re: If Texas never beaten Georgia, would they still be getting all this preseason hype?

I think you had a deflated GA versus a Texas team that wanted to make a statement.

That does not take anything away from the Texas win, nor does it excuse the GA performance, but it does provide context.

And you nailed it about the winning team does not always equal the best team. Texas was the best team on the field that day won that day. That however, does not make them a better team.

Troy was not better than LSU or Nebraska.
Old Dominion was not better than VA Tech.

But if anything, the teams that win that day deserve even more credit because they wanted it more on those days.