UGA Football: Everything You Need to Know About the National Championship Game Between Georgia and TCU

Top-ranked Georgia enters the CFP National Championship Game with a 14-0 mark following its 42-41 victory over No. 4 Ohio State at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta. The Bulldogs are aiming to become the first team in the CFP era to win back-to-back national championships. A year ago, Georgia was seeded No. 3 and beat No. 2 Michigan 34-11 in a semifinal and then No. 1 Alabama 33-18 for the championship. Also, the Bulldogs will be looking to become just the third FBS team in the modern era to cap a perfect 15-0 season with a national title as Clemson did it in 2018 and then LSU in 2019 when it beat the Tigers.

Georgia has won 16 straight games going back to last season’s CFP semifinal/Capital One Orange Bowl win over Michigan. The school record is 17 in a row set from 1945-47. The Bulldogs are now 4-1 in the CFP in Kirby Smart‘s seventh season at the helm. In just his second season in 2017, the Bulldogs reached the CFP and won a thrilling semifinal over No. 2 Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl Game (54-48 in double overtime). Then, the Bulldogs were stunned by No. 4 Alabama 26-23 in overtime in Atlanta to miss out on a crown. Georgia has won three consensus national championships in its history, claiming the title in 1942, 1980 and 2021.

Georgia owns a 4-0 advantage against TCU with a pair of wins in bowl games and two during the regular season in Athens. The most recent meeting came in the 2016 Liberty Bowl to wrap up Kirby Smart‘s first season at the helm. Georgia posted a 31-23 win in Memphis. Before that, Georgia claimed a pair of victories during the Vince Dooley era, winning 38-10 in Athens in game two of the 1988 season and 34-3 in Athens in game four of the 1980 national championship season. The first meeting with TCU came in the 1942 Orange Bowl in Miami, a 40-26 Bulldog triumph.

The victory gave Georgia a 9-1-1 season under Wallace Butts and with a team that featured All-America halfback Frank Sinkwich, who played most of the year with a broken jaw. His performance in the Orange Bowl is still considered by many as one of the best in the postseason. He accounted for 382 yards of total offense (139 rushing, 9-for-13 passing for 243 yards and 3 TDs). Sinkwich would become Georgia’s first Heisman Trophy winner the next season.

After capturing the SEC Championship with a 50-30 win over No. 14 LSU in Atlanta on Dec. 3, Georgia erased a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to top No. 4 Ohio State in the CFP Semifinal. The Bulldog senior class has established a school record for most career victories with a 48-5 mark. That mark included just nine regular season games and a bowl triumph during the COVID-shortened season of 2020. The 2021 Bulldog class that finished their career as national champions tallied a 45-8 mark.

The 2022 season marks the first time Georgia has started a season 14-0. The Bulldogs have tied the school record for wins in a season with 14 after Kirby Smart‘s squad also accomplished the feat in 2021 en route to a 14-1 season and its first national championship in 41 years.

*2-4 (includes 2017-19, ’21, ’22 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game; ~Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl; !CFP National Championship

Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18); Daijun Edwards AU (10/8/22)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D’Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 401, JT Daniels MSU (11/21/20)
Passing TDs: 5, Stetson Bennett UAB (9/11/21)
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton MSU (11/21/20)
Receiving TDs: 2, by 7 different Bulldogs multiple times
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to Brock Bowers UAB (9/11/21)
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF (11/7/20)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16); Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21)
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari #7 AU (10/3/20); Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT(11/13/21)

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has registered 27 scores on defense and special teams. The Dogs are 24-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This year, the Bulldogs have had a safety on a blocked punt versus Kent State and Chris Smith ran a blocked field goal back 96 yards for a touchdown versus No. 14 LSU. In 2021, Georgia had six of these scores: Smith’s 74-yd INT return (#3 CU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 20-yd INT return (UAB); Safety (SC); Zamir White 0-yd return of blocked punt (#8 ARK); Nakobe Dean’s 50-yd INT return (UF); Safety (UM); Kelee Ringo’s 79-yd INT return (UA-2).

2016: 12 points in 2 games (KOR, PR); 2017: none; 2018: 12 points in 2 games (PR, Blocked Punt Ret.); 2019: none; 2020: none; 2021: 8 points in 2 games (Blocked Punt Ret.; Safety/Blocked Punt); 2022: 8 points in 2 games (Safety/Blocked Punt; Blocked FG Ret.)
Longest PR For a TD: 82 yards by Isaiah McKenzie vs. Louisiana, 2016
Longest Blocked PR For a TD: 8 yards by Eric Stokes @ Missouri, 2018
Longest KOR For a TD: 43 yards by Terry Godwin @ South Carolina, 2016

Kirby Smart is one of 12 Power 5 head coaches who are leading their alma maters.

The other 11 are: Tom Allen (Indiana, 7th), Mario Cristobal, (Miami-Fla., 1st), Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern, 17th), Mickey Joseph (interim Nebraska, 1st), Mike Gundy (Okla. St., 18th), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan, 8th), Brent Key (interim Ga. Tech 1st), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt, 2nd), Jim Leonhard (interim Wisconsin, 1st) David Shaw (Stanford, 12th) and Jonathan Smith (Oregon St., 5th).

Offensive Coordinator – Quarterbacks Coach – Todd Monken
Fain & Billy Slaughter Co-Defensive Coordinator – Inside Linebackers – Glenn Schumann
Co-Defensive Coordinator – Will Muschamp
Passing Game Coordinator – Wide Receivers – Bryan McClendon
Run Game Coordinator – Running Backs – Dell McGee
Defensive Backs Coach – Fran Brown
Assistant Coach – Tight Ends – Todd Hartley
Offensive Line Coach – Stacy Searels
Assistant Coach – Defensive Line – Tray Scott
Assistant Coach – Outside Linebackers – Chidera Uzo-Diribe

The Bulldogs will feature four new on the field coaches. Bryan McClendon, who won an SEC title with Georgia as a receiver in 2005, returns as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He most recently held the same spot for Oregon from 2020-21. McClendon was a graduate assistant at UGA in 2007-08 and was the running backs coach from 2009-15. Stacy Searels will be Georgia’s new offensive line coach after serving in the same role for the Bulldogs from 2007-10. He has most recently been North Carolina’s OL coach for the last three years. Another pair of coaches will join UGA for the first time in their careers. Fran Brown was named the defensive backs coach after serving as the secondary coach at Rutgers. Chidera Uzo-Diribe is the Bulldogs’ new outside linebackers coach following a stint in the same position at Texas Christian University.

{100 Points on 15 TDs, 5 Safeties}
2016: 14 points in three different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret., Safety)
2017: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)
2018: 12 points in two different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret.)
2019: 18 points in three different games (2 Fumble Ret., 1 Fumble Rec.)
2020: 22 points in four different games (2 Pick-Sixes 1 Fumble Ret., 2 Safeties)
2021: 28 points in six different games (4 Pick-Sixes, 2 Safeties)
2022: none
Longest Pick-Six: 79 yards by Kelee Ringo vs. #1 Alabama, 2022 CFP National Championship
Longest Fumble Ret. For a TD: 64 yards by Tyson Campbell @ Missouri, 2018

Georgia leads the nation with an 84 percent conversion rate on fourth down (12-for-14). The most recent try came against #4 Ohio State in the CFP Semifinal. The Bulldogs were trailing 38-24 in the fourth quarter and Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the OSU 13 yard line. The Bulldogs have a pair of touchdowns on fourth down this year (Kent State, Georgia Tech).

The Bulldogs are third nationally with 39 rushing touchdowns (The school record is 42 set in 2017). Eight different Bulldogs have scored a rushing TD this year. Senior RB Kenny McIntosh has a team-leading 10. He had 182 all-purpose yards in the win over Tech. Georgia is averaging 201.9 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. In the Bulldogs’ victory over No. 14 LSU in the SECCG, junior RB Kendall Milton went for a career-high 113 yards on only eight carries (14.1 avg.) as Georgia torched the Tigers for 255 on the ground.

Georgia’s offensive line features C Sedrick Van Pran (29 consecutive starts), RT Warren McClendon (team high 37 consecutive starts ended in CFP Semifinal due to knee injury) and RG Tate Ratledge (made 13 of the 14 starts this season) along with LT Broderick Jones (14 consecutive starts) . LG Xavier Truss (started 13 of the 14 games) missed the game versus No. 1 Tennessee due to a toe injury. RSo. Devin Willock got his first career start against the Vols for Truss and then started for Ratledge at Kentucky. The unit was a Joe Moore Award finalist in recognition of being one of the country’s top offensive lines. The versatile Warren Ericson (17 career starts) relieved an injured Ratledge for the final 14 games of 2021. He can play all five spots along the line. Amarius Mims is lining up at either tackle position, including making his first career start against #4 Ohio State. They have helped Georgia pile up 39.4 points/game and 494.9 yards/game thus far.

Georgia ran for a season-high 292 yards and six touchdowns in their 42-10 win over Auburn. The Bulldogs averaged 7.5 yards/carry against the Tigers. Georgia’s rushing tally versus Auburn was the most since 2020 against Missouri (316). The six rushing scores were the most for Georgia since the 2018 contest versus UMass.

Senior PK Jack Podlesny is tied for the SEC lead and fourth nationally in Scoring (140, 10.0 points/ game). Podlesny has made 60 of 73 field goal attempts in his career (82.2 percent) and drilled 174 of 175 PATs. This season, he is 25-of-30 on field goals and a perfect 65-for-65 on PATs. Podlesny’s 354 points ranks fifth best in school history. This season, he is handling kickoffs too and has 67 touchbacks out of 99 kickoffs. Podlesny tallied 13 points, including 3-for-3 on field goals with a season-long 50 yarder versus Georgia Tech. During the 33-0 win over Samford, he scored a career-high 15 points, which was the most for a Bulldog since All-American Rodrigo Blankenship scored 17 against Missouri in 2017. Podlesny was 4-of-5 on field goals versus Samford and hit all three of his PATs. Podlesny was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-for-3 on FGs and hitting all four of his PATs versus KSU and repeated with the honor a week later at Missouri.

Freshman P Brett Thorson, a native of Australia, had a season-long punt of 75 yards versus No. 1 Tennessee. This tied for the 10th longest in school history and tied for the longest since 2009. Thorson’s 75 yarder went out of bounds at the Vols’ 1 yard line. In the win over Auburn, he punted five times for a 41.4 avg. and all five were inside the 20. He has averaged 44.9 this season. The Bulldogs did not punt versus KSU, and that was the first time since the 2018 UMass game. The Georgia snappers return in senior Payne Walker (FGs/PATs) and junior William Mote (punts).

Senior Stetson Bennett, a native of Blackshear, Ga., began his career with the Bulldogs as a walk-on in 2017 when he was redshirted. Bennett transferred to Jones College (Miss.) where he started in 2018 and then returned to the Bulldogs on scholarship in 2019. He saw action that season in five games including throwing passes in four of them. In 2020, he started five games and then got the nod in the final 11 contests of the 2021 national championship season and has started every game in 2022.

The first week of December this year was a monumental one for Bennett, who led Georgia to the SEC Championship on Dec. 3. Not long before he was named the winner of the Burlsworth Trophy (awarded annually to the most outstanding college player who began his career as a walk-on) on Dec. 5, the news was announced that he was one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy. Bennett is the third Heisman finalist invited to New York joining 1982 Heisman winner Herschel Walker and 1992 running back Garrison Hearst. In addition to Walker, Georgia’s other Heisman winner was 1942 quarterback Frank Sinkwich.

In his Bulldog career, Bennett has won a national championship and an SEC title and is 28-3 as a starter. He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes (583-for-898, 8,124 yards, 62 TDs, 21 INTs).

Most recently, Bennett earned CFP Semifinal Offensive MVP honors in winning a shootout over #4 Ohio State. He was 23-for-34 with 398 yards and three touchdowns. Georgia erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and Bennett directed a 72-yard game winning touchdown drive that finished with a TD pass with :54 left.

In school history, Georgia is 3-5 all-time against the No. 1 team and Bennett is 2-0. He led Georgia to a victory over No. 1 Alabama in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game and then against top-ranked Tennessee this season.

Bennett also earned MVP honors at the 2022 SEC Championship Game going 23-for-29 for 274 yards, and threw four touchdown passes against No. 14 LSU.

After falling behind for only the second time this season (No. 1 Tennessee 3-0, 10:05 1stQ), Bennett directed an 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped by his 13-yard scamper to the pylon. The Bulldogs would never trail again against the Vols.

Bennett took off for a career-long 64-yard touchdown run during the win over Auburn, giving the Bulldogs a 28-3 edge at the start of the fourth quarter. His scoring scamper was the longest for a Georgia QB since 1976 when Ray Goff flew 73 yards in a 41-0 win at Clemson.

Bennett and Tim Tebow (four) are the only two SEC players since 2004 to have at least four consecutive games with 250 passing yards and one rushing score. Bennett owns the school record for having at least 250 passing yards and at least one rushing score in five games overall during a season.

Bennett earned Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week and Manning Award National QB of the Week honors while leading No. 3 Georgia to a 49-3 rout of No. 11 Oregon in this season’s opener. He directed the Bulldogs to seven touchdowns on their first seven drives and finished 25 of 31 for a career-high 368 yards and two touchdowns. Bennett also had a 1-yard rushing score against the Ducks. Bennett’s 368 passing yards in the win was the most in a season opener by a Bulldog since 1994 when Eric Zeier tallied 485 yards in a road win over South Carolina.

He ranked fourth nationally in Passing Efficiency (176.7) last year, which broke the school record in that category previously belonging to Aaron Murray (174.8, 2012).

Bennett helped Georgia complete historic 8-0 SEC regular seasons in 2021 and 2022.

During the CFP National Championship Game versus No. 1 Alabama, Bennett finished 17-for-26 passing with 224 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Trailing 18- 13 with 10:14 left in the game, Bennett directed a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive that gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead at the 8:09 mark (a two-point conversion failed). Georgia never relinquished its lead to collect its first national championship in 41 years. Bennett was named the game’s Offensive MVP as was the case in the CFP Semifinal Orange Bowl victory over Michigan.

*Ties school record

Stetson Bennett Rushing (UGA Career – 41 games)

The 2022 Georgia Bulldogs are on pace to have one of their finest seasons statistically on offense and defense. *Led NCAA

Georgia is averaging 39.4 points/game, which is ninth nationally. In the SEC Championship Game victory over #14 LSU, the Bulldogs scored 50 points with 549 yards of offense to help capture the program’s 14th SEC title. One game later, Georgia won the CFP Semifinal over #4 Ohio State 42-41 with 533 yards.

The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 551-207 this season, including 303-98 in the opening half.

The Bulldogs are 75 of 77 in the Red Zone (a national leading 97 percent) this year with 52 touchdowns and 23 field goals.

In the win over #4 Ohio State, redshirt sophomore Arian Smith had career highs of three catches for 129 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown catch. Sophomore AD Mitchell had three catches for 43 yards during a performance that included the eventual game-winning score with :54 left. He has been limited to just five games this year due to an ankle injury.

Georgia jumped out to a 24-6 halftime lead on 306 total yards versus No. 1 Tennessee and eventually posted a 27-13 victory.

Georgia’s offense generated 49 points against No. 11 Oregon in the 2022 season opener. The Bulldogs tallied 571 yards of offense on 62 plays, scoring touchdowns on their first seven possessions. Georgia had a season-high 579 yards of offense vs Vandy.

Redshirt sophomore Ladd McConkey is second on the team with 53 catches for 674 yards (12.7 avg.) and five scores. He had a career-long 70-yard touchdown run at Mississippi State. McConkey is also the primary punt returner with 16 for 197 yards, including a career-long 39 yarder versus Georgia Tech.

Georgia’s tight end room features All-American and 2022 Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers, junior Darnell Washington and freshman Oscar Delp. Bowers was also the 2021 National Freshman of the Year.

Bowers, who was also a Rotary Lombardi Award finalist, is the team’s leader with 56 catches (ties his school record mark by a UGA TE) for a team high 790 yards and six TDs while Washington has 27 for 426 yards and two scores. Bowers posted a career high 154 yards on five catches in the win over Florida.

Bowers is the only player in the country this season with a rushing TD of at least 75 yards and a receiving TD of at least 75 yards.

Twice in his career Bowers has had two receiving scores and a rushing score in the same game. He did it during the road win at South Carolina and also at Vanderbilt last year. He finished with five catches for 121 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown against the Gamecocks.

Bowers has had six 100-yard receiving games in his career; three of his career TD catches have covered 75+ yards; his first career TD catch covered 89 yards against UAB.

Washington has started 13 of 14 games this year and has been a team captain twice. He caught his third TD of the season versus No. 14 LSU in the SEC Championship Game and also had a two-point conversion grab against the Tigers.

Georgia’s veterans in the backfield are senior Kenny McIntosh and juniors Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.

After a career-high 143 yards and a touchdown at Kentucky, McIntosh became the leading rusher. He has 779 yards and a team-leading 10 touchdowns. McIntosh scored a touchdown both rushing and receiving for the first time in his career against Vanderbilt. He had nine catches for 117 yards (both career highs) to go along with five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown during the rout of No. 11 Oregon.

Edwards ranks second on the team with 739 yards for a 5.5 average and has seven touchdowns. During the win over Auburn, he became the first Bulldog RB since Sony Michel in the 2018 Rose Bowl Game to have three rushing TDs in a game.

Edwards provided the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter of the 26-22 win at Missouri on a one-yard rush.

Milton scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown against No. 11 Oregon for the first time in his career. During the SECCG, Milton went for a career-high 113 yards on only eight carries (14. 1 avg.) to highlight a 255-yard rushing day for Georgia. For the year, he has 559 rushing yards and seven TDs.

The Bulldogs rank fifth nationally in Scoring Defense, giving up just 14.8 points per contest. The defense has posted 26 scoreless quarters, including holding five teams scoreless in the opening half this year.

Georgia has held six teams to a season low in points, including No. 1 Tennessee (13) and No. 11 Oregon (3).

After missing time with a knee injury, junior DL Jalen Carter, a Lombardi Award finalist, has been a force. In the last seven games, he has accounted for 25 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, three sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.

Georgia shut down No. 1 Tennessee to the tune of 13 points after the Vols came in averaging a national best 49.4 points per contest. The 13 points was the lowest scored under head coach Josh Heupel. The Vols did not get a touchdown until 4:15 left in the contest. UT was just 2-of-14 on third downs (14 percent).

Georgia posted its second shutout of the year with a 55-0 win over VU. This marked the 10th shutout in the Kirby Smart era (since 2016), the FBS’ most during that span.

Georgia is allowing teams to convert on third downs only 27 percent of the time and that ranks second nationally.

The 2022 Bulldog defense kept No. 3 Oregon to only a field goal in the season opener. This marked the first time Oregon had failed to score a touchdown in a game since 2017. Late in the fourth quarter, Georgia had an impressive goal line stand late that ended at the two yard line following a 19-play, 87-yard drive that lasted 8:47.

Georgia’s first touchdown allowed this year came at South Carolina in game three with 53 seconds remaining in the game.

The Dogs have only allowed six rushing TDs this year.

Jamon Dumas-Johnson is third on the team with 66 tackles, including nine TFL and four sacks. The Butkus Award finalist had one of the six sacks in the win over No. 1 Tennessee. Fellow sophomore ILB Smael Mondon is the team leader with 71 stops. Mondon also recorded his first career interception during the win over No. 14 LSU in the SECCG.

Sophomore Javon Bullard earned CFP Semifinal Defensive MVP honors after posting three tackles, including a sack, versus the Buckeyes. Freshman safety Malaki Starks is No. 2 on the team with 67 tackles and has two interceptions on the year.

Georgia has 10 picks on the year and has recovered six fumbles and currently even in turnover margin. Senior S Chris Smith forced one of three turnovers versus No. 14 LSU in the SECCG with his team-leading third interception.

The Bulldogs forced three interceptions during the victory at South Carolina. Starks had his second pick, one that he returned 42 yards, while S Dan Jackson and ILB Trezmen Marshall each had their first INT. Jackson has not played since the Vanderbilt game because of a foot injury.

Both Smith and Starks registered interceptions that eventually turned into 14 points and helped Georgia build a 21-0 lead versus #11 Oregon.

This marked Smith’s fourth career pick and his second in a row in a season- opening game after returning his INT for the game’s only touchdown against No. 3 Clemson in 2021. Smith shared SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors following his performance against Oregon. Smith was a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist.

Currently, there are five Bulldogs who have blocked a kick/punt in their Georgia career. This season, junior DL Nazir Stackhouse blocked a field goal that was returned 96 yards for a touchdown by teammate Chris Smith in the opening quarter of the SECCG versus No. 14 LSU. In addition, freshman OLB Jalon Walker blocked a punt that resulted in a safety versus Kent State.

Jalen Carter’s blocked field goal against Alabama in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game changed the momentum in the third quarter and ignited the Bulldog offense. The Bulldogs would outscore Alabama 20-9 in the final quarter.

Overall, Georgia blocked five kicks last year including punts against No. 8 Arkansas (Dan Jackson) and Missouri (Nolan Smith), a field goal by Kentucky (Devonte Wyatt, 1st round pick Green Bay) and a PAT (Carter versus Kentucky). Smith was injured in the Florida game and has not played since that contest.

Stetson Bennett (QB): Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, Davey O’Brien Great 8 (vs. #11 UO); Manning Award Stars of the Week, Davey O’Brien Great 8 (@ SC); Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 QB; Davey O’Brien Class of 2022; SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week, Davey O’Brien Great 8, Manning Award Quarterback of the Week (#1 UT); Davey O’Brien Award/Walter Camp National Player of the Year semifinalist; Burlsworth Trophy winner; Heisman Trophy finalist; Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist; Manning Award finalist; SEC Championship Game MVP, Maxwell Award Player of the Week (vs. #14 LSU); All-SEC Second Team; CFP Semifinal Offensive MVP

Brock Bowers (TE): SEC Offensive Player of the Week, John Mackey Award TE of the Week, Maxwell Award Weekly Honor Roll (@ SC, KSU); CBS/Sporting News Midseason All-America Team; SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (vs. UF); Walter Camp National Player of the Year/Maxwell Award/Biletnikoff semifinalist; Rotary Lombardi Award finalist; College Sports Communicators Academic All-America First Team; All-SEC First Team; John Mackey Award winner; Walter Camp/Sporting News/AP All-America (2nd); FWAA/AFCA/Phil Steele All-America (1st)

Javon Bullard (DB): CFP Semifinal Defensive MVP

Jalen Carter (DL): Sporting News Midseason All-America Team; SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week (#1 UT); Lott/Outland Trophy semifinalist; Rotary Lombardi Award finalist; Bednarik Award Honor Roll (@ MSU); All-SEC First Team; Unanimous 1st Team All-America (Walter Camp/AP/Sporting News/FWAA/AFCA); ESPN/ Phil Steele All-America (1st)

Jamon Dumas-Johnson (ILB): Butkus Award finalist; Sporting News/ ESPN All-America (1st); AP/AFCA All-America (2nd)

Kearis Jackson (WR): Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member (Georgia leads the nation with 22 selections since award’s inception in 1992); Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist; SEC Community Service Team

Kenny McIntosh (RB): Senior Bowl Offensive Player of the Week (GT)

Warren McClendon (OL): All-SEC First Team

Ladd McConkey (WR): College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team; All-SEC Second Team

William Mote (SN): All-SEC Second Team

Offensive Line: Joe Moore Award finalist

Jack Podlesny (PK): Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week (SAM); SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (KSU); Campbell Trophy semifinalist; SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, Groza Award Stars of the Week (MU); Groza Award semifinalist; SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week, Groza Award Stars of the Week (@ UK); CSC Academic All-District Team; All-SEC First Team; SEC Special Teams Player of the Year

Kelee Ringo (DB): All-SEC Second Team

Branson Robinson (RB): SEC Freshman of the Week (AU)

Chris Smith (DB): SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (vs. #11 UO); AP/CBS/Sporting News Midseason All-America Team; Jim Thorpe/Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist; SEC Defensive Player of the Week, Bednarik Award Weekly Honor Roll (vs. UF); Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist; All- SEC First Team; Unanimous 1st Team All-America (Walter Camp/AP/Sporting News/FWAA/AFCA); Phil Steele All-America (1st)

Nazir Stackhouse (DL): SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (@ UK); All-SEC Second Team

Malaki Starks (DB): The Athletic/Yahoo/On3 Midseason Freshman All-America Team; Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award finalist; SEC Co-Freshman of the Week (#1 UT); Freshman All-SEC; College Football News Freshman All-America First Team

Brett Thorson (P): Freshman All-SEC; College Football News Freshman All-America Third Team

Sedrick Van Pran (OL): All-SEC Second Team

Jalon Walker (ILB): Freshman All-SEC

Darnell Washington (TE): John Mackey Award semifinalist; All-SEC Second Team

Mykel Williams (DL): Freshman All-SEC; College Football News Freshman All-America Third Team COACHES

Kirby Smart (Head Coach): Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week (#1 UT); Eddie Robinson/George Munger/Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year finalist; SEC Coach of the Year

Todd Monken (OC/QBs): Broyles Award finalist

Chidera Uzo-Diribe (Asst. Coach/OLBs): 2023 35 Under 35 Coaches Leadership Institute selection

Senior receiver/returner Kearis Jackson has been named to the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Jackson is one of 11 players from the NCAA FBS selected based on their commitment to community service. Georgia leads the nation in Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honorees with 22 since the award’s inception in 1992, including 17 since 2000. Jackson, a native of Fort Valley, Ga., is one of only two players from the SEC on the FBS 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The SEC leads all conferences with 82 all-time selections.

This past summer, former Georgia defensive lineman Richard Seymour became the latest Bulldog elected to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played for New England from 2001-08 after being drafted sixth overall. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and appeared in a fourth Super Bowl. Seymour, a native of Gadsden, S.C., was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time All-Pro pick. At Georgia, Seymour was an All-American in 2000. Seymour joined Charley Trippi, Fran Tarkenton, Terrell Davis and Champ Bailey as Bulldogs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bailey is set for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame in December in Las Vegas. An All-American, he logged more than 1,000 snaps on offense, defense and special teams during the 1998 campaign. A Folkston native and also a record-setting track and field athlete during his UGA career, he will be the 16th Georgia player to join the College Football Hall of Fame.

Georgia collected its 14th SEC Championship this season, including the second in the Kirby Smart era (2017). The Bulldogs previously have won it in 1942, ’46, ’48, ’59, ’66, ’68, ’76, 1980-82, ’02, ’05 and ’17, which ranks second in the SEC all-time.

The Bulldogs had six first-time starters on defense in their opener versus No. 11 Oregon: So. ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Fr. DE Mykel Williams, So. ILB Smael Mondon, So. DB Javon Bullard, So. DB Kamari Lassiter, Jr. N Nazir Stackhouse. Williams became just the ninth true freshman starter to make his debut in a season opener in the Kirby Smart era.

Samford: Fr. S Malaki Starks
South Carolina: Fr. WR Dillon Bell, Jr. DL Zion Logue, Sr. DL Tramel Walthour
Missouri: Jr. DB Tykee Smith (first start of his Bulldog career, 18th start of his career after transferring from West Virginia)
Auburn: Junior ILB Rian Davis
#1 Tennessee: RSo. OG Devin Willock
#4 Ohio State: So. OT Amarius Mims

Georgia featured 12 true freshmen in its 2022 opener against No. 11 Oregon after having an NCAA record 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. A total of 21 true freshmen have played during the 2022 campaign.

During the 2021 season opener, six true freshmen saw action against No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium. In 2021, a total of 24 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs.

#11 Oregon: Nolan Smith, Kenny McIntosh, Christopher Smith, Sedrick Van Pran
Samford: Zion Logue, Warren Ericson, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
S. Carolina: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kearis Jackson, Warren McClendon
Kent State: Nolan Smith, Sedrick Van Pran, Darnell Washington, Chris Smith
Missouri: Brock Bowers, J. Dumas-Johnson, M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, Dan Jackson
Auburn: J. Dumas-Johnson, K. McIntosh, D. Washington, N. Smith
Vanderbilt: B. Bowers, Z. Logue, W. McClendon, J. Podlesny
Florida: Stetson Bennett, J. Dumas-Johnson, N. Smith, K. McIntosh
#1 Tennessee: J. Dumas-Johnson, K. McIntosh, S. Van Pran, C. Smith
Miss. State: Kamari Lassiter, J. Dumas-Johnson, W. McClendon, L. McConkey
Kentucky: K. Jackson, S. Van Pran, Nazir Stackhouse, Jalen Carter
Georgia Tech: W. McClendon, K. McIntosh, S. Bennett, C. Smith
SECCG-LSU: C. Smith, W. McClendon, S. Van Pran, J. Dumas-Johnson
CFP Semi-OSU: CFP Semi – #4 Ohio State: N. Smith, C. Smith, S. Bennett, S. Van Pran

GAME ONE:
UGA: 7 (Longest: 38-yd pass, Bennett to McIntosh)
#11 ORE: 0

GAME TWO:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 37-yd pass, Bennett to McConkey)
SAM: 1 (36-yd pass, Crittendon to King)

GAME THREE:
UGA: #1 UGA: 4 (Longest: 78-yd TD pass, Bennett to Bowers)
USC: 3 (Longest: 46-yd pass, Rattler to Bell)

GAME FOUR:
UGA: 3 (Longest: 75-yd TD run, Bowers)
KENT ST.: 3 (Longest: 56-yd TD pass, Schlee to Walker)

GAME FIVE:
UGA: 6 (Longest: 35-yd rush, Milton)
MIZ: 5 (Longest: 63-yd rush, Schrader)

GAME SIX:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 64-yd TD rush, Bennett)
AUB: 1 (62-yd TD pass, Ashford to Hunter

GAME SEVEN:
UGA: 6 (Longest: 36-yd TD rush, Jones)
VAN: none

GAME EIGHT:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 73-yd TD pass, Bennett to Bowers)
UF: 5 (Longest: 78-yd TD pass, Richardson to Henderson)

GAME NINE:
UGA: 3 (Longest: 52-yd pass, Bennett to Smith)
TENN: 1 (Longest: 28-yd pass, Hooker to Hyatt)

GAME 10:
UGA: 6 (Longest: 70-yd rushing TD, McConkey)
MSU: 5 (Longest: 63-yd punt return TD, Thomas)

GAME 11:
UGA: 3 (Longest: 45-yd INT ret., Ringo)
UK: 4 (Longest: 47-yd pass, Levis to Brown)

GAME 12:
UGA: #1 UGA: 5 (Longest: 83-yd pass, Bennett to McIntosh
GT: 3 (Longest: 41-yd pass, Gibson to Jenkins)

GAME 13 (SECCG):
UGA: 4 (Longest: 96-yd BFG, C. Smith)
LSU: 7 (Longest: 59-yd pass, Nussmeier to Nabers)

GAME 14 (CFP Semi):
#1 UGA: 8 (Longest: 76-yd TD pass, Bennett to A. Smith)
#4 OSU: 5 (Longest: 37-yd TD pass, Stroud to Johnson)

Georgia is minus-2 in turnover margin. The Bulldogs have 47 points off 13 turnovers. Opponents have 43 points off 15 turnovers.

#11 Oregon: UGA got 14 pts. off 2 TOs; UGA did not have any TOs.
Samford: UGA got 3 pts. off 1 TO; UGA did not have any TOs.
S. Carolina: UGA got 14 pts. off 3 TOs; UGA did not have any TOs.
Kent State: UGA got no pts. off 1 TO; KSU got 3 pts. off 3 TOs.
Missouri: UGA did not force any TOs; MU got 3 pts. off 2 TOs.
Auburn: UGA got no pts. off 1 TO; AU got 3 pts. off 1 TO.
Vanderbilt: GA got 7 off 1 TO; UGA no TOs.
Florida: UGA got no TOs; UF got 10 pts. on 3 TOs
#1 Tennessee: UGA got 3 pts off 2 TOs; UT got 3 pts off 2 TOs
Miss. State: UGA got no TOs; MSU got 7 pts of 2 TOs
Kentucky: UGA got 3 pts off 1 TO; UK got no pts. off 1 TO
Georgia Tech: UGA got 3 pts off 1 TO; GT got 7 pts off 1 TO
#14 LSU (SECCG): UGA 7 pts off 3 TOs; LSU got 7 pts off 1 TO
#4 OSU (CFP Semi): UGA got no TOs; OSU got 7 pts off 1 TO

Georgia leads the nation in RZO & RZD.

^No Points due to: BFG=Blocked FG; MFG=Missed FG; TO=Turnover; D=Downs; C=Clock; E=Expired (took a knee); P=Punt.

#11 Oregon: 7-for-7 (7 TDs )
Samford: 7-for-8 (3 TDs, 4 FGs, MFG)
S. Carolina: 5-for-5 (4 TDs, FG)
Kent State: 6-for-6 (3 TDs, 3 FGs)
Missouri: 5-for-5 (2 TDs, 3 FGs)
Auburn: 5-for-5 (5 TDs)
Vanderbilt: 7-for-7 (5 TDs, 2 FGs)
Florida: 4-for-4 (4 TDs)
#1 Tennessee: 4-for-4 (2 TDs, 2 FGs)
Miss. State: 5-for-5 (4 TDs, FG)
Kentucky 4-for-5 (TD, 3 FGs, D)
Georgia Tech 5-for-5 (3 TDs, 2 FGs)
LSU (SECCG)5-for-5 (5 TDs)
#4 OSU (CFP Semi): 6-for-6 (4 TDs, 2 FGs)

#11 Oregon: 1-for-2 (FG, D)
Samford: none
S. Carolina: 1-for-2 (TD, TO)
Kent State: 2-for-2 (TD, FG)
Missouri: 2-for-2 (TD, FG)
Auburn: 1-for-1 (FG)
Vanderbilt: 0-for-1 (MFG)
Florida: 2-for-4 (TD, FG, 2Ds)
#1 Tennessee: 2-for-3 (TD, FG, D)
Miss. State: 3-for-4 (TD, 2 FGs, D)
Kentucky 1-for-3 (TD, INT, D)
Georgia Tech 1-for-1 (TD)
LSU (SECCG) 1-for-3 (TD, D, BFG)
#4 OSU (CFP Semi): 5-for-5 (3 TDs, 2 FGs)