UGA Football: Georgia vs Vanderbilt Game Notes

Kirby Smart is in his eighth year directing the Georgia Bulldogs who are 87-15 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.

Junior QB Carson Beck has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 List for Week 6 following his performance in the win over No. 20 Kentucky (his second honor of this kind in 2023). The Jacksonville, Fla., was 28-for-35 for a career-high 389 yards and four touchdowns versus the Wildcats. Beck was also named the East-West Shrine Bowl’s

Beck became the first Bulldog QB since 2013 (Aaron Murray) to have three straight games of at least 300 yards passing after the win over UK. He completed his first 13 passes (158 yards and two touchdowns), which ranks third in school history.

At the midpoint of the regular season, Beck is on a record pace for Completion Percentage at 73.47, which is ranked sixth nationally. The school record was set last year by Stetson Bennett at 68.28. The SEC record for a season is 77.4 by Alabama’s Mac Jones in 2020.

Georgia is 5-1 under Kirby Smart when kickoff is at 11 a.m. CT, including winning the past five matchups. The lone defeat came in 2016 at Ole Miss. Georgia is 22-4 in noon (ET) games in the Smart era including winning the last 13 contests. Three of the four losses came in 2016, and the last one was 2019 vs USC in 2OT in Athens.

Georgia posted its best offensive performance since 2020 when it tallied 608 yards on 73 plays in the 51-13 win over No. 20 Kentucky this past Saturday. It was the most since the Bulldogs finished with 615 against Missouri in 2020. In the first half against the Wildcats, the Bulldogs racked up 384 yards on 38 plays and scored on their first six possessions to build a 34-7 advantage. Georgia ranks third in the SEC in scoring offense (40.6 ppg) and second in total offense (502.3 ypg).

One of the keys to Georgia’s success this season is its third down defense. The Bulldogs are ranked third nationally with opponents converting just 24 percent of the time. For example the past two weeks, Auburn was just 2-for-12 on third down conversions and No. 20 Kentucky was only 2-for-11.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 60-20-2. The Commodores have not scored on Georgia the past two meetings. The Bulldogs blanked Vanderbilt 55-0 last season in Athens, and they registered a record 62-0 win in 2021. The teams never played during the COVID-19 season of 2020 although it was scheduled three different times, but the Commodores were unable to play.

Vanderbilt is averaging 28.9 points per game (ppg) while surrendering 34.0 ppg. They are -3 in turnover margin.

The Commodores offense hit the 300-yard mark for the fifth consecutive game, finishing with 334 yards versus Florida. Senior QB Ken Seals made his second consecutive start of the season (18th career) and went 19-of-34 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest play came when he connected with senior Will Sheppard for an 85-yard TD, which tied for the fourth-longest completion in VU history.

After posting wins over Hawaii and Alabama A&M, the Commodores (2-5, 0-3 SEC) have dropped five in a row, falling to Wake Forest, UNLV, Kentucky, Missouri and Florida.

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 10th 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	10th	6-0	0

Georgia is on a school record 23-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 33 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 22 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 35-1 in their last 36 games including back-to-back national championships.

The Bulldogs have won 23 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 2023 Bulldogs: Averaging 40.7 points/game (10th nationally)
Outscored their opponents 244-78, including 123-45 in the opening half
Own a +166 point differential; 29-for-32 in the Red Zone with 21 TDs, 8 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

All-American and 2022 Mackey Award winner junior Brock Bowers is one of the nation’s top talents. Most recently, the Napa, Ca., native posted his third straight 100-yard game (a combined 24 rec., 410 yds., 4 TDs) with a seven catch, 132-yard performance against #20 Kentucky that included a touchdown. Bowers is the first Bulldog to have three 100-yard receiving performances in a row since Terrence Edwards in 2002.

Tallied eight receptions for a career-high 157 yards and a score in the road win over Auburn. Bowers was named the Mackey Award Tight End of the Week following that performance.

17 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)

10 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.

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.	156	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.	2,369	Brock Bowers	2021-

TD RECEPTIONS – CAREER:
Year	Pts./Game	NCAA Rank	Record
1.	30	Terrence Edwards	1999-2002
2.	24	Brock Bowers	2021-
	23	A.J. Green	2008-10

Georgia’s offensive line enjoyed another productive night in its latest SEC win over No. 20 Kentucky. The Bulldogs racked up a season-high 608 yards of total offense, including 173 yards on the ground against the Wildcats. Georgia became the first team to gain more than 100 yards rushing on Kentucky this year. The Wildcats came into the contest ranked ninth nationally in rushing yards allowed at 73.8.

The Bulldogs had a season-high 189 rushing yards in the 24-14 comeback against South Carolina. 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 three games at that spot. RSo. Micah Morris has also seen time at LG.

Junior C Sedrick Van Pran has a team-best 36 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.

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. In the win over No. 20 Kentucky, he showed his pass catching ability with a career-high six catches for 51 yards.

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.

With all the injuries at running back, sophomore WR Dillon Bell has seen action in the backfield (20 carries, 109 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 10 catches for 85 yards. Bell has two kick returns for 45 yards in 2023.

Georgia features an array of experienced pass catchers and 19 different Bulldogs have a reception this year. Junior Ladd McConkey 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 22 catches for 210 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 17 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Against No. 20 Kentucky, he had a career-high 99 yards on four catches, including a 40-yard score to open the game.

Junior transfer (Mississippi State) Rara Thomas collected his first TD as a Bulldog (13th of his career) during a five catch, 63-yard performance versus No. 20 Kentucky. His acrobatic score was a 15 yarder in the corner of the end zone.

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 in week five at Auburn. UGA has outscored opponents 73-13 in the third quarter and 134-33 in the second half.

Junior Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a 2022 Butkus Award finalist, directs the linebackers and is coming off a game where he made four tackles, including 1.5 sacks, in the win over No. 20 Kentucky. Junior ILB Smael Mondon was the team leader with 76 stops last year. Mondon leads the team again with 26 stops this year and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after his 11-tackle performance at Auburn.

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 third on the team with 22 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 second on the team with 23 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. He is part of an experienced front that features seniors Zion Logue, Warren Brinson, Tramel Walthour and Nazir Stackhouse. The Bulldogs have a young trio gaining experience up front in Christen Miller and Jordan Hall.

Junior DB/safety Javon Bullard left the Ball State game in the first quarter with an ankle injury and missed two games. He returned at Auburn and had a career-high 10 tackles.

The Bulldogs are +1 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. Freshman DB Kyron Jones also took a tipped ball back for an INT score in the 2023 season opener.

Junior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., is in his first year as the starting quarterback with a 6-0 record.

Became the first Bulldog QB since 2013 (Aaron Murray) to have three straight games of at least 300 yards passing after he went 28-for-35 for 389 yards for four touchdowns (all career highs) in the win over No. 20 Kentucky. He completed his first 13 passes (158 yards and two touchdowns), which ranks third in school history.

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 nine games in his career, including going 5-for-7 versus the Wildcats for 46 yards and touchdown.

Passing Yards	389 Vs. #20 UK, 2023
Completions	28 Vs #20 UK, 2023
Attempts	35 Vs. USC, Vs. #20 UK, 2023
TD Passes	4 Vs. #20 UK, 2023
Long Pass Completion	54 Yards Vs. UT Martin, 2023
Long Rush	20 Vs. USC, 2022

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	6/6	144	196	73.5	1886	3	11	169.8	54TD UTM
Total	18/6	180	254	70.9	2,372	5	17	167.46	54TD UTM

Game	Cmp.	Att.	Pct.	Yds.	INT	TD	SK	EFF	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	158.1	54
BSU (W)	23	30	76.7	283	1	2	0	171.2	41
USC (W)	27	35	77.1	269	0	0	2	141.7	36
UAB (W)	22	32	68.8	338	0	3	1	188.4	50
@ AU (W)	23	33	69.7	313	1	1	0	153.3	40
#20 UK (W)	28	35	80.0	389	1	4	0	205.4	49
Career Total	180	254	70.9	2,372	5	17	3	167.46	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
UAB	12 (3R, 9P)	7 (2R, 5P)	#1 Georgia, 49-21
@AU	12 (4R, 8P)	8 (7R, 1P)	#1 Georgia, 27-20
#20 UK	13 (4R, 9P)	3 (3P)	#1 Georgia, 51-13

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)

Australian punter Brett Thorson, who earned All-SEC Freshman honors in 2022, has a 43.8 average on 17 punts this year, including 11 that resulted in fair catches. Thorson was named to the Ray Guy Award’s Ray’s 8 following his performance versus UT Martin.

Freshman Peyton Woodring has attempted all field goals and PATs this season. Woodring has a team-high 58 points going 9-for-12 on field goals and 31-for- 31 on PATs. He had a season high 15 points in the win over No. 20 Kentucky, including a career-long 42 yarder.

Woodring was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week connecting on both of his two field goals, including a 38 yarder, and three PATs in the win at Auburn.

Woodring became the first true freshman Bulldog PK to start a season opener since Marshall Morgan in 2012. 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.

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. This year, Zirkel has handled all 45 kickoffs with 29 touchbacks and two going out of bounds.

Career Placekicking For Peyton Woodring
Year	PAT	Pct.	FG	Pct.	LG	Pts
2023	31-31	1.000	9-12	.750	42	58
Field Goal History For Peyton Woodring
Year	I20	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99	LG
2023	0-0	1-3	7-7	1-2	0-0	42

Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 6 (UTM23, BSU23, UK23)
FGA: 3 (USC23, UK23)
FGM: 3 (UK23)
LG: 42 (UK23)

Career Punting For Brett Thorson
Year	Punts	Yards	Avg.	I20	50+	60+	FC	BL	LG
2022	36	1620	45.0	19	9	1	18	0	75 UT
2023	17	744	43.8	8	4	0	11	0	53UTM
Total	53	2,364	44.6	27	13	1	29	0	75 UT

Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 5 (UTM23, AU22)
*Avg.: 50.2 on four punts (UT22)
Long: 75 (UT22)
*at least two punts

KO History For Jared Zirkel
Year	No.	Yds.	TB	OB
2021	3	195	3	0
2022	6	390	5	0
2023	45	2852	29	2
Total	54	3437	37	2

63.6 yard Avg. on Kickoffs

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.

At 6-0, 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 40.

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.

The Bulldogs’ 17-week streak of No. 1 ranked appearances ties Florida State’s streak going wire-to-wire in 1999.

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 105 consecutive weeks and that ranks third among active streaks.

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

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.

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

UT Martin:Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Sedrick Van Pran, Javon Bullard, Brock Bowers
Ball State:Zion Logue, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Tykee Smith, Tate 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: S. Mondon, M. Williams, M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, C. Beck
Vanderbilt:
Florida:
Missouri:
Ole Miss:
Tennessee:
Georgia Tech:

Georgia is +1 in turnover margin. *The Bulldogs have 30 points (does not include the PATs) off 8 turnovers. *Opponents have 24 points off 7 turnovers.

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: UK had no TOs; UK 6 points off 1 TO
VU:
UF:
MIZ:
OM:
UT:
GT:

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)
Georgia 356 (1995-present)
Michigan 365 (1984-2014)

UGA has 31 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have 13.

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):
#1 UGA: 4 (49-yd pass Beck to Bowers)
#20 UK: 3 (48-yd INT Ret., Hairston)
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:

• 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

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	87	15	.853	#54-13

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

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

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)

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).

{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)

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)

“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.