UGA Football: Game Notes – Bulldogs Welcome the Blazers to Town

Game & Broadcast Info
  • Kickoff: Saturday, September 23 – 7:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (92,746) | Athens, Ga.
  • 2023 Records: Georgia 3-0 (1-0 SEC), UAB 1-2 (0-0 C-USA)
  • 2023 Rankings: Georgia #1 AP/#1 COACHES, UAB NR
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Video Stream: SECN+/ESPN+
  • Radio: 95-5 FM WSB – Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
  • Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
  • Satellite: 81
  • Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
  • Twitter: #UABvsUGA
  • SECN ReBroadcast: 9/28 – 9:30pm-12:30am ET
  • History: Georgia vs. UAB All-Time Series Results: UGA 3-0
  • Last Meeting: 9/11/21 – W, 56-7 in Athens, Ga.
  • Tickets: SeatGeek
“Better Never Rests”

Kirby Smart is in his eighth year directing the Georgia Bulldogs who are 84-15 in this span including back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. This offseason, Georgia took a deep dive on the New Zealand All Blacks, the world’s most successful rugby team, or quite frankly, any sports team in the history of teams. The Bulldogs rank ninth all-time in victories among NCAA FBS teams with 871 after starting in 1892.

Due to the cancellation of a previously scheduled matchup at Oklahoma (who now will join the SEC in 2024), Georgia plays host to four straight games to start the 2023 campaign and seven total this year. The last time the Bulldogs played four straight contests in Sanford Stadium was in 2004.

The last schedule that featured four home games to start a season was in 1999. That year, the Bulldogs went 4-0, beating Utah State, USC, UCF and LSU. Georgia has the nation’s longest active regular season winning streak in FBS that now stands at 30. The school record streak began with a 31-24 home victory over Miss. State on Nov. 21, 2020.

The NCAA’s longest active regular-season win streak belongs to Mount Union as the DIII school has won 56 in a row.

Bulldogs Welcome The Blazers To Town

Top-ranked Georgia will face its third non-conference opponent of the season and complete a fourgame homestand with UAB coming to Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2).

The 2023 Bulldogs return nine players with starting experience on offense, including junior C Sedrick Van Pran and All-American and John Mackey Award winner junior TE Brock Bowers, who was the 2021 and 2022 leader in catches, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Junior QB Carson Beck is in his first year as the starter. He played only in the first three quarters in the first pair of games after the Bulldogs built substantial leads. In the SEC opener against South Carolina last Saturday, he helped rally the Bulldogs from a 14-3 deficit while the defense blanked the Gamecocks in the second half. Georgia’s offense got a big boost with the return of senior RB Daijun Edwards who missed the first two games with a knee injury. In his first career start, Edwards ran for a career-high 118 yards on 20 carries with one touchdown versus the Gamecocks.

About UAB

The UAB Blazers (1-2), coached by former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer, are coming off a 41-24 home loss to Louisiana. After a scoreless first quarter, the game was delayed one hour and 51 minutes due to weather. Then, Louisiana struck for 24 points in the second quarter and cruised to a victory. Earlier this year, UAB beat N.C. A&T 35-6 and lost at Ga. Southern 49-35. UAB is averaging 30.3 points per game while allowing 32.0 ppg. Against the Ragin’ Cajuns, quarterback Jacob Zeno finished 27-for-38 for 280 yards and one TD with two INTs. Also, he netted 52 rushing yards despite being sacked seven times. UAB Football SID: Ted Feeley; tfeeley@uab.edu

Bulldogs Again Among The Leaders In Scoring Defense

Since the arrival of Kirby Smart in 2016, the Bulldogs have featured talented defenses and twice led the nation in Scoring Defense. This season, Georgia is ranked third nationally allowing only 8.0 points/ game. Glenn Schumann is in his second season as the Fain & Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator.

Also, the 2023 defensive staff features Will Muschamp (co-Defensive Coord.), Fran Brown (DB), Tray Scott (DL) and Chidera Uzo-Diribe (OLB). The Bulldogs return 12 players who have starting experience from a group that ranked fifth nationally in 2022 allowing opponents only 14.3 points per contest.

The Bulldogs carried a shutout to the fourth quarter during their first two games of 2023 and allowed just 10 total points. UT Martin scored a TD with 6:39 left in the contest. Ball State kicked a field goal with 9:05 remaining. In game three, South Carolina was blanked in the second half. After scoring 14 points in the first half, USC’s second half possessions ended with three punts, once turned it over on downs and two on interceptions. Last year, Georgia shut out four teams in the second half.

The Bulldogs are +5 in turnover margin, which ranks tied for eighth nationally. All six turnovers forced this season have been interceptions.

Year Pts./Game NCAA Rank Record Shutouts
2016 24.0 35th 8-5 0
2017 16.4 6th 13-2 1
2018 19.2 15th 11-3 1
2019 12.6 1st 12-2 3
2020 20.0 16th 8-2 0
2021 10.2 1st 14-1 3
2022 14.3 5th 15-0 2
2023 8.0 3rd 3-0 0
We’ve Gone Streaking

Georgia is on a school record 20-game winning streak that began with a 34-11 win over Michigan in the 2021 CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Georgia is enjoying a school record streak of 30 consecutive regular season victories that dates to a 31-24 home triumph over Mississippi State on Nov. 21, 2020.

The Bulldogs have won 21 straight at home. The current streak began with a 21-0 win over Kentucky on Oct. 19, 2019. Georgia’s longest home winning streak is 24 set from 1980-83.

The Bulldogs are 32-1 in their last 33 games including back-to-back national championships.

Georgia has won 20 regular season SEC games in a row dating back to a 31-24 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 21, 2020. The Bulldogs school record for consecutive SEC wins is 23, which was set during a stretch from 1980 to 1983.

The Bulldogs lead the country with 22 consecutive regular season non-conference victories.

Piling Up The Points Again

The 2023 Bulldogs: Averaging 39.0 points/game (30th nationally)

Have outscored their opponents 117-24, including 51-14 in the opening half

Own a +93 point differential

13-for-16 in the Red Zone with 9 TDs, 4 FGs

The 2022 Bulldogs: Averaged 41.1 points/game (5th nationally)

Outscored their opponents 616-214, including 341-105 in the opening half

Second consecutive year led the nation in point differential at +402

81 of 83 in the Red Zone (98% led nation) with 57 TDs and 24 FGs

The 2021 Bulldogs: Averaged 38.6 points/game (9th nationally)

Outscored their opponents 579-153, including 358-65 in the opening half

Led the nation in point differential at +426

59 of 69 in the Red Zone (86% ranked 50th) with 42 TDs and 17 FGs

The Power Of Bowers

All-American and 2022 Mackey Award winner junior Brock Bowers returns as one of the nation’s top talents. He made an immediate impact in the season opener versus UT Martin. He scored the first TD of the season on a threeyard scamper (his fifth career rushing TD) and finished the night as the leading receiver with five catches for 78 yards, all coming in the first half. Against South Carolina, he had seven catches for 54 yards, often times carrying defenders.

A 2022 Rotary Lombardi Award finalist, Bowers led the team with 63 catches (school record mark by a UGA TE) for a team high 942 yards and seven TDs.

In his career, Bowers has 132 receptions for 1,959 yards and 20 TD catches. The school record for TD receptions is 30 by Terrence Edwards. Also, Bowers has 15 rushes for 169 yards and five TDs.

Bowers has had two receiving scores and a rushing score in the same game twice. (At South Carolina in 2022 and at Vanderbilt in 2021)

Bowers has seven career 100-yard receiving games; Three of his career TD catches have covered 75+ yards; His first career TD catch covered 89 yards against UAB. Also at tight end, Georgia welcomes back sophomore Oscar Delp plus freshmen Lawson Luckie and Pearce Spurlin III. Delp made his first career start in the 2023 season opener as the Bulldogs began in a two tight end set, and he caught a 21-yard TD pass from Brock Vandagriff to make it 38-0 in the 4th quarter. Currently, Luckie is sidelined with an injury that occurred near the end of preseason camp while Spurlin missed the USC game.

“One Moment” Resonates With O-Line

The Bulldogs responded to a 14-3 halftime deficit to South Carolina in the SEC opener thanks in part to the message from coach Kirby Smart who said “Win one moment at a time.” That was evident in the play of the offensive line that helped pave the way for a season-high 189 rushing yards in a 24-14 comeback. Against USC, junior starting right tackle Amarius Mims went down with an ankle injury, and the unit was already without junior utility lineman Austin Blaske. Senior Xavier Truss moved from LG to RT and redshirt sophomore Dylan Fairchild came in at LG. They did not allow any sacks in the second half.

Georgia has allowed only three sacks this season. The Bulldogs welcome back junior C Sedrick Van Pran, who has a team-best 33 consecutive starts, plus redshirt sophomore guard Tate Ratledge and Truss, who each started 14 contests in 2022. Through the first three games, RFr. Earnest Greene has started at LT.

The team tragically lost OL Devin Willock in a car accident this past January. Willock played in all 15 games last year with two starts. To honor him, a different offensive lineman will wear Willock’s #77 jersey each game this year. Truss (UTM), Van Pran (BSU) and Ratledge (USC) have worn #77 so far.

Daijun Finds Daylight

Senior Daijun Edwards bolstered the running game with his first action of 2023 as he scampered for a career-high 118 yards on 20 carries with one TD in the win over South Carolina. He was making his first career start after appearing in 39 games. He has the ability to make people miss and is tough to bring down.

The veterans in the backfield are Edwards and senior Kendall Milton. Both missed time during preseason camp due to injuries. Also, sophomore Branson Robinson is out due to a season-ending knee injury that occurred in late August. Then, Milton left the USC game banged up while the team’s leading rusher through the first two games, freshman Roderick Robinson II, was limited to one carry against the Gamecocks.

For Whom The Bell Totes

With all the injuries at running back, sophomore WR Dillon Bell has seen action in the backfield (10 carries, 51 yards, 2 TDs). Against Ball State, he finished with three carries for 28 yards, and on his second career carry, he scored on a 21-yard scamper. In the USC game, he had a career-high seven rushes for 23 yards including a three-yard TD for the go-ahead score. His lone catch against the Gamecocks was good for 16 yards on a 3rd-and-5 play. For the year, he has six catches for 64 yards.

Cash Value Increases

Redshirt sophomore RB Cash Jones has seen plenty of action through the first three games. He scored the final TD in the 24-14 win over South Carolina on a 13-yard run. For the year, he has seven carries for 29 yards and one TD plus seven catches for 67 yards including a 27-yarder for a TD against Ball State.

Options Abound At Wideout

Georgia features an array of experienced pass catchers and 15 different Bulldogs have a reception this year. Junior Ladd McConkey, who finished second on the team with 58 catches for 762 yards and seven scores, has not seen any action this season because of a back injury. McConkey recently earned a spot on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community. He was also the primary punt returner with 16 for 197 yards in 2022.

Transfer Dominic Lovett (Missouri) has a team-high 14 catches for 110 yards. He had 82 for 1,019 yards and three TDs in two years in Columbia.

Senior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint had six catches for 71 yards, both career highs, against USC.

Redshirt sophomore Mekhi Mews has made an impact at WR and on special teams this season. He led the team with 102 receiving yards on six catches, including a 54-yard TD against UT Martin. Mews has a team-high 310 all-purpose yards serving as the returner in the punt and kickoff game. He had an SEC best 111 punt return yards versus Ball State, which featured a 69-yard touchdown for the team’s first score. Mews also had a 47-yard kickoff return to start the Ball State game.

Tackles & Turnovers

Georgia has had 34 players drafted over the past three seasons including 19 on defense and eight of those defenders have gone in the first round. Georgia continues to reload and develop elite talent.

Junior Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a 2022 Butkus Award finalist, returns to direct the linebackers. Junior ILB Smael Mondon was the team leader with 76 stops last year although he was limited in camp this year while recovering from a foot injury. Junior OLB Chaz Chambliss has assumed a larger leadership role in 2023 and made his first career start in the season opener. He notched his first career INT versus Ball State.

Senior Star Tykee Smith leads the team with 14 tackles, 2.5 TFL and two interceptions. He had four picks with West Virginia before transferring.

Sophomore safety Malaki Starks ranks second on the team with 11 tackles and recorded his first pick of the year against Ball State.

Sophomore DL Mykel Williams, who led the squad with 4.5 sacks in 2022, picked up his first sack in 2023 in the season opener. He is part of an experienced front that features seniors Zion LogueWarren BrinsonTramel Walthour and Nazir Stackhouse. The Bulldogs have a young trio gaining experience up front in Christen MillerJamaal Jarrett and Jordan Hall.

Junior DB/safety Javon Bullard has bulked up to 195 pounds after playing last year at 180. He earned CFP Defensive MVP honors in both the Semifinal Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (three tackles, sack) and the National Championship Game (a tackle, two interceptions, a fumble recovery). Bullard left the Ball State game in the first quarter with an ankle injury and missed the USC game.

The Bulldogs are among the SEC leaders and rank eighth nationally with a +5 Turnover Margin. The Bulldogs had a three interception game against Ball State, their first since they accomplished the feat at South Carolina in 2022. Georgia got a pair of picks against USC this season. Freshman DB Kyron Jones also took a tipped ball back for an INT score in the season opener. Last year, the Bulldogs had 12 picks in 15 games.

Starting Role BECKons

Junior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., is in his first year as the starting quarterback with a 3-0 record. Prior to 2023, he appeared in 12 games over the past three years and was 36-for-58 (62.1%) for 486 yards with six TDs and two INTs in his first three seasons. Last season in the National Championship Game rout of TCU, he played the entire fourth quarter, completing 2-of-3 passes for 31 yards in the 65-7 triumph.

Rallied Bulldogs to a 24-14 win over USC in the 2023 SEC opener after trailing 14-3 at halftime; posted a career-high 27-for-35 for 269 yards.

In his first career start, went 21-for-31 for 294 yards a touchdown in three quarters while guiding the Bulldogs to a 48-7 season-opening win over UT Martin. Along with Beck, Georgia’s quarterbacks include 6-3, 210-pound redshirt sophomore Brock Vandagriff of Bogart, Ga., and 6-1, 215-pound redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton of Tiger, Ga. Vandagriff has appeared in seven games in his career, including a 2-for-3 performance against UTM that yielded 77 yards and a TD in the ’23 opener. In his career, he is 2-for-7 for 77 yards and one TD. Stockton made his debut against UT Martin and went 3-for-5 for 29 yards plus had two rushes for 18 yards. In his career, he is 4-for-6 for 33 yards.

Beck’s Career Highs
Passing Yards 294 Vs. UT Martin, 2023
Completions 27 Vs USC, 2023
Attempts 35 Vs. USC, 2023
TD Passes 2 Vs. VU, ’22; Vs. BSU, ’23
Long Pass Completion 54 Yards Vs. UT Martin, 2023
Long Rush 20 Vs. USC, 2022
Beck’s Career Passing Statistics
Year G/GS Cmp. Att. Pct. Yds. INT TD Eff. LG
2020 1/0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 4/0 10 23 43.5 176 2 2 119.06 32 UAB
2022 7/0 26 35 74.3 310 0 4 186.40 28 SC
2023 3/3 71 96 74.0 846 1 3 156.20 54TD UTM
Total 15/3 107 154 69.5 1,332 3 9 157.52 54TD UTM
Beck’s Career Game-By-Game
Game Cmp. Att. Pct. Yds. INT TD SK LG
2020
MZ 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021
UAB 4 10 40.0 88 1 1 0 32
@VU 1 3 33.3 11 0 0 0 11
CS 5 10 50.0 77 1 1 0 30
@GT 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022
Vs #11 ORE 5 6 83.3 71 0 1 0 23
SAM 5 7 71.4 52 0 0 0 16
@SC 5 6 83.3 55 0 1 0 28
AU 0 0 0 0 0 0
VU 8 11 72.7 98 0 2 0 24
GT 1 2 50.0 3 0 0 0 3
Vs #3 TCU 2 3 66.7 31 0 0 0 20
2023
UTM(W) 21 31 67.7 294 0 1 0 54
BSU (W) 23 30 76.7 283 1 2 0 41
USC (W) 27 35 77.1 269 0 0 2 36
Career Total 154 107 69.5 1,332 3 9 2 54
Game Georgia Opp. Final
UT Martin 15 (3R, 12P) 4 (1R, 3P) #1 Georgia 48-7
BSU 12 (4R, 8P) 3 (1R, 2P) #1 Georgia, 45-3
USC 8 (5R, 3P) 8 (1R, 7P) #1 Georgia, 24-14

Longest Rush by Georgia: 37-yd by K. Milton (vs. UTM)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 36-yd by K. Dent (UTM)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 56 yds vs. UTM (Vandagriff to Thomas)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 41 yds by USC (Rattler to Blake)

A Look At The Specialists

Australian punter Brett Thorson, who earned All-SEC Freshman honors in 2022, has a 42.7 average on 11 punts this year, including seven that resulted in fair catches. Thorson was named to the Ray Guy Award’s Ray’s 8 following his performance versus UT Martin.

Senior William Mote handles the snapping duties on special teams.

Entering 2023, junior Jared Zirkel was 1-for-1 in career field goals (21-yarder at USC last year) and had nine career kickoffs. He is battling the nation’s No. 1 prep kicker, Peyton Woodring, for the placekicking job as well as handling kickoffs. This year, Zirkel has handled all 22 kickoffs with 16 touchbacks and two going out of bounds. Woodring has a team-high 27 points going 4-for-7 on field goals and 15-for-15 on PATs. He is 1-for-3 from 20-29 yard range, 3-for-3 from 30-39 yards and 0-for-1 from 40+.

Woodring became the first true freshman Bulldog placekicker to start a season opener since Marshall Morgan in 2012. Before Morgan, it was Blair Walsh in 2008. Did You Know? Woodring’s 12 points was the most by a Georgia true freshman kicker in a season opener since Kevin Butler set a school-record with 14 points in a 44-0 rout of Tennessee in Athens to open the 1981 season.

Block That Kick

Currently, there are three Bulldogs who have blocked a kick/punt in their Georgia career. In 2022, 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 SEC Championship Game versus No. 14 LSU. In addition, OLB Jalon Walker blocked a punt that resulted in a safety versus Kent State. S Dan Jackson blocked a punt against No. 8 Arkansas in 2021. Dooley Field At Sanford Stadium Sellout Streak The Bulldogs have had a school record 67 consecutive sellouts. During this stretch, Georgia drew a record 93,246 for the win over Notre Dame in 2019. Capacity is 92,746, which ranks as the ninth largest on-campus stadium. The current streak began Sept 15, 2012 versus Fla. Atlantic.

Polling Place

At 3-0, the Bulldogs are in the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press Top 25. In fact, the Bulldogs have the longest active run of top-10 rankings now with 37. Alabama’s top 10 streak ended at 128 this past Sunday as it dropped to No. 13. It was an eight-year streak.

Georgia was the No. 1 ranked team in the 2023 AP preseason Top 25. The Bulldogs became the first team besides Alabama or Clemson to be preseason ranked No. 1 since Ohio State in 2015. The only other time the Bulldogs have been preseason ranked No. 1 in the AP poll came in 2008.

Georgia started the 2021 season ranked No. 5 and went on to win its first national title since 1980. The Bulldogs followed up with a perfect season in 2022 after starting in the No. 3 spot in the preseason poll.

Since the AP preseason poll started in 1950, there have been 11 teams that started No. 1 that also finished No. 1. However, only two of those have occurred since 2000: Southern California (2004) and Alabama (2017). And in case you haven’t heard, no team has won three straight national titles during the AP poll era (dating to 1936). Minnesota’s 1934 and 1935 squads went 8-0 and were named the best team in the nation by eight different organizations. Then, the 1936 club went 7-1 and was crowned the first official AP champion plus seven other organizations declared them national champions too.

Overall, Georgia has been ranked in the AP top 25 for 102 consecutive weeks and that ranks third among active streaks.

The Bulldogs remain No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll where they began the season.

First-Time Starters In 2023

The Bulldogs had eight first-time starters in their opener versus UT Martin: WR Arian Smith, QB Carson Beck, TE Oscar Delp, LT Earnest Greene, WR Mekhi Mews, ILB Xavian Sorey, OLB Chaz Chambliss, DB Daylen Everette plus true freshman PK Peyton Woodring; BSU: None; USC: RB Daijun Edwards and DB David Daniel-Sisavanh

The True Freshman Experience

The Bulldogs had 17 true freshmen make their debut in the 2023 season opener and have had 21 true freshmen overall play this season.

Bulldog Captains In 2023

UT Martin:Jamon Dumas-JohnsonSedrick Van PranJavon BullardBrock Bowers
Ball State:Zion LogueMarcus Rosemy-JacksaintTykee SmithTate Ratledge
South Carolina: T. Walthour, K. Lassiter, S. Van Pran, C. Beck
UAB:
Auburn:
Kentucky:
Vanderbilt:
Florida:
Missouri:
Ole Miss:
Tennessee:
Georgia Tech:

Points Off Turnovers In 2023

Georgia is +5 in turnover margin.

The Bulldogs have 24 points (does not include the PATs) off six turnovers.

Opponents have no points off 1 turnover.

UTM: UGA got 6 pts. off 1 TOs; UGA had no TOs
BSU: UGA 18 pts. off 3 TOs; BSU no pts. off 1 TO
USC: UGA got no points off 2 TOs; UGA had no TOs
UAB:
AU:
UK:
VU:
UF:
MIZ:
OM:
UT:
GT:

Putting Points on the Board

Georgia ranks tied for fourth in NCAA history for consecutive games scoring and third among schools with active streaks:

Team – Games
Florida 440 (1988-present)
TCU 384 (1991-present)
Michigan 365 (1984-2014)
Georgia 362 (1995-present)

Big Plays In 2023

UGA has 14 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have two.

GAME 1 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 9 (56-yd pass, Vandagriff to Thomas)
UTM: 1 (26-yd rush, Dent)
GAME 2 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 5 (69-yd PR-TD, Mews)
BSU: 1 (45-yd INT Ret., Malory)
GAME 3 (Longest):
UGA: 2 (36-yd pass, Beck to Thomas)
SC: 2 (41-yd pass, Rattler to Blake)
GAME 4 (Longest):
UGA:
UAB:
GAME 5 (Longest):
UGA:
AUB:
GAME 6 (Longest):
UGA:
UK:
GAME 7 (Longest):
UGA:
VAN:
GAME 8 (Longest):
UGA:
UF:
GAME 9 (Longest):
UGA:
MIZZOU:
GAME 10 (Longest):
UGA:
OM:
GAME 11 (Longest):
UGA:
UT:
GAME 12 (Longest):
UGA:
GT:

HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART QUICK FACTS
  • Eighth season as Georgia coach • 81-15 Career Record • 2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
  • 2017 CFP national runner-up • 2017, 2022 SEC Champions • SEC Eastern Division Champs 2017-19 & 21-22
  • 2017 George Munger award (National Coach of the Year by Maxwell Club) • SEC Coach of the Year, 2017, 2021-22
  • Bulldogs have won two Butkus Awards • One Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, Thorpe Award, Groza Award, Mackey Award, Manning Award & Burlsworth Trophy
  • One Heisman Trophy finalist • 17 1st-team All-Americans
  • 15 1st Round NFL Draft picks • 55 NFL Draft Picks
  • A total of 199 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls, including a high of 35 on the 2021 national championship team
THE KIRBY SMART RECORD
Year W L Pct. SEC Bowl
2016 8 5 .615 4-4 Liberty
2017 13 2 .867 8-2 CFP Rose/NCG
2018 11 3 .786 7-2 Sugar
2019 12 2 .857 7-2 Sugar
2020 8 2 .800 7-2 Chick-Fil-A
2021 14 1 .933 9-1 CFP Orange/NCG
2022 15 0 1.000 8-0
2023 3 0 1.000 1-0
Total 84 15 .848 #53-13

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

11 VICTORIES WHEN TIED OR TRAILING LATE
SEASON OPPONENT START OF 4TH QUARTER OR DEFICIT FINAL
2016 % #22 UNC Trailed 24-23 33-24
2016 @ Missouri Trailed 27-21 28-27
2016 @ Kentucky Trailed 21-16 27-24
2016 #8 Auburn Tied 7-7 13-7
2016 ^TCU Trailed Trailed 23-21 31-23
2017 @ #24 Notre Dame Trailed 17-16, Trailed 19-17 With 10:21 Left 20-19
2017 $ #2 Oklahoma Tied 31-31, Trailed 45-38 With 0:55 Left 54-48 2ot
2020 ~ #8 Cincinnati Trailed 21-10, Trailed 21-19 With :03 Left 24-21
2022 ! #1 Alabama Trailed 18-13 With 10:14 Left 33-18
2022 @ Missouri Trailed 19-12, Trailed 22-12 With 14:09 Left 26-22
2022 ~ #4 Ohio State (CFP Semi) Trailed 38-24, Trailed 41-35 With 2:43 Left 42-41

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

TOP IND. SINGLE GAME PERFORMANCES UNDER SMART

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 8 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); Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21)

29 DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES UNDER SMART

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has registered 29 scores on defense and special teams. The Dogs are 26-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This year, freshman DB Kyrun Jones returned an INT versus UT Martin 26 yards for a score and redshirt sophomore Mekhi Mews took a punt return 69 yards for a touchdown against Ball State. In 2022, the Bulldogs 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/CFP National Championship Game).

DEFENSIVE SCORING IN THE SMART ERA

{106 Points on 16 TDs, 5 Safeties}

2016: 14 points in 3 different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret., Safety);
2017: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.);
2018: 12 points in 2 different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret.);
2019: 18 points in 3 different games (2 Fumble Ret., 1 Fumble Rec.);
2020: 22 points in 4 different games (2 Pick-Sixes 1 Fumble Ret., 2 Safeties);
2021: 28 points in 6 different games (4 Pick-Sixes, 2 Safeties);
2022: none
2023: 6 points in one game (Pick-Six)

46 POINTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS IN THE SMART ERA

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.).
2023: 6 points in 1 game (PR)

UGA COVERAGE ON WAGA FOX 5 ATLANTA TO INCLUDE:

Kirby Smart All Access” – This half-hour program will air Monday nights at 7 p.m. throughout the football season and offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look through the practice and preparation ahead of each game, from exclusive interviews with coaches and players, to features showcasing what it takes to build and maintain a championship program.

“Bulldogs Final” – This short wrap-up program will air on Saturday nights of UGA football games, with a repeat Sunday mornings, and will include highlights, analysis, and exclusive content from that week’s game.

“Bulldogs Now” – This weekly, half-hour program on Saturdays at 8 a.m. debuts this summer and will deliver exclusive access and the latest updates on the Georgia Bulldogs all year round. Outside of football season, the show will feature the latest news, in-depth features and updates on all 21 UGA sports programs.