UGA Football: Georgia Opens 2024 Season Against Clemson in the Aflac Kickoff Game

For the 13th time in school history, Georgia opens a season with a top 25 matchup. Top-ranked Georgia faces No. 14 Clemson on Aug. 31 in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Georgia great and College Football Hall of Fame kicker Kevin Butler will serve as an honorary captain for the game.

The Bulldogs are 9-3 in ranked matchups to start a campaign including winning their past four (2014, ’16, ’21 & ’22). This span includes a 10-3 win over No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte in 2021 when Georgia was No. 5. The last defeat came in 2013 when No. 8 Clemson upset No. 5 Georgia 38-35 in Clemson. The Bulldogs are 3-1 against the Tigers in these matchups.

Georgia is 100-27-3 in season openers including 8-0 in the Kirby Smart era. The Bulldogs have won 10 straight openers, the last defeat coming in the aformentioned road game with Clemson in 2013.

The Bulldogs open the season ranked No. 1 in the AP and US LBM Coaches poll for the third time in school history (2008, 2023). Georgia has the longest active streak of being ranked in the AP top 10 (50 straight polls). Georgia is the only team to have finished in the top seven of the final AP poll in each of the past seven seasons. The last team to begin and finish a season at No. 1 in the AP poll was Alabama in 2017.

Head coach Kirby Smart is unbeaten against all active head coaches over the past five years.

The Bulldogs face five teams preseason ranked in the top 15 including three of those on the road in No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Alabama and No. 6 Ole Miss.

The Bulldogs were the only FBS team to finish the 2023 season nationally ranked in the top five in both Scoring Offense (40.1 ppg/5th) and Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg/5th). Also the Bulldogs were the first FBS team since 2020 to not allow a punt return all season.

In the Smart era, the Georgia defense has ranked in the top five nationally in Scoring Defense five times including leading the nation twice (2019 at 12.6 ppg & 2021 at 10.2 ppg). Georgia has been ranked in the top 10 in Scoring Offense the past three seasons.

Senior Carson Beck returns after posting a 13-1 record in his first year as the Bulldogs’ starting QB in 2023. He ranked third in all of FBS with 3,941 passing yards. A Manning Award finalist, he finished 5-1 versus top-20 opponents. Against ranked teams, he posted 73.9 Completion Percentage (125-169) for 1,693 yards, 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions.

The offense is bolstered by four starting linemen returning in LT Earnest Greene III, LG Dylan Fairchild, RG Tate Ratledge and RT Xavier Truss. The 2023 offense set a school record by averaging 7.26 yards per play and led the country with a 3rd Down Conversion of 55.2%. The veteran receivers back from the 2023 squad include Dominic Lovett, Dillon Bell and Arian Smith.

Seven of 11 starters return from Georgia’s defense that ranked fifth nationally in Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg) and led the nation in 3rd Down Conversion (25.7%). The second-leading tackler headlines the group in Smael Mondon who had 68 stops in 2023. The Bulldogs will need to replace three starters from the secondary as Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter and Tykee Smith are in the NFL.

In the defensive backfield, there’s All-American safety Malaki Starks and cornerback Daylen Everette, who each started all 14 games last year. With linemen Zion Logue and Tramel Walthour now in the NFL, Mykel Williams, Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson are the veterans up front. Starks and Williams have been listed among the projected premium picks for the next NFL Draft while Stackhouse would’ve heard his named called last year before opting to return. Georgia has the most familiar faces returning at linebacker. Joining Mondon, the Bulldogs will feature the versatile Jalon Walker, CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson and Chaz Chambliss. A few freshmen expected to contribute early include Ellis Robinson IV, KJ Bolden and Demello Jones in the secondary, Justin Williams and Chris Cole at linebacker, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Jordan Thomas and Nasir Johnson on the line.

• Georgia is 46-2 in last 48 games with a school record streak of 39 consecutive regular season victories
• The 2024 Senior Class is 42-2 including 36-0 in the regular season. The 2023 senior class set the school record with a 50-4 mark, two national titles, an SEC crown plus went 6-0 in bowl/CFP games.
• An SEC and school record streak of 27 consecutive SEC regular season wins
• A school record 25-game home winning streak, which leads in FBS
• A 15-game winning streak in an opponent’s home stadium, which leads in FBS
• The nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons including winning its last seven bowl/CFP games
• Georgia begins a new streak as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press (AP) poll. The Bulldogs had an SEC and school record streak of 24 consecutive weeks at No. 1 in the Associated Press rankings (10/9/22 to 11/26/23), which ranked second all-time in the CFP era.

• Fifth-year senior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., posted a 13-1 record in his first year as the Bulldogs’ starting QB in 2023.
• Beck is on the 2024 watch list for numerous national awards. He was a 2023 Manning Award finalist and a Maxwell Award / Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist.
• Had a school record 72.4 Completion% (5th nationally) in 2023.
• Beck’s 302 completions last year ranked 2nd in UGA single season history, trailing only Stetson Bennett, who had 310 in 2022 when the Bulldogs went 15-0 and won the national championship.
• His 3,941 passing yards last year ranked 2nd in school history, trailing only Bennett, who had 4,127 in 2022.
• Beck was 5-1 versus top-20 opponents last season with a 73.9 Completion Percentage (125-169) for 1,693 yards, 13 TDs, 2 INTs in those contests.
• Became the first Bulldog QB since 2013 (Aaron Murray) to have three straight games of at least 300 yards passing (UAB, @ Auburn, Kentucky).
• Along with Beck, Georgia’s quarterback room includes redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton, freshman Ryan Puglisi and redshirt freshman transfer Jaden Rashada (Arizona State). Stockton saw action in four games last year and completed 63% of his passes (12-for-19) for 148 yards and two TDs.

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	14/14	302	417	72.4	3,941	6	24	167.9	55 UF
Total	26/14	338	475	71.2	4,427	8	30	166.9	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
SECCG: #8 UA (L)	21	29	72.4	243	0	0	2	142.8	51
%#5 FSU (W)	13	18	72.2	203	0	2	1	203.6	35
Career Total	338	475	71.2	4,427	8	30	11	166.9	55

• The 2023 Bulldogs averaged 40.1 points/game (5th nationally)
• Outscored opponents 562-219, including a 151-19 edge in the third quarter
• Went 74-for-81 (91 percent) in the Red Zone with 56 TDs, 18 FGs
• Led the NCAA in 3rd Down Conversions at 55.2%

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
SEC CG: #8 UA	5 (1R, 4P)	7 (2R, 5P)	#8 Alabama, 27-24
Orange Bowl: #5 FSU	23 (13R,10P)	4 (1R, 3P)	#6 Georgia 63-3

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)

The Bulldogs return four starters on the line in Earnest Greene III, Dylan Fairchild, Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss, along with veterans Micah Morris and Jared Wilson. Amarius Mims was selected 18th overall in the NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals while C Sedrick Van Pran was picked in the fifth round by the Buffalo Bills.

During preseason camp, Ratledge, normally a guard, saw time at center along with Drew Bobo while Wilson was dealing with achilles tendonitis.

The unit was a Joe Moore Award finalist for the third season in a row in 2023.

The 2023 Georgia offense set a school record averaging 7.26 Yards Per Play while the 496.5 Yards Per Game average ranked second all-time.

Georgia’s running back room features Florida transfer Trevor Etienne, Roderick Robinson II, Branson Robinson, who was sidelined in 2023 due to an ACL injury, Cash Jones plus a host of freshmen in Chauncey Bowens, Nate Frazier and Dwight Phillips Jr.

Etienne will be vying for a spot in the rotation after rushing for 249 times for 1,472 yards and 14 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Gators. Also, he tallied 30 receptions for 238 yards and one touchdown plus returned 28 kicks for 671 yards.

Robinson II had 24 carries for 196 yards (8.2 avg.) and two scores in just five games to be the third-leading rusher last season.

Georgia’s top two running backs from 2023 (Daijun Edwards, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Kendall Milton, Seattle Seahawks) are now in the NFL. This duo combined for 1,670 yards and 27 TDs.

Twenty-two Bulldogs had a reception last year and the top returnees include Dominic Lovett (54 for 613 yards and 4 TDs in his first year at Georgia), Arian Smith (8 for 153 yards, 2 TDs) and Dillon Bell (29 for 355 yards and 2 TDs). The versatile Bell also had 25 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns in 2023 and threw an 18-yard touchdown in the 38-10 road win over No. 18 Tennessee.

London Humphreys (Vanderbilt), Michael Jackson III (USC) and Colbie Young (Miami) transferred to UGA in January and are expected to contribute.

Sophomore Anthony Evans III will be in the rotation while freshman Sacovie White and Nitro Tuggle will vie for playing time too. Junior Cole Speer, who has contributed on special teams, could see more action at receiver too.

Three of the top four receivers from 2023 are now in the NFL in tight end Brock Bowers (1st Round, Las Vegas Raiders, No. 13 overall), Ladd McConkey (2nd Round, by L.A. Chargers) and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (Washington Commanders).

The tight end room features veterans Oscar Delp (24 for 284 yards and 3 TDs), sophomore Lawson Luckie and Stanford graduate transfer Ben Yurosek (108 career rec., 1,342 yards, 5 TDs) plus a pair of freshmen in Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich who have been on campus since January.

Georgia has had 42 players drafted over the past four seasons, including 23 on defense and eight of those defenders have gone in the first round.

The 2023 unit ranked fifth nationally in Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg).

Allowed only 93 points in the second half in 2023 for a 6.6 average and allowed a touchdown or less in the second half in eight of 14 contests.

5-1 versus ranked opponents and allowed just 15.2 ppg in those contests.

Seven of 11 starters return from Georgia’s defense including second-leading tackler Smael Mondon, Jr. who had 68 stops after a team-high 76 in 2022.

The Bulldogs will need to replace three starters from the secondary as Javon Bullard, Kamari Lassiter and Tykee Smith are in the NFL. This trio all ranked in the top six tacklers last season, tallying a combined 163 stops, six interceptions and 13 tackles for loss.

The defensive backfield returns All-America safety Malaki Starks and Daylen Everette, who each started all 14 games last year. Starks completed his second season with 52 tackles and three interceptions. Starks is on the watch list for several national awards. In 2023, he was a Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award finalist and a Chuck Bednarik Award semifinalist.

Mykel Williams, Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson and Tyrion Ingram- Dawkins will be leaned on up front. Williams finished with 4.5 sacks in 10 starts in 2023. Ingram-Dawkins and Brinson can be a force when healthy.

Stackhouse collected his first career interception against No. 12 Missouri in the fourth quarter last season that led to a field goal.

The linebacker room features veterans Jalon Walker, CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson and Chaz Chambliss. Chambliss started all 14 games last year and had 20 stops. Allen made his way into the starting lineup for five games and finished fifth on the team with 41 stops while Wilson had 15 tackles.

Walker, a 6-2, 245-pounder is a self-described “hybrid linebacker” for his ability to play on the edge and in the box. He led the team with five sacks last year including a pair in the SEC Championship Game.

Georgia welcomes back a two-year starter in P Brett Thorson and sophomore PK Peyton Woodring after both shined in 2023.

Thorson, a native of Melbourne, Australia, had a 43.8 average on 32 punts in 2023 including 21 that resulted in fair catches and just two touchbacks. Thorson is known for his comedic slant on social media about his lack of playing time as the Bulldogs punted a record low 32 times in 2023 (14 games) after just 36 punts in 2022 (15 games), the two lowest totals dating back to at least 1948.

Thanks in part to Thorson’s punts and to the entire punt coverage team including gunners Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett, Georgia was the only team in the FBS that did not allow a punt return in 2023, the first school to do that since 2020.

Woodring, who hails from Lafayette, La., was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist as a freshman. He scored a team-high 134 points, going 21-for-25 on field goals and 71-for-71 on PATs. He ranked sixth nationally in Scoring and third among kickers and his 134 points ranked third best in school history for a kicker and most for a Bulldog freshman kicker. Woodring was the first true freshman Bulldog PK to start a season since Marshall Morgan in 2012.

One of the candidates to be the starting snapper is Beau Gardner, a graduate transfer from UCLA who is from San Francisco.

At kicker, graduate transfer Charlie Ham, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is back the Peach State after a successful undergraduate career at Duke (2019-23). He appeared in 46 games, going 36-for-50 on field goals (LG-50), 91-for-93 on PATs and tallied 193 kickoffs with a 61.2 average and 98 touchbacks.

Drew Miller, a native of Mediapolis, Iowa, was the nation’s top-ranked prep punter, and he has been on campus since June.

The leading candidate for punt returner is sophomore Anthony Evans III as he had four for 55 yards last year including a 28-yarder in the SEC Championship Game. In the kickoff return game, Evans along with Dillon Bell and Travis Etienne are options. Bell had six returns for 160 yards (26.7 avg.) including a 39-yarder at Ga. Tech last year. In two seasons at Florida, Etienne tallied 26 kickoff returns for 645 yards (24.8 avg.).

Currently, four Bulldogs have blocked a kick or punt in their career: DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt in 2023 that resulted in a safety. 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 in 2022. S Dan Jackson blocked a punt against No. 8 Arkansas in 2021.

The Bulldogs welcome back James Coley (wide receivers), who is in his second stint at UGA (first was 2016-19) during the Kirby Smart era. Also, Josh Crawford (run game coordinator/running backs), Travaris Johnson (co-defensive coordinator, safeties) and Donte Williams (defensive backs) are fresh additions.

Also, Kirk Benedict has been promoted from special teams quality control to special teams coordinator. Meanwhile, former co-defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has transitioned into an off-field analyst to spend more time with family. Muschamp’s youngest son, Whit, is a freshman quarterback at Vanderbilt while his oldest son, Jackson, was a quarterback at Georgia, finishing in 2023.

Georgia enters the 2024 campaign on an SEC and school record streak of 27 consecutive regular season wins in league play. The Bulldogs first SEC game will be in week three at Kentucky with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on ABC.

In the all-SEC 2020 schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bulldogs won their final three SEC regular season games and have since run the table.

In 2021, Georgia posted its first perfect 8-0 mark in league play in school history. The SEC went to eight games when it split into divisions in 1992.

The 2022 Bulldogs followed it up with another 8-0 SEC mark, and the average margin of victory in those games was 25.5.

The 2023 Bulldogs made it three straight 8-0 league seasons (the only SEC school ever to accomplish that feat).

In school history, Georgia has gone undefeated in league play 10 times.

The 2024 SEC slate for the Bulldogs features roadtrips to Kentucky, No. 5 Alabama, No. 4 Texas and No. 6 Ole Miss plus the neutral site game with Florida. Georgia’s SEC home games will be with Auburn, Miss. State and No. 15 Tennessee.

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.

Career Placekicking For Peyton Woodring
Year	PAT	Pct.	FG	Pct.	LG	Pts
2023	71-71	1.000	21-25	.840	48	134
Field Goal History For Peyton Woodring
Year	I20	20-29	30-39	40-49	50-99	LG
2023	0-0	3-5	14-14	4-5	0-1	48

Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (FSU23)
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	32	1,403	43.8	14	6	1	21	0	60UA
Total	68	3,023	44.5	33	15	2	39	0	75 UT

Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 5 (UTM23, AU22)
*Avg.: 50.2 on four punts (UT22), UA23)
Long: 75 (UT22)
*at least two punts

The Clemson series dates to 1897, and the Bulldogs hold a 43-18-4 edge. The Bulldogs are 7-1-1 against the Tigers at a neutral site. The most recent meeting came in Charlotte, N.C, in 2021 as the Bulldogs won 10-3.

The Old Leather Helmet Trophy is at stake this year as it goes to the winner of the Aflac Kickoff Game. Traditonally, the winners don the helmet on the field as part of the postgame celebration.

Georgia is 2-1 in this kickoff event, beating #11 Oregon 49-3 in 2022, #22 North Carolina 33-23 in 2016 (Kirby Smart‘s first season as head coach) and falling 35-21 to No. 5 Boise State in 2011.

In the 2021 matchup versus the Tigers, 20 of Georgia’s 22 starters from the offense and defense made the NFL. The two exceptions were guard Tate Ratledge, who is slated to start this year’s opener against Clemson, and quarterback JT Daniels, who retired from football last year.

Georgia’s starting defensive unit that day that would eventual help the team to their first national championship since 1980 featured SIX future First Round draft picks: Travon Walker (Jacksonville, DE), Jordan Davis (Philadelphia, DT), Nolan Smith (Philadelphia, LB), Quay Walker (Green Bay, LB) Devonte Wyatt (Green Bay, DT), and Lewis Cine (Minnesota, CB).

The other five starters against Clemson in 2021 were Nakobe Dean (3rd Round, LB), Christopher Smith (5th Round, DB), Derion Kendrick (6th Round, DB), Ameer Speed (6th Round, DB) and Latavious Brini (DB, undrafted free agent).

The 2021 starters on offense included eventual first round pick Brock Bowers (TE) and a pair of second round selections in James Cook (TB) and Ladd McConkey (WR).

Along with Ratledge, other current Bulldogs who saw action against the Tigers in 2021 were Warren Brinson, Chaz Chambliss, Dan Jackson, Smael Mondon, Arian Smith, Nazir Stackhouse and Xavier Truss.

Chuck Bednarik Award: Smael Mondon, LB; Malaki Starks, DB, Mykel Williams, DE
Dick Butkus Award: Smael Mondon, LB
Walter Camp Award:Carson Beck, RB; Malaki Starks, DB
Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award:Dillon Bell, WR
Comeback Player of the Year:Branson Robinson, RB
Lou Groza Award:Peyton Woodring, PK
Ray Guy Award:Brett Thorson, P
Paul Hornung Award:Trevor Etienne, RB
Lott IMPACT Trophy: Malki Starks, DB, Jalon Walker, LB
John Mackey Award:Oscar Delp, TE; Ben Yurosek, TE
Patrick Mannelly Award:Beau Gardner, SN
Manning Award:Carson Beck, QB
Maxwell Award:Carson Beck, QB; Trevor Etienne, RB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy: Smael Mondon, LB; Malaki Starks, DB; Mykel Williams, DL
Davey O’Brien Award:Carson Beck, QB
Outland Trophy:Dylan Fairchild, OL; Tate Ratledge, OL; Nazir Stackhouse, DL; Xavier Truss, OL
Rimington Trophy:Jared Wilson, OL
Jim Thorpe Award:Malaki Starks, DB; Daylen Everette, DB
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award:Carson Beck, QB
Doak Walker Award:Trevor Etienne, RB
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy/Good Works Team Nominee:Malaki Starks, DB

Following the retirement of Uga X, 10-month old puppy Boom assumed the vaunted role of Georgia’s on-field mascot in 2023. He enters the 2024 season with a 13-1 mark. During a pregame ceremony at the annual “G Day” game, University of Georgia president Jere W. Morehead joined J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics Josh Brooks and his son, Davis, in the ceremonial collaring of Boom. Boom is the 11th solid white English Bulldog to serve as Georgia’s mascot since the line began in 1956 courtesy of the Seiler family of Savannah. In his first season, Boom saw the Bulldogs post their third-consecutive undefeated regular season, followed by a record-breaking 63-3 victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. In the offseason, Boom resides with his family in Savannah.

Georgia plays host to Tennessee Tech Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. (SECN+) for its home opener Between The Hedges. Following the two-phase renovation in 2023-24, capacity has increased slightly to 93,033. Georgia remains ninth among the top 10 largest on-campus stadiums.

The Bulldogs have won 12 straight home openers. Tennessee Tech, under new coach Bobby Wilder, opens its season on the road against Middle Tennessee. Georgia holds a 2-0 advantage in the series with the Golden Eagles, winning 67-0 in 1943 and 38-0 in 2009, posting both shutouts in Athens.

One part of the latest renovation is a new press box now located on levels 4 and 5 at the west end of the Sky Suites on the south side of the stadium. This replaced the Dan Magill Press Box which was built in 1967. There is no change to the field level Frank Lumpkin Media Center, which serves as the photographer work and hospitality area as well as the head coach’s interview room.

Georgia is +3 in turnover margin.

The Bulldogs have 63 points (does not include the PATs) off 17 turnovers.

Opponents have 51 points off 14 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 pts. off 2 TOs
SECCG – #8 UA: UA had no TOs; UA got 3 pts. off 1 TO
ORANGE – #5 FSU: UGA got 18 pts. off 4 TOs; UGA had no 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 373 (1995-present)

UGA has 53 plays of 25 yards or more while its opponents have 25.

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)
GAME 13 (Longest):
#1 UGA: 2 (51-yd pass Beck to Smith)
#8 UA: 2 (30-yd rush Milroe)
GAME 14 (Longest):
#6 UGA: 7 (43-yd rush Milton)
#5 FSU – 3 (55-yd pass Glenn to Poitier)

• Ninth season as Georgia coach • 94-16 Career Record • 2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
• 2017 CFP national runner-up
• Unbeaten against all active coaches over the past five years and one of just two active coaches with multiple national titles (Dabo Swinney-Clemson, ’16 & ’18)
• Best record & winning percentage (85-15, .850) after his first 100 games of any coach in SEC history
• 2017, 2022 SEC Champions • SEC Eastern Division Champs 2017-19 & 21-23
• Georgia defense has been ranked in the top five nationally in Scoring Defense five ties including leading the nation in 2019 & 2021; Been ranked in the top 10 in Scoring Offense the past three seasons (2021-23)
• 2017 George Munger award (National Coach of the Year by Maxwell Club)
• Three-Time SEC Coach of the Year, 2017, 2021-22
• Bulldogs have won two Butkus Awards and two Mackey Awards, One Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, Thorpe Award, Groza Award, Manning Award & Burlsworth Trophy; Two NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards, One Heisman Trophy finalist
• 20 1st-team All-Americans
• 17 First Round NFL Draft picks
• 63 NFL Draft Picks
• 242 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls, including a high of 43 on the 2023 team

Year	W	L	Pct.	SEC	Bowl	AP Rank
2016	8	5	.615	4-4	Liberty	NR
2017	13	2	.867	8-2#	CFP Rose/NCG	2nd
2018	11	3	.786	7-2#	Sugar	T7th
2019	12	2	.857	7-2#	Sugar	4th
2020	8	2	.800	7-2	Chick-fil-A	7th
2021	14	1	.933	9-1#	CFP Orange/NCG	1st
2022	15	0	1.000	9-0#	CFP Peach/NCG	1st
2023	13	1	.929	8-0	Orange	4th
Total	94	16	.855	#59-14

#3-5 (includes 2017-19, ’21, ’22, ’23 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 9 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)

• The Bulldogs are 27-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart.
• In 2023, 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 5

{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 Presented by Piedmont Healthcare” – This half-hour program will air Monday at 7 p.m. during football season and offer viewers a behind-the-scenes look through the 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 Presented by Hoffman Financial” – This weekly, half-hour program on Saturdays at 8 a.m. 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.