UGA Football: Game Notes – Bulldogs Look to Defend SEC Championship vs. Alabama

Kirby Smart is in his eighth year directing the Bulldogs who are 93-15 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 24 weeks, and this is the longest streak in the College Football Playoff era.

33 Southern California, 12/8/03 to 12/4/05
24 GEORGIA, 10/9/22 – current

The Bulldog senior class collected its 49th win by beating Georgia Tech to cap a perfect regular season. Also, these Bulldogs went 22-0 at home.

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

Top-ranked Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) will be looking to capture its 15th SEC title and second straight when it meets No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) Saturday in Atlanta. The Bulldogs completed their third consecutive perfect regular season, which is a school record. Also, the 2023 senior class has tied the school mark for victories as they enter the postseason now 49-3. The 2022 class went 49-5.

The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) where they are 4-6. Georgia claimed the 2022 SEC crown when it beat LSU while the others came in 2002 (Arkansas), 2005 (LSU) and 2017 (Auburn). Georgia is making its sixth appearance in the SECCG in the Kirby Smart era where it’s 2-3. The Bulldogs are the visiting team this year

Georgia’s 14 conference titles rank the second most in the SEC. Georgia will be aiming for its first win over Alabama in an SECCG after falling in 2012, 2018 and 2021. In the all-time series, Alabama leads 42-26-4. The Bulldogs won the last meeting, posting a 33-18 triumph in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game in Indianapolis, Ind.

The 2023 team features 14 Bulldogs who have started at least one SECCG and two (Sedrick Van Pran-C and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint-WR) who have started the past two championship games.

Offense (6): Sedrick Van Pran (C/21-22), Brock Bowers (TE/21), Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (WR/21-22), Ladd McConkey (WR/22), Tate Ratledge (RG/22), Xavier Truss (LG/22)

Defense (8): Dan Jackson (SS/21), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB/22), Kamari Lassiter (DB/22), Smael Mondon (LB/22), Tykee Smith (STAR/22), Nazir Stackhouse (DL/22), Malaki Starks (SS/22), Tramel Walthour (DE/22)

Did You Know? There have been five blocked field goals in SECCG history, and four of them by Georgia. Last year, Nazir Stackhouse blocked a 32-yard attempt and Chris Smith returned it 96 yards for a score.

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 15.8 ppg and eighth in Scoring Offense at 39.6 ppg. The other teams are Oregon, who ranks seventh in Scoring Defense (15.9) and second in Scoring Offense (45.2), and Notre Dame as they are ninth in both (16.6 pgg/39.1 ppg).

One of the keys to Georgia’s success is its third down defense. The Bulldogs are ranked second nationally with opponents converting just 27 percent of the time. In SEC action, Georgia opponents were a combined 28-for-95 on third downs (29 percent). The Bulldogs are second nationally in converting third downs (57 percent). Georgia converted 56 of 99 third downs (57 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 15.8 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	15.8	6th	12-0	0

Georgia is on a school record and SEC record 29-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 39 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 27 regular season SEC games in a row dating to a 31-24 win over Mississippi State on Nov. 21, 2020. This is a school and SEC record tying mark for consecutive conference wins.

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

The Bulldogs have won 15 straight games in an opponent’s home stadium and that leads in FBS.

The Bulldogs are 45-1 in their last 46 games including back-to-back national championships.

The Bulldogs will extend the nation’s longest active bowl streak to 27 consecutive years this season.

The 2023 Bulldogs: Averaging 39.6 points/game (8th nationally)

Outscored their opponents 475-189, including 256-106 in the opening half

Own a +286 point differential; 62-for-68 in the Red Zone with 45 TDs, 17 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-for-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-for-69 in the Red Zone (86% ranked 50th) with 42 TDs and 17 FGs

A Joe Moore Award semifinalist for the third season in a row.

The Bulldogs are 12-0 and averaging 39.6 points per game. Georgia is on pace to set school record in Avg. Yards Per Play at 7.25 and Avg. Yards Per Game at 496.4.

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 608 yards of total offense in the rout of 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 nine games at that spot. RSo. Micah Morris has also seen time at LG.

Junior C Sedrick Van Pran has a team-best 42 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 780 yards (5.3 avg.) and 11 touchdowns. His best game came with 146 yards in the win over VU.

Edwards made his first start in the win over USC after appearing in 39 games. Fellow senior Kendall Milton has 644 yards (6.5 avg) and 10 scores.

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. Milton topped that in the road win over Ga. Tech, going for a career-high 156 yards on 18 attempts and a pair of scores.

Georgia features an array of experienced pass catchers and 21 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 has 26 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns in seven total games this year.

Made career high seven catches 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.

Sophomore Dillon Bell had a memorable game in the road win over No. 18 Tennessee. Bell threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and caught a 9 yarder for a score (first Bulldog to accomplish that feat since Terry Godwin, 2016 vs. Penn State). Bell finished with a career high five catches for 90 yards and had a 25-yard kickoff return in the victory.

Transfer Dominic Lovett (Missouri) ranks second on the team with 49 catches for 552 yards and three 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 third on the team with 29 catches for 472 yards and four 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 UK. His acrobatic score was a 15 yarder in the corner of the end zone.

Junior Brock Bowers, McConkey and Thomas all missed the win over Tech.

All-American and 2022 Mackey Award winner junior Brock Bowers is one of the nation’s top talents. He has been named Lombardi Award finalist and a Mackey Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and Biletnikoff Award semifinalist for the second straight year. He has played in nine games.

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.

Ranks second in Bulldog history in Touchdown Catches (26), fifth in Receiving Yards (2,485) and fourth in Receptions (170).

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 15.8 ppg.

Allowed just 15.3 ppg in its wins over four ranked opponents.

Blanked No. 18 Tennessee in the second half and held the Vols to just 2-of-11 on third downs; snapped UT’s 14-game home winning streak while allowing the Vols just 10 points. UT was averaging 32.0 ppg coming into the contest.

Held No. 9 Ole Miss to just 17 points after the Rebels came in with a 38.8 ppg. Ole Miss managed only a field goal in the second half.

Team had a season-high five sacks in the win versus Florida.

Allowed its first points in the third quarter in week five at Auburn. UGA has outscored opponents 134-16 in the third quarter and 219-83 in the second half.

True freshman ILB CJ Allen started his first game against #9 OM and led the team with nine stops, including a sack, and was named the SEC and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week. He was filling in for Jamon-Dumas Johnson, who sustained a forearm injury versus No. 12 Missouri and has been out.

Dumas-Johnson, a 2022 Butkus Award finalist, had seven stops against No. 12 Missouri before his injury. He has 34 stops on the year.

Junior ILB Smael Mondon was the team leader with 76 stops last year. Mondon ranks second on the team this year with 60 stops. Mondon and Allen had eight apiece in the latest win over Ga Tech.

Sophomore LB Jalon Walker posted four stops, including 1.5 sacks, during the victory over No. 12 Missouri. He has seen time at ILB and OLB this year.

Sophomore DL Mykel Williams is part of an experienced front that features seniors Zion Logue, Warren Brinson, Tramel Walthour, Nazir Stackhouse and Tyrion 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.

Senior Star Tykee Smith leads the team with 63 tackles, a team-leading 7.5 TFL, two sacks and a team-high four interceptions. He had a career high 10 stops in the rout at No. 18 Tennessee and most recently had 7 at Ga. Tech.

Sophomore safety Malaki Starks has 43 tackles and two interceptions. He has been named a Bronko Nagurski Trophy finalist and a Jim Thorpe Award and Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist.

Junior DB/safety Javon Bullard is third on the squad with 50 tackles. He had a career-high 10 tackles at Auburn. He ended No. 12 Missouri’s final drive with his first INT of 2023 and added another one versus No. 9 Ole Miss.

Junior DB Kamari Lassiter has started 27 consecutive games and has 36 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, this season. Sophomore Daylen Everette starts on the other side and has 25 stops, including two TFLs.

Junior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., is in his first year as the starting quarterback with a 12-0 record. He is now a Maxwell Award and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist.

4-0 versus top-20 opponents with a 74.6 Completion Percentage (91-122) for 1,247 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs

Beck is on a school record pace for Completion Percentage at 72.4, which ranks 6th nationally. The Bulldog record was set last year by Stetson Bennett at 68.3.

Beck’s 268 completions ranks third in UGA single season history, trailing only Stetson Bennett, 310 in 2022 and Eric Zeier, 269 in 1993. *His 3,495 passing yards this year ranks 4th in school history, trailing Stetson Bennett, 4,127 in 2022; Aaron Murray, 3,893 in 2012; Eric Zeier, 3,525 in 1993. *Shredded No. 18 Tennessee on 24-for-30 passing for 298 yards and three touchdowns and converted nine of 13 third downs.

Directed 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 again OM.

21 of 32 attempts for 254 yards and two TDs in 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.

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.

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.

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	12/12	268	370	72.4	3,495	6	22	168.2	55 UF
Total	24/12	304	428	71.0	3,981	8	28	167.0	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
@ #18 UT (W)	24	30	80.0	298	0	2	0	196.4	34
@ GT (W)	13	20	65.0	175	1	1	0	145.0	29
Career Total	304	428	71.0	3,981	8	28	8	167.0	55

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

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
@ #18 UT	13 (3R, 10P)	4 (1R, 3P)	#1 Georgia, 38-10
@ GT	12 (8R, 4P)	7 (4R, 3P)	#1 Georgia, 31-23

Longest Rush by Georgia: 62-yd by D. Edwards (@ VU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 75-yd TD by J. Wright (@ #18 UT)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 56 yds vs. UTM (Vandagriff to Thomas)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 57 yd by GT (King to Singleton)

Freshman Peyton Woodring has attempted all field goals and PATs this season and is a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. He has a team-high 119 points going 20-for-23 on field goals and 59-for-59 on PATs.

Ranks 8th nationally in Scoring and 3rd among kickers. His 119 points currently ranks 8th best in school history for a kicker.

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.

With the Bulldogs down 7-0 in the opening period, Woodring drilled a 42 yarder at No. 18 Tennessee to help jumpstart the offense.

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.

Australian punter Brett Thorson, who earned All-SEC Freshman honors in 2022, has a 42.7 average on 27 punts this year, including 18 that resulted in fair catches.

Pinned the Gators on their own 18, 9 and 6 yard line during the Bulldogs’ rout.

Named to the Ray Guy Award’s Ray’s 8 following his game versus UT Martin.

Georgia did not punt at Vanderbilt for the first time since 2022 (Kent State). Did You Know? Georgia is the only team in the FBS that has not allowed a punt return this season. Coach Smart credits the entire punting unit including gunners Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett along with the coaching staff for their efforts here. The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in Fewest Punt Return Yards Allowed at 0.0 (three schools have allowed negative punt return yards).

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 90 kickoffs with 59 touchbacks and two going out of bounds.

Redshirt sophomore Mekhi Mews has been the primary returner with a 26.8 average on 15 KOR and a 10.3 average on 20 PR. He had a 69-yard PR for a TD in the win over Ball State. In the latest win over Tech, Mews had three KOR for 76 yards.

Career Placekicking For Peyton Woodring
Year	PAT	Pct.	FG	Pct.	LG	Pts
2023	59-59	1.000	20-23	.870	48	119
Field Goal History For Peyton Woodring
Year	I20	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99	LG
2023	0-0	3-5	13-13	4-5	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	27	1154	42.7	12	4	0	18	0	53UTM
Total	63	2,774	44.0	31	13	1	36	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	90	5718	59	2
Total	99	6303	67	2

63.5 yard Avg. on Kickoffs

Georgia is aiming for its fourth appearance in the College Football Playoff (CFP), including its third straight after winning back-to-back national titles, the first program to do so in the CFP era.

The Bulldogs own a 5-1 mark in the CFP. Georgia’s first appearance came in 2017 as the No. 3 seed. The Bulldogs defeated No. 2 Oklahoma in double overtime to win the Rose Bowl Game in the CFP Semifinal and then lost in overtime to No. 4 Alabama in the National Championship Game in Atlanta.

In 2021, Georgia again was a No. 3 seed. The Bulldogs beat No. 2 Michigan in the CFP Semifinal Orange Bowl and then dispatched No. 1 Alabama in the title game in Indianapolis for its first national championship since 1980. Last season, Georgia entered as the top seed and outlasted No. 4 Ohio State in the CFP Semifinal Peach Bowl and then crushed No. 3 TCU 65-7 in Inglewood, Calif.

The Bulldogs were No. 2 in the initial 2023 CFP rankings where they remained for one week before moving up to the top spot since Nov. 14. Georgia will extend the nation’s longest active bowl streak to 27 years this season.

The Bulldogs are Even in Turnover Margin. They have 12 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. Did You Know? Georgia recovered its only fumble this year in the 43-20 rout of Florida on Oct. 28.

Georgia is tied for seventh nationally with a 75 percent success rate on 4th Down Conversions this season, going 6-for-8 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 77th in its 4th Down Conversion Defense as opponents have been successful 54 percent of the time (14-for-26, no TDs).

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have converted on 4th down 61 percent of the time (60-for-98) with nine TDs while opponents are converting at a 41 percent rate (77-for-186).

Currently, there are four Bulldogs who have blocked a kick/punt:

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.

Freshman ILB CJ Allen – SEC Freshman of the Week (11/13); Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Week (11/14)

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); Maxwell Award Semifinalist (11/13); Davey O’Brien Award Semifinalist (11/14); Davey O’Brien Award Great 8 (11/20)

John & Alice Sands Offensive Coordinator/QBs Coach Mike Bobo – Broyles Award Semifinalist (11/20)

Junior TE Brock Bowers – John Mackey Award Tight End of the Week (10/2); 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 Finalist (11/15); Mackey Award Semifinalist (11/8); Maxwell Award Semifinalist (11/13); Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist (11/20); Walter Camp Player of the Year Semifinalist (11/21)

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

Offensive Line – Joe Moore Award Semifinalist (11/14)

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); Bednarik Award Semifinalist (11/13); Bronko Nagurski Trophy Finalist (11/15)

Senior C Sedrick Van Pran – SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (9/18); 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 12-0, 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 47.

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’ 24-week streak of No. 1 ranked appearances is second 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 112 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.

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.

The Bulldogs have captured 14 SEC titles, which ranks second most among conference teams. Georgia is 4-6 in SEC Championship Games (SECCG) 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).

The 2023 Georgia Legend that will be honored at this year’s SECCG will be former two-time All-SEC running back Knowshon Moreno (2007-08). The 12th pick of the first round by the Denver Broncos in 2009, he played six seasons in the NFL.

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 CJ 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
#18 Tennessee: T. Ratledge, L. McConkey, Z. Logue, S. Mondon
Georgia Tech: N. Stackhouse, T. Walthour, D. Edwards, M. Rosemy-Jacksaint

*Georgia is Even in turnover margin.
*The Bulldogs have 45 points (does not include the PATs) off 13 turnovers.
*Opponents have 48 points off 13 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 nxo 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
#18 UT: UT had no TOs; UT no pts. off 1 TO
GT: GT had no TOs; GT 12 points off 2 TOs

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

Team – Games
Florida 448 (1988-present)
TCU 391 (1991-present)
Georgia 371 (1995-present)

UGA has 59 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have 27.

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):
#1 UGA: 3 (35-yd pass Beck to Rosemy-Jacksaint)
#18 UT: 1 (75-yd TD Jaylen Wright)
GAME 12 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 6 (39-yd KOR Bell)
GT: 2 (57-yd Pass King to Singleton)

• Eighth season as Georgia coach • 93-15 Career Record • 2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
• Best record & winning percentage (85-15, .850) after his first 100 games of any coach in SEC history
• 2017 CFP national runner-up • 2017, 2022 SEC Champions • SEC Eastern Division Champs 2017-19 & 21-23
• 2017 George Munger award (National Coach of the Year by Maxwell Club) • SEC Coach of the Year, 2017, 2021-22
• One of nine Power 5 head coaches leading his alma mater
• 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
• 199 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls, including a high of 35 on the 2021 national championship team 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	9-0#	CFP Peach/NCG
2023	12	0	1.000	8-0
Total	93	15	.861	#59-13

#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.