UGA Football: Game Notes – Bulldogs Take Aim At SEC Regular Season History Saturday vs. Tennessee

Kirby Smart is in his eighth year directing the Bulldogs who are 91-15 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.

Georgia has established an SEC record for Most Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs are second all-time at 22 weeks, and this is the longest streak in the College Football Playoff era. 33 Southern California, 12/8/03 to 12/4/05 22 GEORGIA, 10/9/22 – current

The Bulldog senior class collected its 47th win with its latest victory over No. 9 Ole Miss.

1. 49-5 (2022)
2. 47-3 (2023)

On Saturday at No. 13 Tennessee, Georgia takes aim at an SEC regular season three-peat, that is to go 8-0 in three consecutive seasons, something that no other program has done since the league went to an eight-game schedule in 1992. In 2021, the Bulldogs posted their first perfect 8-0 SEC mark in school history with an average margin of victory of 31.9 points. The 2022 Bulldogs followed with another 8-0 SEC season with the average margin of victory of 25.5. The 2023 Bulldogs have an average margin of victory in SEC games this year of 19.9.

UT (7-3, 3-3 SEC), coached by Josh Heupel, has won 14 straight home games, which is the third longest active streak at home behind Georgia (25) and Michigan (21). The Vols average 32.0 ppg while allowing 20.2 ppg. UT ranks eighth nationally in rushing offense (213.3 ypg). They rank second in the SEC with 33 sacks. UT is coming off a 36-7 road loss to No. 12 Missouri as the Tigers tallied 531 yards of total offense, the most allowed by the Vols this year. UT came into that contest allowing an SEC-low 97 yards rushing per game but the league leader, Cody Schrader, scampered for 205 yards on 35 carries.

The 2022 contest in Athens marked the first 1-2 (Associated Press ranking) matchup in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium history and was just the third ever top five matchup. The Bulldogs, No. 1 in the polls but No. 3 in the initial CFP rankings, faced off against Tennessee who was No. 1 in the CFP. Along with CBS broadcasting the game, ESPN College GameDay and SEC Nation were all in Athens. Georgia emerged with a 27-13 victory. UT entered the contest ranked No. 1 in the county in points per game (49.4). Georgia’s defense limited them to 289 yards on 75 plays.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with UT 27-23-2 including winning the past six meetings. This is the longest streak of Bulldog success in the series. The Bulldogs are 6-1 against the Vols under Kirby Smart, the lone defeat coming in 2016 on a Hail-Mary by Josh Dobbs in Athens. He completed a 43-yarder to Jauan Jennings as time expired to lift No. 11 Tennessee past No. 25 Georgia 34-31.

The Bulldogs are one of only three teams in the country who are ranked in the top 10 in both Scoring Offense and Scoring Defense. The Bulldogs rank sixth in Scoring Defense at 15.6 ppg and sixth in Scoring Offense at 40.6 ppg. The other two teams are Michigan (10-0) and SMU (8-2).

One of the keys to Georgia’s success is its third down defense. The Bulldogs are ranked seventh nationally with opponents converting just 28 percent of the time. In SEC action, Georgia opponents are a combined 26-for-84 on third downs (28 percent). The Bulldogs lead the country in converting third downs (56 percent). Georgia has converted 47 of 86 third downs (55 percent) against league opponents.

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 sixth nationally allowing 15.6 points/game.

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	15.6	6th	10-0	0

Georgia is on a school record 27-game winning streak that began with a 34-11 win over Michigan in the 2021 CFP semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. This ranks third in SEC history.

Georgia is enjoying a school record streak of 37 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 26 regular season SEC games in a row dating to a 31-24 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 21, 2020. This is a school record for consecutive SEC wins and ranks second in SEC history.

The Bulldogs have set a school record with 25 home wins in a row, which leads the nation.

The Bulldogs are 43-1 in their last 44 games including back-to-back national championships.

The 2023 Bulldogs: Averaging 40.6 points/game (T-6th nationally)

Outscored their opponents 406-156, including 211-83 in the opening half

Own a +250 point differential; 53-for-57 in the Red Zone with 37 TDs, 16 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

Georgia’s offensive line has been named to the Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll for the seventh season in a row.

Tallied 611 yards of total offense against No. 9 Ole Miss, including 300 yards of rushing (most since registering 615 and 316 versus Missouri in 2020).

Racked up a then season-high 608 yards of total offense, including 173 yards on the ground against No. 20 UK.

Against USC, junior starting RT Amarius Mims went down with an ankle injury and missed the next six games before returning on Nov. 11 against No. 9 Ole Miss.

During that span, senior Xavier Truss moved from LG to RT and redshirt sophomore Dylan Fairchild came in at LG. Fairchild has started the last seven games at that spot. RSo. Micah Morris has also seen time at LG.

Junior C Sedrick Van Pran has a team-best 40 consecutive starts. 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 (Wil-LOCK) 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 leads the rushing attack with 691 yards on 124 carries (5.6 avg.) and 10 touchdowns.

Led Georgia with 95 yards and two touchdowns in the win over UF.

Had 20 carries for 146 yards (7.3 avg.) and one score in the road win at VU.

Made his first start in the win over South Carolina after appearing in 39 games.

Career-high six receptions for 51 yards in the win over #20 UK.

The veterans in the backfield are Edwards and senior Kendall Milton. Both missed time during preseason camp due to injuries. Milton is the second-leading rusher with 422 yards and seven touchdowns on 67 carries.

On senior night against No. 9 Ole Miss, Milton rushed for a career-high 127 yards on nine carries (14.1 avg.) and a career-high two touchdowns.

Georgia features an array of experienced pass catchers and 20 different Bulldogs have a reception this year. Junior Ladd McConkey did not play in the first four games because of a back injury. He made his season debut at Auburn and since then has 26 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns.

Career high seven catches for 95 yards in first start of 2023 versus No. 12 Missouri.

Then career high six catches for career high 135 yards and scored his first touchdown of 2023 in the win over Florida and was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Earned a spot on the 2023 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, is a Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist and is a Campbell Trophy finalist.

Transfer Dominic Lovett (Missouri) ranks second on the team with 43 catches for 475 yards and two touchdowns, including a career-long 55 yarder in the win over UF. He had 82 for 1,019 yards and three TDs in two years at UM.

Senior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is fourth on the team with 22 catches for 381 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 at Georgia (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.

All-American and 2022 Mackey Award winner junior Brock Bowers is one of the nation’s top talents. He was recently named a Mackey Award and a Lombardi Award semifinalist for the second straight year.

After sustaining an ankle injury during the road win over Vanderbilt, Bowers had surgery on Oct. 16 and returned on Nov. 11 during the win over No. 9 Ole Miss. He snagged three passes in his return, including an 8-yard touchdown.

He ranks second in Bulldog history in Touchdown Catches (25), fifth in Receiving Yards (2,425) and fifth in Receptions (163).

The Napa, Ca., native posted a 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. He was 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 to earn Mackey Award Tight End of the Week honors.

19 rushes for 193 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.

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.

Ranked sixth nationally in Scoring Defense, allowing just 15.6 ppg.

Held No. 9 Ole Miss to just 17 points after the Rebels came in to Athens averaging 38.8 points/game. Ole Miss managed only a field goal in the second half.

True freshman ILB C.J. Allen started his first game against the Rebels and led the team with nine stops, including a sack. He was filling in for Jamon-Dumas Johnson, who sustained a forearm injury against the win over No. 12 Missouri.

Had a season-high five sacks in the win versus Florida. All of those came in the first half, including Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins strip-sack that Marvin Jones Jr. recovered at the 11 yard line. It led to a TD that put Georgia up 24-7.

Allowed its first points in the third quarter in week five at Auburn. UGA has outscored opponents 110-16 in the third quarter and 195-73 in the second half.

Dumas-Johnson, a 2022 Butkus Award finalist, had seven stops against No. 12 Missouri before having to leave the game with a left forearm injury. He is fourth on the team with 34 stops. Dumas-Johnson 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 48 stops this year and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week after his 11-tackle performance at Auburn.

Sophomore LB Jalon Walker posted four stops, including 1.5 sacks, during the victory over No. 12 Missouri. Sharing time at ILB and OLB, Walker has 11 tackles, including three sacks.

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, Nazir Stackhouse and Ingram-Dawkins.

Stackhouse collected his first career interception against No. 12 Missouri in the fourth quarter. Despite his 44-yard return being negated because of a chop block call on the Bulldogs, his pick helped set up Peyton Woodring’s final field goal. He was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

Senior Star Tykee Smith is second on the team with 46 tackles, a team-leading 6.5 TFL, two sacks and a team-high four interceptions. Smith is tied for ninth nationally with four picks. He also had four picks with WVU before transferring.

Sophomore safety Malaki Starks ranks fifth on the team with 33 tackles and has two interceptions, the last one coming at Auburn to clinch the victory. He was recently named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.

Junior DB/safety Javon Bullard had a career-high 10 tackles at Auburn after missing two contests with an ankle injury. Bullard ended No. 12 Missouri’s final drive late in the fourth quarter with his first interception of 2023. He added another pick versus No. 9 Ole Miss in the most recent contest.

Junior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., is in his first year as the starting quarterback with a 10-0 record.

Beck is on a record pace for Completion Percentage at 72.2, 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.

Directed the Bulldogs to a 52-17 rout of No. 9 Ole Miss behind 18-of-25 passing for 306 yards and two touchdowns. Georgia tallied a season-high 611 total yards of offense against the Rebels.

Connected on 21 of 32 attempts for 254 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-21 win over No. 12 Missouri.

Led the Bulldogs’ to a 43-20 win over Florida in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. He was 19-for-28 for 315 yards and two touchdowns with no INTs to be one of the Manning Award Stars of the Week. His performance included a career-long 55-yard strike to Dominic Lovett.

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, 2 TDs), which ranks third in school history. Beck was named the SEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week thanks to his showing.

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.

Led Bulldogs to a 24-14 win over USC in the 2023 SEC opener after trailing 14-3 at halftime; posted a then career-high 27-for-35 for 269 yards. 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 11 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	29 @ VU, 2023
Attempts	39 @ VU, 2023
TD Passes	4 Vs. #20 UK, 2023
Long Pass Completion	55 Yards Vs. Florida, 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	10/10	231	320	72.2	3,022	5	18	167.0	55 UF
Total	22/10	267	378	70.6	3,508	7	24	165.8	55 UF

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	126.9	32
@VU	1	3	33.3	11	0	0	0	64.1	11
CS	5	10	50.0	77	1	1	0	127.7	30
@GT	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	—	—
2022
#11 ORE	5	6	83.3	71	0	1	0	237.7	23
SAM	5	7	71.4	52	0	0	0	133.8	16
@SC	5	6	83.3	55	0	1	0	215.3	28
AU	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	—	—
VU	8	11	72.7	98	0	2	0	207.6	24
GT	1	2	50.0	3	0	0	0	62.6	3
#3 TCU	2	3	66.7	31	0	0	0	153.5	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
@ VU (W)	29	39	73.4	261	1	1	2	133.9	31
Vs. UF (W)	19	28	67.9	315	0	2	0	185.9	55
#12 MIZ (W)	21	32	65.6	254	0	2	3	152.93	34
#9 OM (W)	18	25	72.0	306	1	2	0	193.2	44
Career Total	267	378	70.6	3,508	7	24	8	165.84	55

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
@ VU	9 (6R, 3P)	3 (3P)	#1 Georgia, 37-20
Vs. UF	11 (4R, 7P)	10 (4R, 6P)	#1 Georgia, 43-20
#12 MIZ	13 (6R, 7P)	9 (4R, 5P)	#2 Georgia, 30-21
#9 OM 13	(5R, 8P)	10 (5R, 5P)	#2 Georgia, 52-17

Longest Rush by Georgia: 62-yd by D. Edwards (@ VU)
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.: 49 yd TD by VU (Seals to Humphreys)

Australian punter Brett Thorson, who earned All-SEC Freshman honors in 2022, has a 42.7 average on 24 punts this year, including 16 that resulted in fair catches. Thorson pinned the Gators on their own 18, 9 and 6 yard line during the Bulldogs’ rout. He was named to the Ray Guy Award’s Ray’s 8 following his performance versus UT Martin. Georgia did not punt at Vanderbilt for the first time since the 2022 Kent State game.

Did You Know? Georgia is the only team in the FBS that has not allowed a punt return this season. The Bulldogs are tied for third nationally in Punt Return Yards at 0.0 (two schools have allowed negative punt return yards).

Freshman Peyton Woodring has attempted all field goals and PATs this season and is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. He has a team-high 104 points going 18-for-21 on field goals and 50-for-50 on PATs.

Woodring has set the Bulldog Freshman Record for Most Points Kicking. The old mark was 95 by Blair Walsh in 2008 when Georgia finished 10-3.

Against No. 12 Missouri, he totaled 12 points after drilling all three of his field goals and going 3-for-3 on PATs. His FGs included a career-long 48 yarder to give the Bulldogs’ a nine-point cushion at 30-21 with 3:57 left. He was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the game.

Woodring has earned SEC Freshman of the Week following wins over AU, #20 UK and VU. He had a season high 15 points in the win over the Wildcats and was named one of the Lou Groza Award’s Stars of the Week.

In his first road game, he connected on two field goals in the win at Auburn.

Tallied three field goals, including a then career-long 44 yarder, and was 4-for-4 on PATs during a windy victory at Vanderbilt.

First true freshman Bulldog PK to start a season 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, Zirke

Career Placekicking For Peyton Woodring
Year	PAT	Pct.	FG	Pct.	LG	Pts
2023	50-50	1.000	18-21	.857	48	104
Field Goal History For Peyton Woodring
Year	I20	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99	LG
2023	0-0	3-5	12-12	3-4	0-0	48

Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 7 (OM23)
FGA: 3 (USC23, UK23, @VU23, MIZ23)
FGM: 3 (UK23, @VU23), MIZ23
LG: LG: 48 (MIZ23)

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	24	1025	42.7	11	4	0	16	0	53 UTM
Total	60	2,645	44.1	30	13	1	34	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	77	4873	46	2
Total	86	5448	54	2

63.5 yard Avg. on Kickoffs

Currently, there are four Bulldogs who have blocked a kick/punt in their Georgia career.

True freshman DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt that resulted in a safety this season.

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.

OLB Jalon Walker blocked a punt that resulted in a safety versus Kent State last year.

S Dan Jackson blocked a punt against No. 8 Arkansas in 2021.

The Bulldogs are +3 in Turnover Margin, including 12 interceptions. Last year, the Bulldogs also 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.

Did You Know? Georgia recovered its only fumble this year in the 43-20 rout of Florida on Oct. 28.

Georgia is tied for first nationally (Minnesota is 12-for-14) with an 86 percent success rate on 4th Down Conversions this season, going 6-for-7 with a pair of TDs. The scores came on a 4th-and-goal from the 7 against No. 20 UK, and a 4th-and-1 from the Gator 2 against UF. Georgia ranks 74th in its 4th Down Conversion Defense in 2023 as opponents have been successful 52 percent of the time (11-for-21, no TDs).

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have converted on 4th down 62 percent of the time (60-for-97) with nine TDs while opponents are converting at a 41 percent rate (76-for-183).

Junior QB Carson Beck – SEC Offensive Player of the Week (10/9); Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 (10/9, 9/25); Manning Award Stars of the Week (10/9, 10/30); Davey O’Brien QB Class of 2023 (10/30)

Junior TE Brock Bowers – John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week (10/2); Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (10/17); ESPN Midseason All-American (10/17); CBS Sports Midseason All-American (10/17); AP Midseason All-American (10/18); The Athletic Midseason All-American (10/19); Lombard Award Semifinalist (11/1); Mackey Award Semifinalist (11/8)

Junior ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson – Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (10/17)

Junior WR Ladd McConkey – Allstate AFCA Good Works Team (9/12); Campbell Trophy finalist/National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar- Athlete Award Class (10/25); SEC Offensive Player of the Week, Senior Bowl Co-Offensive Player of the Week (10/30); Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist (11/2)

Junior OT Amarius Mims – Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (10/17)

Junior ILB Smael Mondon – SEC Defensive Player of the Week (10/2)

Offensive Line – Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll (10/17)

Redshirt sophomore OG Tate Ratledge – Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (10/17)

Sophomore S Malaki Starks – Sporting News Midseason All-American (10/17); ESPN Midseason All-American (10/17); CBS Sports Midseason All-American (10/17); AP Midseason All-American (10/18); The Athletic Midseason All-American (10/19); Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist (10/31)

Senior C Sedrick Van Pran – SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (9/18); Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List (10/17); ESPN Midseason All-American (10/17)

Senior DL Nazir Stackhouse – SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (11/6)

Freshman PK Peyton Woodring – SEC Freshman of the Week (10/16, 10/9, 10/2); Lou Groza Stars of the Week (10/10); SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (11/6); Lou Groza Award Semifinalist (11/9)

At 10-0, 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 45.

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’ 22-week streak of No. 1 ranked appearances is third best all-time in NCAA history.

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 110 consecutive weeks and that ranks third among active streaks.

UGA remains No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and also the FWAA Super 16 Poll where it began 2023.

RB Joseph Daniels and Tennessee DB Doneiko Slaughter each attended Roswell HS.

SN Jonathan Washburn and Tennessee LB Kwauze Garland and DL Kurott Garland all attended Heritage HS.

ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Tennessee DL Dominic Bailey each attended St. Frances Academy (Md.).

WR Dominic Lovett and Tennessee OL Javontez Spraggins each attended East St. Louis HS (Mo.).

RB Daijun Edwards and Tennessee DB Jack Luttrell each attended Colquitt County HS.

WR Marek Briley and Tennessee DB Warren Burrell attended North Gwinnett HS.

RB Len’Neth Whitehead was previously a member of Tennessee’s football team before transferring this past summer.

Georgia captured its 13th SEC Eastern Division title in school history including the sixth in the Kirby Smart era. Georgia has won the East the past three seasons along with three in a row from 2017-19 under Smart. Since the league went to divisions in 1992, the Bulldogs have won 10 division titles outright and shared three others. This is the final year of divisions as the SEC expands to 16 teams with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma in 2024.

The 2024 SEC Championships Game will be Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Mercedes- Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff will be at 4 p.m. and be televised by CBS Sports. The Bulldogs have captured 14 SEC titles, which ranks second most among conference teams. Georgia is 4-6 in SEC Championship Games and will face Alabama this year and look for their first victory in this matchup. The Tide won previous games in this matchup in 2012, 2018 and 2021. The Bulldogs are taking aim at their second straight SEC title having won this game in 2002 (Arkansas), 2005 (LSU), 2017 (Auburn) and 2022 (LSU).

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; #9 OM: ILB C.J. Allen

The Bulldogs had 17 true freshmen make their debut in the 2023 season opener and have had 22 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: T. Ratledge, K. Milton, Z. Logue, M. Starks
Florida: M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, S. Van Pran, J. Dumas-Johnson, J. Bullard
#12 Missouri:N. Stackhouse, L. McConkey, C. Beck, S. Mondon
#9 Ole Miss: C. Beck, L. McConkey, S. Mondon, N. Stackhouse
Tennessee:
Georgia Tech:

*Georgia is +3 in turnover margin.

*The Bulldogs have 45 points (does not include the PATs) off 13 turnovers.

*Opponents have 36 points off 10 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
#20 UK: UK had no TOs; UK 6 points off 1 TO
VU: UGA 6 pts. off 1 TO; VU 6 pts. off 2 TOs
UF: UGA 6 pts. off 1 TO; UGA had no TOs
#12 MIZ: UGA 3 pts. off 2 TOs; UGA had no TOs
#9 OM: UGA no pts. off 1 TO; OM no pts. off 1 TO
UT:
GT:

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

Team – Games
Florida 446 (1988-present)
TCU 389 (1991-present)
Georgia 369 (1995-present)

UGA has 50 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have 24.

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):
#1 UGA: 6 (62-yd rush Edwards)
VAN: 2 (49-yd TD pass Seals to Humphreys)
GAME 8 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 3 (55-yd pass Beck to Lovett)
UF: 4 (48-yd rush Johnson)
GAME 9 (Longest):
#2 UGA: #2 UGA: 4 (33-yd Beck to McConkey)
#12 MIZZOU: 3 (39-yd TD Cook to Burden)MIZZOU:
GAME 10 (Longest):
#2 UGA: 7 (51-yd rush Milton)
#9 OM: 2 (33-yd pass, 2x)
GAME 11 (Longest):
UGA:
UT:
GAME 12 (Longest):
UGA:
GT:

• Eighth season as Georgia coach • 91-15 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	10	0	1.000	7-0
Total	91	15	.858	#58-13

#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 30 scores on defense and special teams. The Dogs are 27-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart . This year, freshman DB Kyron Jones returned an INT versus UT Martin 26 yards for a score; redshirt sophomore Mekhi Mews took a punt return 69 yards for a touchdown against Ball State; and Joenel Aguero blocked a punt for a safety versus Florida. 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).

{108 Points on 16 TDs, 6 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: 8 points in two games (Pick-Six, Safety)

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: 8 points in 2 games (PR, Safety)

“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.