Prior to this season, Georgia football had played only one true road game in a matchup of top 5 teams in its program history.

Now it has its second in three weeks when the No. 4 Bulldogs visit Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium to take on the top-ranked Texas Longhorns.

Georgia-Texas gets the national spotlight Saturday night in Austin — a second act to a memorable Georgia-Alabama tilt in Tuscaloosa that had twists and turns in a 41-34 Bulldog loss.

Before then, only one other game in the long, storied history of the Bulldogs program was a top 5 road matchup: Georgia-Alabama in 2020.

“Obviously a huge matchup,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “The most complete team that we've seen or faced this year and probably in multiple years when you look at what they're doing defensively, offensively and special teams.”

This is the first time Georgia’s ever played a No. 1 team in an opponent’s home stadium. Georgia saw a 16-game regular season road winning streak snapped at Alabama.

“I know the moment won’t be too big for them coming to DKR,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Having said that, we need DKR to be rocking.”

Georgia played a top-ranked Florida in what’s considered a neutral site in Jacksonville in 1985, 1996 and 2009.

The Bulldogs were No. 1 in the coaches poll when it was overwhelmed against No. 4 Alabama, falling into a 28-0 hole.

Was it a matter of being tight or anxiety getting the best of the Bulldogs?

“I don’t like to look back in the past too much,” safety Dan Jackson said. “Throughout the week, when we put in the work on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, especially our work days, we should be able to cut it loose on Saturdays. That’s what I expect for this weekend.”

Georgia’s offense has scored a combined 16 first-half points total away from Sanford Stadium this season including a 13-12 win at Kentucky.

Running back Trevor Etienne said Georgia needs to “start faster and eliminate the turnovers.”

The Bulldogs fell behind 28-0 at Alabama during a first half when Carson Beck threw a pair of interceptions.

“Playing on the road in this league is hard,” Etienne said. “It’s hard to get a win.”

As of Tuesday, Georgia remained a 3 ½ point underdog, according to BetMGM.

“I don’t personally believe that we’re ever an underdog,” Jackson said.

Texas is hosting a top 5 game for just the third time in program history and first since No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 2 Texas 24-7 in 2006.

“We try to go into every week without anything changing with how we approach games, but we’re human beings, we understand there’s two really good teams coming together," Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers told reporters.

“I know it’s going to be electric,” Etienne said. “They’re undefeated this season. A huge fan base. Just expecting it to be a crazy atmosphere really.”

Georgia will be the first team to have multiple AP top 5 road matchups in the same season since Florida in 1996, according to a post on X by the SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic.

“I want them to play their best game against Texas,” Smart said. “Simply stated, we have not played our best game, we have not put a complete game together and that's what every coach’s goal is, which is to play your best game moving forward. That's what's going to be needed to go on the road at Texas and play. We have to play better and that's the only goal I'm thinking about right now is how we play this week.”

Austin hotel rooms are in high demand with an F1 race in town over the weekend. College GameDay will also be on site.

“It’s going to be a crazy weekend in Austin," Texas tight end Gunnar Helm told reporters. "Our job is to focus on the task at hand and not get caught up with the GameDay and the F1 and the different buzz going around Austin. Our job is to go in there with a clear mind, comfortable at home and do our best to beat Georiga.”

Georgia already has played two top 15 opponents this season after playing 15 in the previous three seasons.

“One thing my coaches have always told me, it’s a big game because we’re in it,” Jackson said. “That’s kind of how we’re looking at it, too.”

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football wants better showing in 'electric' road game at Texas