mansell (12:44)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "He ain't been really hitting him out, you know what I mean? … he really put nobody down."
  — Rusty Mansell on Texas’s perceived lack of physical edge (01:44)
• "That's what a team looks like… Georgia, Texas, Ohio State. All those… they're aliens, let's be honest."
  — Rusty Mansell on sideline impressions (03:44)
• "I think at times that was the difference between Georgia and Texas."
  — Rusty Mansell, on championship-level physicality (02:37)
• "The one player in the league… that would scare the piss out of me is Trinidad Chambers."
  — Rusty Mansell, on SEC threats outside of Georgia and Texas (06:30)
• "I know people are like, 'they bleed red, black.' No, they bleed green."
  — Rusty Mansell, on Georgia's NIL realities (11:52)
• "The teams that have done well… the older teams with an experienced quarterback…"
  — Rusty Mansell, on roster-building keys (05:19)

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Opening/Georgia’s Finishing Touch (00:30–01:26)
• Texas’s Physicality Questioned (01:39–02:56)
• Comparison of Programs’ Look and Talent (03:17–04:10)
• Coaching Respect: Sark vs Kirby (04:19–04:58)
• Georgia’s Returning Starters & QB Importance (05:07–05:38)
• Other SEC Threats: Ole Miss, South Carolina (05:48–08:01)
• Tennessee & Florida Deep Dives (09:05–10:13)
• NIL Impacts & Roster Strategy (11:52–12:59)

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Conclusion & Outlook

Both Georgia and Texas are built to compete at the championship level, but the big question is whether Texas can win the kind of physical, gritty games that define the SEC — especially in the fourth quarter. With new staff focused on toughness and established talent across the roster, Texas may be closing the gap. However, sustaining and elevating that culture, particularly in the high-stakes NIL era and amid heavy roster turnover, remains a real challenge for both programs.

Transcript

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[Host]

Welcome in on Texas football. We have a special guest with us, Rusty Manziel from Dogs hq. We're going to talk a little UGA football, but not just UGA football. I want to ask you guys your perception of Texas from the outside looking in. But let's start Georgia has owned Texas, let's be fair. Three in a row, including the SEC championship two years ago. What is it about Kirby Smart that that team seems to have that championship pedigree.

[Rusty Manziel]

You know, Georgia has faced the opposite side of Alabama and what's the commenting on there? And there's games. Alabama's found ways to finish those games. I think if you look at Georgia, Texas, Georgia has found ways to finish those games. There have been points where you know, obviously the game in Austin, I think Georgia pretty much seized that one early on. You take the SEC championship, you take the game last year, I think there were points of momentum that Georgia seized and closed them all. Where I've seen Alabama do that way against Georgia. So you know it is three and

[Host]

three in a row.

[Rusty Manziel]

But you know, there's been in all those games, honestly.

[Host]

Yeah. Well the question I had there for you is this, is it the offensive line? Because we feel like the Georgia offensive line has really been a big piece of it. The run game for Georgia has been more consistent than Texas's run game.

[Rusty Manziel]

Your your thoughts. You. You may go ahead and just get into the Texas. This will relate to that thought.

[Host]

Yeah, go for it.

[Rusty Manziel]

Give you oh, let's just dig into it. This is kind of my perception and I'll give you what I think's about to happen to Texas too. You know, I kind of relate Texas is that really good looking dude shows up beats with the best looking girl and he's abbed up. He's got the baddest boat and all that. But he ain't been really hitting him out, you know what I mean? He ain't hitting nobody in the mouth, you know what I mean? Like he, he's walking around but he really put Nobody down. You know what I mean?

[Host]

Okay.

[Rusty Manziel]

I think Texas hiring well must champ. They're looking for that knockout. Can we be physical? And I think at times, you know, people use that quote, do you want to get in the phone booth or Georgia, do you want to fight in small areas in between those tackles of physicality, those type of things? And I think at times that was the difference between Georgia and Texas. So what did Sargo do? He went and got somebody from the same tree. He went and got. Somebody knows exactly how Georgia does things, how they've done it in Alabama. You know, Kirby carried that Saban model over there for that physicality. And I think for Texas, the next step for Texas is to actually get in there and beef it out with some. I'm four quarters because athletically you're not going to outlet Texas, you're not. You're not going to look better coming off the bus. But can you win a game in the fourth quarter with physicality? And I do pay the world must chance to be piece of that puzzle for them.

[Host]

That's. That's interesting. I've got to ask you about this because we look at Georgia from our vantage point being, you know, primarily focused on Texas.

[Rusty Manziel]

Yeah.

[Host]

As a team that nobody looks better than. And frankly, Kirby Sport is that draft pick after draft pick on the offensive and defense up front. Yet you're saying you see something similar in Texas. Oh, yeah.

[Rusty Manziel]

Oh, go. No question. I still on the sideline. Two years in a row I'm seeing Texas. I've said this. The Georgia fans know this quote. When Georgia played Alabama in the national championship, I went to media date and I sat on our board that morning. I said, guys, I don't know who's going to win this game, but I promise you, Georgia don't look like Alabama. They don't. 1 through 85, they don't look like that. They still almost beat them, I think two years later when I saw them play in the SEC championship and I said, georgia look like them. They didn't beat them. They look like 20, 21 they beat them. And they look like. When I see Texas coming out, when I saw Texas walk that field analysis, they all had their suits on and their headphones and they walked the entire stadium. I'm standing right there early in Texas walk in. And I said, yep, that's what a team looks like. There's no question. I mean, they're all those. The Georgia, Texas, Ohio State. Although they're aliens, let's be honest. No, those are 1 percentile humans. Texas Looks like that.

[Host]

Now let me ask this Kirby, smart defensive guy. Steve Sarkeesian, offensive guy, Former. Former Nick Saban assistance.

[Rusty Manziel]

Yeah.

[Host]

What is there. Is there a little bit of a push and pull between those two? A little bit. You know what I.

[Rusty Manziel]

What I've heard feel pretty good about my source. They kind of liked each other.

[Host]

Okay.

[Rusty Manziel]

There's not. There's not.

[Host]

There's some coaches that probably ain't.

[Rusty Manziel]

They're very cutie on Tech. I think there's a lot of respect there. I think there's a lot of respect between Sark and Kirby. I think you kind of know, especially with Sark, offensively, your ass ready, Ready to roll. He's gonna throw something different. Every time you play, he's gonna throw something different. When I think for Kirby, you know, you gotta be ready and guys like that compete, you know, look for those challenges against each other. But I don't think. I know people probably want it that way, but I'll be honest with you. I think between Sark and Kirby, there's not a whole lot of, you know, I got a very mutual respect type relationship.

[Host]

Interesting. Yep. Another question for you. Just talk a little bit about Georgia. We know they graduate heavily, but they bring. They got Gunner stocking coming back. They've got a bunch of guys coming back.

[Rusty Manziel]

I think Georgia has the most returning stars. Anybody at the seat. I think they're. So I was telling some people this morning, I looked at a magazine. One magazine had them 15 return starters. One had 16. I consider 16. But I think Juan Gaston started last year.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Rusty Manziel]

So you got big off. Yeah. You got 16 return starters with a second year quarterback starting. So with that, you know, I'm not saying Georgia won the national championship, but I'm saying the teams that have done well and Texas is going to fit this mold, the older teams with an experienced quarterback, both teams are going to walk into the season at least with that on the list.

[Host]

I had Gene Chisak one earlier and he picked Georgia. When the SEC this year, who are you think are the teams that you're watching for other than Georgia and other

[Rusty Manziel]

than maybe Texas, when you take. If you take Georgia Tech out of equation, I think. And listen, I said this earlier. Lane Kiffin's gonna walk in earlier the week. He's gonna start talking about the process of building the pros to BS they spent now money.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Rusty Manziel]

They went and spent money to give him this roster. Is this a $40 million roster just like everybody else is? It's now money now. I will tell you that that quarterback has really good play. They got a, they, they will, they will to me be very interested in how they jail because Lane can call plays. He's in a place Matt Rudy is going to be nuts. I think the one player in the league, Bobby that scared would scare the piss out of me is Trinidad Chambers. Yeah, and I've seen it twice. And, and, and from the outside in, Georgia beat them the first time. They had to score 43 to beat him. Then you score 34 the second time and you get beat. I mean, this guy's, this guy is, is a really damn good player. I ain't going to be honest with you. I was rooting for him to lose that appeal so he can go on the NFL. Scott opened the fact that we're getting. I was like, come to Atlanta, we'll take you. Now I've seen enough.

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[Rusty Manziel]

You know, I, I agree with you

[Host]

because one of the things, that's one of the guys I've talked about because not only do you have him, you've got a guy that can really push through every play with Keyhorn. Lazy. Yes.

[Rusty Manziel]

Yeah, every play. And I think now, I think they carried a lot of momentum. I think that team was together, I think that team was united. We got a lot of turnover there. Yeah, Pete Golden's going to face an entire offseason. He had to deal with all that stuff off the field, not just coaching ball, he had to deal with everything. So where are they at? But I will tell you, the one player that I'm worried out of me is Trinidad.

[Host]

Now South Carolina is on a do or die mission right now with Lenora Sellers seeing a good. Another adult quarterback. Guy that's started multiple years is Marcel Reed, stm, Oklahoma with John Madeir.

[Rusty Manziel]

I think defense talks about, Fred talks about them. Y' all understand with Venables, it's such a, it's not just SSC anymore. It's such a quarterback driven college football. You got to have a guy that can win games in the fourth quarter. I say that about Gunner Stockton? Gunner Stockton had a great year. Now let's dissect him a little bit. You start talking about the Texas game in Athens. Ole Miss in Athens. If Georgia gets that Gunner Stockton, they're going to be a very deep problem. They're going to be a problem all the way to him. If they get the Georgia Tech game, if they get really the Alabama going to run the ball, you know, I mean like you need him to be that guy. John Mateer is a key there. I think Lenore Sellers, I really think the fit or Kendall Brown is going to be good for South Carolina. I don't know what they're going to do after him, but I'm telling you, Lenore Sellers can freaking play. They put some pieces around him. They don't have a ton of depth. They got Dylan Stewart, who's a damn animal off the edge. Got some good offensive linemen. They brought him. They got up schedule. If they went four and eight last year, they were to get the eight wins, it'd be helping them. Lore Sellers can be another guy as a kind of talent equalizer where they win a game they're not supposed to.

[Host]

I mean, what do you think about two other teams? Georgia and Florida? Actually Florida and Tennessee.

[Rusty Manziel]

Tennessee, man. We obviously, because it's such a quarterback driven offense, I don't know what they're going to do there. You know, I mean if they start the freshman, they might just say if he beats out George McIntyre and you go with Faison, then maybe you're like, okay. But I think this for Florida, Florida scary good now. It's a new system, it's a new coach. I like to hire a Buster Faulkner. I think it's going to wind up being Aaron Filo. I really do. Oh, they got Eric Singleton, they got Jaden Pott, they got a freaking running back. They're really good on defense. The question there is going to be, they have little to no depth of line. They lose one of those five guys. What I heard they're going to be in a pretty tough situation with their schedule. But I really do feel out of these new coaches obviously going to start little lane because they're rostered. But out of all these new guys, I think some are all. And I've had some guys that went to their practices and they're like, tell you something, those SP wide receivers, they got and freaking go. And I know Eric Single. I don't know what the hell was on Auburn with Camp Goldman and Eric Singleton. Everybody's gonna find out.

[Host]

Everybody runs a go route.

[Rusty Manziel]

But I guarantee you free Terry Singleton can go.

[Host]

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[Rusty Manziel]

It's a great question and I'll tell you this. I don't know the exact numbers but if you were to look at Texas's roster, Texas A and M's roster and you look at Georgia's roster, the guys that are playing, I bet you Georgia's very close. What they're spending on the rosters, I'm not sure Kirby's paying as much right now with a high school kids but you talking about roster retention. That's why they didn't players didn't lead. And I know people are like they bleed red, black. No, they bleed green. Just that enough states like every other human. You know, I mean they've got agents.

[Host]

So.

[Rusty Manziel]

So I mean you think Kirby didn't pay to keep those kids. There's a lot of guys that probably all of us shot people anywhere in the country and redoing their deals and so. So he might get a little bit of a discount. George is spend it. But here's a big question too. We'll revisit this too a lot. George is going to lose a lot of experience. The question is going to be for Kirby Smart in December. Do I go into portal heavier than I've ever been or do I trust my young kids and maybe have to roll the dice and say these kids are ready to play or go. You know what? I don't know if this gets. We got to go out and get. And when you get into portal heavy you gotta start spending.

[Host]

Yeah. I'll be blunt. I mean Texas to have the same situation. Texas looks like they could have 12, 13, 14 guys drafted off the team. If that's the case, we're both going to find it. Yeah, I mean exactly. Could be that.