UGA Football: Game Notes – Dawgs Welcome Ranked Wildcats Under The Lights

Game & Broadcast Info
  • Kickoff: Saturday, October 7 – 7:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (92,746) | Athens, Ga.
  • 2023 Records: Georgia 5-0 (2-0 SEC), Kentucky 5-0 (2-0 SEC)
  • 2023 Rankings: Georgia #1 AP/#1 COACHES, Kentucky #20 AP/#20 Coaches
  • TV: ESPN (Play-by-Play: Sean McDonough; Analyst: Greg McElroy; Sideline: Molly McGrath)
  • Video Stream: ESPN+
  • Radio: 95-5 FM WSB – Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
  • Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
  • Satellite: Ch. 82
  • Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
  • Twitter: #UKvsUGA
  • SECN ReBroadcast: 10/12 12:00 p.m. and 10/13 1:00 a.m.
  • History: Georgia vs. Kentucky All-Time Series Results: UGA 62-12-2
  • Last Meeting: 11/19/22 – W, 16-6 in Lexington, Ky.
  • Tickets: SeatGeek
“Better Never Rests”

Kirby Smart is in his eighth year directing the Georgia Bulldogs who are 86-15 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 history.

SEC Nation Returns To Athens

Georgia is 23-10 all-time with SEC Nation on site, including 7-3 in Athens. Along with being at last year’s College Football Playoff games, SEC Nation’s last on campus visit came in Georgia’s 27-13 win over No. 1 Tennessee in 2022.

Student-Athlete Mental Health Week

The UGA Athletic Association has teamed with Hilinski’s Hope for its 2023 Student-Athlete Mental Health Week, which runs Sept. 30-Oct. 7. The goal of this week is to raise awareness about the mental health resources available to students and student-athletes. Georgia football players will wear green ribbon decals on their helmets for the Kentucky game. Created in memory of Tyler Hilinski, who died by suicide in 2018, Hilinski’s Hope is a national organization promoting mental health support and suicide prevention for student-athletes.

Bulldogs Welcome Ranked Matchup Under The Lights

Top-ranked Georgia meets No. 20 Kentucky in a battle of unbeatens Saturday night at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. Both teams are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the SEC. ESPN will televise the matchup at 7 p.m., and SEC Nation will be on campus starting Friday. SEC Nation was in Lexington last week for UK’s win over No. 22 Florida.

The Bulldogs have won a record 13 straight in the series including 16-6 in Lexington last year that featured a 99-yard TD drive by the Wildcats in the fourth quarter. Georgia had just three possessions in the first half that resulted in three field goals for a 9-0 edge. Kentucky’s last win over Georgia came in 2009 in Athens. Georgia leads the all-time series 62-12-2 including 31-4-2 at home. The last ranked matchup between the two came here in 2021 when top-ranked Georgia beat No. 11 Kentucky 30-13.

Getting Off The Field

One of the keys to Georgia’s latest SEC win was its ability stop Auburn on third down. The Tigers were just 2-for-12 in third down conversions while the Bulldogs were 8-for-13. Georgia is ranked sixth nationally in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just under 25 percent of the time. The last two years, Georgia’s offense has had limited possessions against Kentucky due to some methodical drives by the Wildcats. Last year, UK had the second longest non-scoring possession in Georgia history as it held the football for 10:20. It was a 13-play, 57-yard drive that ended with a Bulldog interception by Kelee Ringo at the UGA 2 yard line. In 2021, UK had the longest ever scoring possession by an opponent, holding the football for 11:23, going 75 yards in 22 plays that ended with a TD.

About Kentucky

5-0 (2-0 SEC) for the third time in the last six seasons under Mark Stoops (also 2018 and 2021). Now in his 11th season, Stoops is 71-59 and is the second longest tenured SEC coach.

Ranks 19th in Scoring Defense, giving up just 15.2 points/game.

Held each of its first five opponents of the season under 100 yards rushing for the first time in school history.

Has forced a turnover in nine consecutive regular-season games, going back to last season.

Senior transfer Ray Davis (76 rush, 594 yards, 8 TDs), who began his career at Temple and then Vanderbilt, had a monster day in the latest win over No. 22 Florida this past Saturday. He had 26 carries for a career-high 280 yards and a career-best three touchdowns rushing plus a nine-yard touchdown reception.

Sophomore DB Maxwell Hairston has a team-best 33 tackles and three INTs. UK Football SID: Susan Lax; Email: slax0@uky.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 14th nationally allowing 13.0 points/game. 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.

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 13.0 14th 5-0 0
We’ve Gone Streaking

Georgia is on a school record 22-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 32 consecutive regular season victories that dates to a 31-24 home triumph over Mississippi State on Nov. 21, 2020. That’s the longest streak in the FBS.

Georgia has won 21 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 are 34-1 in their last 35 games including back-to-back national championships.

The Bulldogs have won 22 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.

Piling Up The Points Again

The 2023 Bulldogs: Averaging 38.6 points/game (15th nationally)

Outscored their opponents 193-65, including 89-38 in the opening half

Own a +128 point differential; 23-for-26 in the Red Zone with 17 TDs, 6 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 is one of the nation’s top talents. Most recently, the Napa, Ca., native tallied eight receptions for a career-high 157 yards and a score in the road win over Auburn.

16 rushes for 172 yards and five TDs in his career

Two receiving scores and a rushing score in the same game twice (At South Carolina in 2022 and at Vanderbilt in 2021)

Nine 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.

Bulldogs Record Book Watch
PASS RECEPTIONS – CAREER:
1. 204 Terrence Edwards 1999-2002
2. 182 Brice Hunter 1992-95
3. 174 Malcolm Mitchell 2011-15
4. 166 A.J. Green 2008-10
5. 161 Fred Gibson 2001-04
6. 158 Mohamed Massaquoi 2005-08
7. 149 Brock Bowers 2021-
RECEIVING YARDS – CAREER:
1. 3,093 Terrence Edwards 1999-2002
2. 2,884 Fred Gibson 2001-04
3. 2,619 A.J. Green 2008-10
4. 2,602 Tavarres King 2008-12
5. 2,373 Brice Hunter 1992-95
6. 2,350 Malcolm Mitchell 2011-15
7. 2,282 Mohamed Massaquoi 2005-08
8. 2,237 Brock Bowers 2021-
TD RECEPTIONS – CAREER:
Year Pts./Game NCAA Rank Record
1. 30 Terrence Edwards 1999-2002
T2. 23 Brock Bowers 2021-
23 A.J. Green 2008-10
“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 RT 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. Fairchild has started the last two games at that spot. RSo. Micah Morris also saw time at LG against the Blazers and Tigers.

Junior C Sedrick Van Pran has a team-best 35 consecutive starts. He was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week versus South Carolina. Redshirt sophomore RG Tate Ratledge, who like Truss started 15 contests in 2022, and redshirt freshman LT Earnest Greene make up Georgia’s other OL starters.

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 OL will wear Willock’s #77 jersey each game this year.

Daijun Finds Daylight & The End Zone

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. Edwards had 76 yards and two touchdowns in the win at Auburn.

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, did not play against UAB and took the field sparingly at Auburn.

For Whom The Bell Totes

With all the injuries at running back, sophomore WR Dillon Bell has seen action in the backfield (17 carries, 98 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 eight catches for 78 yards. Bell has two kick returns for 45 yards in 2023.

Options Abound At Wideout

Georgia features an array of experienced pass catchers and 19 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, did not play in the first four games because of a back injury. Against Auburn, he had four catches for 38 yards, and three were catches on third downs that resulted in first downs.

McConkey earned a spot on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team for his dedication to the community and is a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.

Transfer Dominic Lovett (Missouri) ranks second on the team with 20 catches for 194 yards. He had 82 for 1,019 yards and three TDs in two years at UM.

Senior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is third on the team with 13 catches for 226 yards and one touchdown. Versus UAB, he had three receptions for a new career high 94 yards.

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.

The defense allowed its first points in the third quarter last Saturday at Auburn. UGA has outscored opponents 63-7 in the third quarter and 104-27 in the second half.

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. Mondon leads the team again with 25 stops this year.

Junior OLB Chaz Chambliss has assumed a larger leadership role and made his first career start in the opener. He had his first career INT versus Ball State.

Senior Star Tykee Smith is second on the team with 20 tackles, 4.0 TFL, a sack and three interceptions. Smith is tied for seventh nationally with three picks. He had four picks with West Virginia before transferring.

Sophomore safety Malaki Starks ranks third on the team with 18 tackles and has two interceptions, the last one coming at Auburn to clinch the victory.

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. Williams missed the UAB game. 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 earned CFP Defensive MVP honors in both the Semifinal Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the National Championship Game. Bullard left the Ball State game in the first quarter with an ankle injury and has missed two games. He returned at Auburn and had a career-high 10 tackles.

The Bulldogs are +2 Turnover Margin, including eight interceptions. Last year, the Bulldogs had 12 picks in 15 games. The Bulldogs had a three INT game against Ball State this year. The last time they had a trio of picks in a game came at South Carolina in 2022. Freshman DB Kyron Jones also took a tipped ball back for an INT score in the 2023 season opener.

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 5-0 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.

During Georgia’s last three possessions against Auburn, Beck was 12-for-15 for 201 yards and one TD. He directed three scoring drives that covered 98, 71 and 75 yards during his first SEC road contest that resulted in a 27-20 win over the Tigers.

Beck was named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list following his career-high 338 passing yards (22-of-32) and three touchdowns against UAB.

Led 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 eight games in his career, including a 2-for-3 performance against UTM that yielded 77 yards and a TD in the ’23 opener.

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 5/5 116 161 72.0 1497 2 7 162.0 54TD UTM
Total 17/5 152 219 69.4 1,983 4 13 161.40 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
#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
#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
@ AU (W) 23 33 69.7 313 1 1 0 153.3 40
Career Total 152 219 69.4 1,983 4 13 3 161.40 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
@AU 12 (4R, 8P) 8 (7R, 1P) #1 Georgia, 27-20

Longest Rush by Georgia: 37-yd by K. Milton (vs. UTM)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 61-yd by P. Thorne (@ AU)
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 44.0 average on 16 punts this year, including 10 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 36 kickoffs with 22 touchbacks and two going out of bounds. Woodring has a team-high 43 points going 6-for-9 on field goals and 25-for-25 on PATs. He is 1-for-3 from 20-29 yard range, 5-for-5 from 30-39 yards and 0-for-1 from 40+.

Woodring became the first true freshman Bulldog PK 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.

Polling Place

At 5-0, 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 39.

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 104 consecutive weeks and that ranks third among active streaks.

UGA remains No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll where it began 2023.

Dooley Field At Sanford Stadium Sellout Streak

The Bulldogs have had a school record 68 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.

Georgia’s Overtime Record (8-7)

Home: 1-2; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 3-3 {Bowl Game/CFP: 3-2}

(SEC games: 3-4; Includes CFP National Championship)

The Bulldogs are 1-2 in overtime games under Kirby Smart.

Jan. 1, 2018: #3 Georgia beat #2 Oklahoma 54-48 (2OT) in Pasadena, Calif. (CFP Semifinal: Rose Bowl Game)
Jan. 8. 2018: #4 Alabama beat #3 Georgia 26-23 in Atlanta, Ga. (CFP National Championship, Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
Oct. 12, 2019: South Carolina beat #3 Georgia 20-17 (2OT) in Athens, Ga.

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; UAB: OG Dylan Fairchild, DL Warren Brinson

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: Bowers, C. Chambliss, M. Starks, D. Edwards
Auburn:S. Van Pran, M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, J. Dumas-Johnson, K. Lassiter
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: UGA 6 pts. off 1 TO; UAB 6 points off 3 TOs
AU: UGA no points off 1 TO; AU 12 points off 2 TOs
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 442 (1988-present)
TCU 386 (1991-present)
Michigan 365 (1984-2014)
Georgia 364 (1995-present)

Big Plays In 2023

UGA has 27 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have 10.

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):
#1 UGA: 5 (50-yd pass Beck to Rosemy-Jacksaint)
UAB: 3 (32-yd pass Zeno to Farrier)
GAME 5 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 6 (41-yd KOR Mews)
AUB: 3 (61-yd run Thorne)
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 5 0 1.000 2-0
Total 86 15 .851 #53-13

#3-4 ((includes 2017-19, ’21, ’22 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)

12 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
2023 @ Auburn Tied 17-17, Tied 20-20 With 6:21 Left 27-20

%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.