UGA Football: Bulldogs Welcome UMass to Sanford Stadium on Saturday
- Kickoff: Saturday, November 23 – 12:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Sanford Stadium (93,033) | Athens, Ga.
- 2024 Records: Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC), UMass (2-8, 0-0)
- 2024 Rankings: Georgia #8/8, UMass NR
- TV: SECN (Dave Neal, Max Starks, Ashley ShahAhmadi)
- Video Stream: ESPN+
- Radio: 95.5 FM WSB – Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
- Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
- Satellite: SiriusXM (374)
- Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
- Twitter: #UMASSvsUGA
- SECN ReBroadcast: 11/24 – 11a-2pm ET
- History: Georgia vs. Tennessee All-Time Series Results: UGA 28-23-2
- Last Meeting: UGA won 66-27 in Knoxville, Tenn., 11/17/2018
- Tickets: SeatGeek
Georgia is the only team in the nation with two wins versus opponents ranked in the current AP top 10 (Texas & Tennessee). The Bulldogs and Oregon are the only two teams in the nation with three wins versus opponents ranked in the current AP Top 25.
Georgia has faced UMass just once, posting a 66-27 win here in 2018. That was the next to last game of the regular season too and part of a three-game home stretch.
The Minutemen (2-8) are 0-2 against the SEC this year, falling 45-3 to then No. 21 Missouri in Amherst on Oct. 12 and 45-20 to Mississppi State in Starkville on Nov. 2.
Fifth-ranked Georgia posted a season-high 701 yards (second most in school history) of offense in a 66-27 victory over the Minutemen in front of a crowd of 92,746 at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs (10-1) tallied 426 rushing yards (the sixth highest total in school history).
Jake Fromm went 5-for-5 with 106 yards and a touchdown before giving way to Justin Fields as he gained 102 yards on the ground on only seven carries plus was 5-for-8 for 121 yards and two TDs. Tyler Simmons scored a TD rushing (49-yarder to make it 7-0) and receiving (71-yard from Fromm for a 28-7 lead).
The Minutemen got a huge day from receiver Andy Isabella who registered 15 receptions for 219 yards and two TDs including a 75-yard scoring strike from Ross Comis. The 15 catches was the second most by a Bulldog opponent and the 219 yards ranked third highest against Georgia.
The Bulldogs have won a school record 29 consecutive home games dating to 2019, and that is the longest active streak in the FBS. Georgia (8-2, 6-2 SEC) is in the middle of a three-game home stretch to close out the regular season. After going over a month without a home game, the Bulldogs returned to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium last Saturday and registered a solid 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee. Georgia senior quarterback Carson Beck was 25-for-40 for 347 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing. The Bulldogs blanked the Volunteers in the second half for the second straight year and extended their winning streak in the series to a program-record eight straight. Up next, the Bulldogs play host to UMass (2-8) Saturday at 12:45 pm on the SEC Network. Liberty edged the Minutemen 35-34 in overtime last Saturday in Amherst. UMass led 20-7 at halftime, and the Flames rallied to tie the game at 28 with 3:49 left in the contest. UMass had a chance for the win in regulation but missed a 43-yard field goal. In overtime, UMass scored a touchdown first and then missed the PAT. Liberty answered with a score and made the PAT for the win. They now are 0-2 in overtime this year, falling at Miami (Ohio) 23-20 on Sept. 28.
The Bulldogs are averaging 30.6 points per game (ppg) while allowing 18.3 ppg. UMass averages 20.7 ppg and has surrendered 32.0 ppg. The Minutemen lost their starting quarterback Taisun Phommachanh to a season-ending injury earlier this month against Mississippi State. He began his career at Clemson and then played at Ga. Tech before transferring to UMass. Freshmen QBs AJ Hairston and Ahmad Haston are now getting a chance to direct the offense.
The current trio of home games concludes with Georgia Tech here on Friday, Nov. 29. This season, Georgia is 4-0 at home, 2-2 in true road games and 2-0 at neutral sites.
With their win over No. 7 Tennessee, the Bulldogs improved to 15-3 after a loss in the Kirby Smart era, and they haven’t lost back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016, his first year at the helm. In fact, the last nine times Georgia has lost a game, it has won its next contest. This year, then No. 2 Georgia lost at No. 4 Alabama and then beat Auburn the next week in Athens. The No. 12 Bulldogs lost at No. 16 Ole Miss on Nov. 9 and then bounced back against No. 7 Tennessee with a 31-17 victory last Saturday. UT came in averaging 37.6 ppg while allowing just 12.6 ppg. Georgia erased an early 10-0 deficit, and it was 17-all at halftime. Georgia put together a pair of 12-play scoring drives that covered 87 and 92 yards for the victory to move to 8-2 overall and finish 6-2 in the SEC.
Georgia is 48-4 at home in the Kirby Smart era including 7-0 against top 10 ranked opponents. In fact, the Bulldogs have a streak of 10 straight home wins over AP top-10 teams.
Georgia is 36-2 against non-conference teams in the Smart era. The only two losses have been to Texas 28-21 in the 2019 Sugar Bowl and 28-27 to Georgia Tech here in his first season in 2016. The Bulldogs have won 24 consecutive non-conference matchups.
Georgia’s 2024 Senior Class is an FBS-leading 50-4 (44-2 in the regular season) since 2021. The next best record in this span belongs to Michigan (45-8) and Alabama (44-8). Georgia’s 2023 Senior Class set the school record at 50-4 with two national titles, an SEC crown plus went 6-0 in bowl/CFP games.
Georgia owns the nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons and has won its last seven matchups.
With a 8-2 mark at this point, the Bulldogs have guaranteed that postseason streak will be extended.
The Bulldogs are aiming to reach the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the fourth time under Smart. The Bulldogs made the four-team field in his second season coming in 2017 and advanced to the National Championship Game after a thrilling overtime win over Oklahoma in a CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Then, Georgia became the first team in the CFP era to win back-to-back national championships in 2021-22, beating Michigan and Alabama in 2021 and Ohio State and TCU in 2022. The CFP top 25 rankings now are released every Tuesday night until Selection Day on Sun., Dec. 8.
Averaging 30.6 points/game (46th nationally)
39-for-42 (93 percent) in the Red Zone with 29 TDs, 10 FGs, 3 TOs
Averaging 6.2 yards per play and 414.8 yards per game
Fifth-year senior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., owns a 21-3 record as a starter. Led Georgia to 13-1 mark in ’23.
Among the 10 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
8-3 versus top-20 opponents with a 66.8 Completion Percentage (243-364) for 3,118 yards, 20 TDs, 9 INTs in those contests.
Tied school record with 36 comp. in win over MSU, career-high 459 yards ranks 3rd in school history, most since Eric Zeier had 485 vs. USC in ’94
Set then Career Highs in 41-34 road loss at #4 Alabama, 50 att., 439 yards, 3 INTs; Was 8-of-17 for 100 yards, 2 INTs in 1st Half and trailed 30-7; then went 19-33 for 339 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT in the 2nd Half and led briefly 34-33
439 passing yards @ #4 UA ranked 4th most in school history
SEC Offensive Player of the Week after 34-3 win over #14 Clemson
Georgia’s quarterback room also has Gunner Stockton, Ryan Puglisi and transfer Jaden Rashada (Ariz. State). Stockton saw action in four games last year and completed 63% of his passes (12-for-19) for 148 yards and two TDs. This year, Stockton is 10-for-12 for 90 yards with all that coming against TTU.
Passing Yards | 389 vs. #20 UK, 2023 |
Completions | 29 @ VU, 2023 |
Attempts | 50 @ #4 UA, ’24 |
TD Passes | 5 vs. TT, 2024 |
Passing Yards | 439 @ #4 UA, ’24 |
Longest Pass & TD Pass | 67 yds @ #4 UA, ’24 |
Long Rush | 20 vs. USC, 2022 |
Interceptions | 3, 3x last vs. UF ’24 |
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 |
2024 | 10/10 | 235 | 361 | 65.4 | 2,835 | 12 | 19 | 141.8 | 67TD UA |
Total | 36/24 | 573 | 836 | 68.5 | 7,262 | 20 | 49 | 156.3 | 67TD UA |
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 |
2024 | |||||||||
#14CU (W) | 22 | 33 | 66.7 | 278 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 160.5 | 40 |
TT (W) | 18 | 25 | 72.0 | 242 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 219.3 | 50 |
@UK (W) | 15 | 24 | 62.5 | 160 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 118.5 | 33 |
@ #4 UA (L) | 27 | 50 | 54.0 | 439 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 135.6 | 67TD |
AU (W) | 23 | 29 | 79.3 | 240 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 171.6 | 33 |
*vs. UF (W) | 25 | 40 | 62.5 | 309 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 128.9 | 34 |
@ #16 OM (L) | 20 | 31 | 64.5 | 186 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 108.5 | 29 |
#7 UT (W) | 25 | 40 | 62.5 | 347 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 151.9 | 38 |
Career Total | 573 | 836 | 68.5 | 7,262 | 20 | 49 | 25 | 156.1 | 67TD |
Game | Georgia | Opp. | Final |
vs. #14 CU | 10 (4R, 6P) | 3 (0R, 3P) | #1 Georgia, 34-3 |
vs. TT | 7 (3R, 4P) | 2 (2R) | #1 Georgia 48-3 |
@ UK | 5 (2R, 3P) | 4 (3R, 1P) | #1 Georgia 13-12 |
@ #4 UA | 9 (1R, 8P) | 11 (4R, 7P) | #4 UA 41-34 |
vs. AU | 8 (3R, 5P) | 8 (3R, 5P) | #5 Georgia 31-13 |
vs. MSU | 14 (2R, 12P) | 7 (2R, 5P) | #5 Georgia 41-31 |
@ #1 Texas | 7 (3R, 4P) | 7 (1R, 6P) | #5 Georgia 30-15 |
vs. UF | 9 (1R, 8P) | 5 (2R, 3P) | #2 Georgia 34-20 |
@ #16 OM | 6 (2R, 4P) | 8 (3R, 5P) | #16 OM 28-10 |
#7 UT | 13 (2R, 11P) | 4 (2R, 2P) | #12 Georgia 31-17 |
Longest Rush by Georgia: 52-yd by Anthony Evans III (MSU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 38-yd TD by Jarquez Hunter (AU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 67-yd TD (Beck to Bell @ #4 UA)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 75-yd TD (Milroe to Williams, @ #4 UA)
Georgia’s running backs to see the most action are Trevor Etienne, Nate Frazier and Cash Jones. Etienne, who has made eight starts with a team-high 477 yards (5.0 avg.) and 7 TDs, missed the game against #7 UT due to injury. Frazier made his first start and provided 68 yards on 19 carries (tied career high) and one TD. Frazier became the first Bulldog freshman tailback to start since 2014 when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both did it. That year, Chubb started eight games while Michel’s first career start came in the Belk Bowl win over #20 Louisville.
The longest Bulldog rush belongs to wideout Anthony Evans III (52 vs. MSU). Branson Robinson has missed the past four games with an injury and Roderick Robinson II has yet to play this year due to injury.
At #1 Texas, Etienne had a team-best 87 yards and 3 TDs including one on 4th-and-goal from the 1. He tallied 55 rushing yards and one TD on 12 carries plus two catches for 11 yards at #4 UA. He had 124 all-purpose yards in the win over AU (88-rushing and 2 TDs, 36-rec. on six catches).
Frazier had a a career-high 19 carries for 82 yards and a TD in the win over UF and then had 12 carries for 47 yards at #16 Ole Miss. In the season-opening win over #14 CU, Frazier registered 83 yards on 11 carries including a 40-yard scamper and his first TD. For the year, he has 401 yards on 60 carries (4.4 avg.) with a pair of TDs.
Then there’s freshman Dwight Phillips Jr., who had a memorable first carry. It resulted in a four-yard TD versus UF to make it 34-20. Against #7 UT, freshman Chauncey Bowens had five rushes for 7 yards.
Redshirt junior running back Cash Jones has served as a game captain twice this year and his contributions have been aplenty. He is a key member on special teams. Also, Jones has 14 catches for 158 yards including a 22-yard TD against UF. He had a career-high three catches for 37 yards in the win over the Gators. With sophomore WR/KOR Anthony Evans out against UF and Ole Miss, he served as the KOR with one return for 5 yards. His lone carry against #14 Clemson was a 15-yard TD that featured an impressive stiff arm.
Georgia has been banged up for much of the year on the offensive line. Against #7 Tennessee, sophomore Monroe Freeling made his first career start at LT in place of an injured Earnest Greene III who had made 23 consecutive starts. The starting unit played the entire game against the vaunted Vols defense that ranked fifth nationally in scoring defense and hadn’t allowed more than 19 points in a game. Georgia’s front did not allow sack and helped the Bulldogs tally 453 yards of total offense in a vital 31-17 victory. A week earlier, Georgia went to #16 Ole Miss and had allowed just 10 sacks on the year. However, the Rebels, who lead all of FBS in sacks, added five to their total.
Against UF, senior guard Tate Ratledge saw his first action after missing four games due to ankle/knee injuries and then returned to his starting role at #16 Ole Miss. Earlier this year, the line was down two starters when Ratledge and junior center Jared Wilson were out. RS-junior Micah Morris filled in for Ratledge during that time and then he missed the Ole Miss and Tennessee games. At #1 Texas, Wilson returned and the line surrendered just one sack.
Along with Ratledge, the rest of the starters up front features RS-junior Dylan Fairchild (LG) and RS-senior Xavier Truss (RT). RS-sophomore Drew Bobo (C) has been in the rotation too.
Senior QB Carson Beck’s top targets have been senior Dominic Lovett (45-for-489 yards, 3 TDs), senior Arian Smith (37-for-585 yards, 3 TDs) and junior Dillon Bell (35-for-405 yards, 4 TDs). Also, Bell has 106 yards rushing on eight attempts including a 3-yarder for a score at #4 UA.
Lovett snagged a 10-yard TD for the go-ahead score in the win over UF. He had a team-high 38-yarder on 3rd-and-8 in the win over #7 UT.
Smith came through with a 21-yard catch on 3rd-and-10 from the UGA 11 early in the 4th quarter at #1 Texas. It was part of an 11 play, 89-yard TD drive to make it 30-15. He had a career-high 134 yards on five catches versus MSU.
In the thriller at #4 UA, Georgia had a pair of receivers with 100 yards for the first time since 2013 when Chris Conley and Tavarres King did it against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl. Smith had a career-high 132 yards on six catches and a score while Bell had five for 100 yards including a 67-yard TD. Bell’s bomb put the Bulldogs ahead 34-33 with 2:31 left before the Tide answered. Earlier against the Crimson Tide, he had his third career rushing TD to become the first Bulldog to score rushing and receiving in the same game since 2022 (Ladd McConkey at Miss. State).
Sophomore London Humphreys posted 63 yards on three catches against #7 UT while freshman Nitro Tuggle had two for 25 yards versus the Vols.
Sophomore Lawson Luckie and junior Oscar Delp headline the tight ends with graduate Ben Yurosek emerging of late too. In the win over #7 UT, the trio combined for 10 catches for 130 yards and two TDs. Delp accounted for both TDs, finishing with 56 yards on four catches while Yurosek had five for 51 yards and Luckie caught one for 23 yards.
Luckie leads the room with 236 yards receiving on 16 catches and three TDs. He is a second generation Bulldog as his father Mike (LB) was part of Bulldog triplets from 1996-98 with uncles Dustin (LB) and Miles (OL).
After #1 Texas had trimmed Georgia’s lead to 23-15 in the 4th quarter, Delp hauled in a 43-yard reception as part of a TD-answering drive that covered 89 yards on 11 plays in 5:03 to make it 30-15.
The 2024 Bulldogs finished 6-2 in the SEC with one of the hardest schedules in recent history, making road trips to #1 Texas, #4 Alabama and #16 Ole Miss plus a home game against #7 Tennessee.
Georgia saw its school and SEC record streak of 28 consecutive regular season wins in league play end this year at #4 Alabama. The Bulldogs started this memorable run by winning their final three games of the 2020 all-SEC schedule.
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down (75-for-118) with 13 TDs. This year, the Bulldogs rank seventh nationally in 4th Down Conversions with an SEC best 75% (12-for-16 with 3 TDs).
Faced with a 30-7 halftime deficit at No. 4 Alabama, Georgia attacked every drive in the second half with a four-down mentality. After going 1-for-1 on 4th down in the first half, Georgia went 4-for-4 in the second half to finish 5-for-5, the best ever under Smart. The Bulldogs came into the game 1-for-2.
Georgia was 2-for-2 on 4th Downs against AU and MSU.
Georgia was 1-2 with a TD at #1 Texas, and the score by Trevor Etienne capped an 11 play, 89-yard drive in the 4th quarter to make it 30-15.
The Bulldogs were 1-for-3 with a TD at #16 Ole Miss.
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 2024 unit ranks 15th nationally in Scoring Defense (18.3 ppg).
Did not allow a TD until the fourth game of the year.
Posted first half shutouts versus #14 Clemson, TTU and at #1 Texas and a second half shutout of #7 Tennessee (UT averaged 37.6 ppg overall)
Held #16 OM to 28 points including 5 field goals as they averaged 42.1 ppg
If you follow college football and didn’t know #11 Jalon Walker, just about everybody does now especially after this game in the road win over #1 Texas. A Butkus Award semifinalist, the junior from Salisbury, N.C., became the first player in the last 20 years with three sacks and seven tackles against the No. 1 ranked AP team (according to ESPN Stats and Info.), and that was just in the first half in the 30-15 win at Texas!
Ranks third on the team with 48 tackles and co-leader in sacks (5.5) and TFL (7.5). The three sacks in a game were the most by a Bulldog since Channing Tindall in 2021 against Tennessee. Walker swept defensive player of the week honors from the SEC to the Bednarik Award.
Tied for the team-high with eight stops in the win over #7 Tennessee.
A semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
A self-described “hybrid linebacker” for his ability to play on the edge and in the box, led the Bulldogs with six tackles and 1.5 sacks in a 34-3 win over #14 Clemson to earn Reese’s Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Credited with 10 QB pressures at UK.
With an Agribusiness degree in hand, graduate Dan Jackson, a native of nearby Gainesville, Ga., is enjoying his most productive year. A walk-on, he redshirted in 2019, “made the bus” and was on the scout team in 2020, started four games in 2021, and this year ranks third in tackles (43) and has 2 INTs.
Jackson’s highlights this year:
Snagged an INT at #4 Alabama and tallied a career-high 10 stops
Blocked a field goal against Auburn; Had a fumble return versus Tenn. Tech
Logged six solo stops in road win over #1 Texas
13-yard INT return plus four tackles at #16 Ole Miss
The defensive backfield is led by All-America safety Malaki Starks, who has a team-high 38 starts, and the emergence of junior Daylen Everette.
Starks, a semifinalist for the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award, is second on the team with 51 stops. Everette is sixth with 38 tackles.
Starks served as the punt returner versus UF (3-for-21 yds.) and #16 OM.
Everette posted an impressive performance in the road win over #1 Texas, tallying a team-best seven stops, an interception and sack/strip fumble with a fumble recovery. His two turnovers led to 14 points in the 30-15 victory.
Freshmen KJ Bolden posted a career-high eight tackles in the win over #7 UT. He is part of the FAB14 for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award presented by the Maxwell Football Club. Bolden made four tackles in his debut versus #14 Clemson and collected his first career INT in the win over MSU. Bolden and junior JaCorey Thomas started against UF with senior DB Dan Jackson and sophomore Joenel Aguero sidelined for the first half due to targeting penalties called on them at #1 Texas.
Bolden and Thomas have played in all 10 games with Thomas starting in the season-opening win over #14 Clemson. In his starting debut versus UF, Bolden matched his career high with five tackles and had five at #16 OM too.
Due to injuries, Georgia has yet to have a full complement of defensive lineman for a game this season. The group flashed its potential in the road win over #1 Texas as junior Mykel Williams, recently named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, made his presence known with his most action since the season opener when he went down with an ankle injury. Against Texas, Williams had three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. For the year, Williams is third on the team in TFL with 5.5.
Senior Nazir Stackhouse is tied for the team lead with 38 career starts. The rest of the crew includes Warren Brinson, Christen Miller, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
Jordan Hall made his 2024 debut at #16 OM after battling leg injuries. Williams and Brinson missed two games due to ankle injuries and returned against #4 UA. Stackhouse did see action versus UF with three tackles.
Ingram-Dawkins made his first career start against TTU and had a career-high four tackles with 3 TFL. Against UK, he had three tackles, a sack and seven QB pressures to earn SEC DL of the Week. He had two sacks in the win over Auburn.
When All-America LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson got hurt last year, it provided more playing time for then freshmen CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson. This year with the Bulldogs missing senior Smael Mondon Jr., for four games due to injury, the beneficiaries have been freshman Chris Cole and Justin Williams.
Allen is the team leader in tackles with 51 including eight at #16 OM. He had team-high eight stops and his first career interception against UF. He made six stops in the road win over #1 Texas. Wilson posted a career-high seven tackles against the Gators. Wilson had five tackles, a forced fumble and sack for a loss of 28 yards that led to a change of possession and Georgia’s first score in the road win over UK. He was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week.
Cole and Justin Williams are starting to make an impact. Smart has praised both as high character individuals with toughness and intagibles. Cole has elite speed and flexibility to help him cover along with great length.
The linebacking crew also includes senior Chaz Chambliss, who made six stops and two sacks in the win over UF to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, along with sophomores Damon Wilson II and Gabe Harris, Jr. Chambliss is tied for the team-lead in sacks with 5.5 and saw action as a fullback around the goal line in the win over #7 Tennessee.
With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, junior punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs rank 6th nationally in Net Punting (43.54). Georgia allowed its first significant punt return since 2022 when Boo Carter (Tennessee) posted a 26-yarder this season and was promptly tackled to save a TD by Thorson. Opponents now have a total of 18 yards on six PR.
Thorson, a native of Melbourne, Australia is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award which goes to the nation’s top punter. The three finalists will be announced on Nov. 26. Georgia’s Drew Butler won it in 2009.
He is averaging 46.3 yards on 35 punts, placing 19 inside the 20 with 12 fair catches. His 46.3 average would rank fourth nationally, but the NCAA’s minimum for stat leaders is 3.6 punts a game (Min. 36 punts in 10 games).
Thorson’s career average of 45.1 is third best in school history, trailing Butler and Jake Camarda’s record mark of 45.8 set from 2018-21.
Could challenge the Bulldog record for Highest Punting Avg. in a Season (Drew Butler, the 2009 Ray Guy Award winner, at 48.1)
Thorson is known for his comedic slant about his lack of playing time because the Bulldogs punted a record low 32 times in 2023 after just 36 punts in 2022 (15 games), the two lowest totals dating back to at least 1948.
In 2024, Thorson punted four times against #14 Clemson for a 48.0 average with three placed inside the 20, two for 50+ yards and none were returned. He came up big at Kentucky with a career-high six punts for a 49.5 average.
Thanks in part to Thorson’s punts and the entire punt coverage team including gunners Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett and Cole Speer, 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 when COVID limited the amount of games teams played.
Georgia had its streak of not allowing a positive yard on a punt return end at #16 Ole Miss, a span of 28 games. Prior to a two-yard return by Rebel Micah Davis, the last one came in a 45-19 road win over Miss. State on Nov. 12, 2022 when Zavion Thomas took one 63 yards for a score.
Peyton Woodring, who hails from Lafayette, La., was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist as a freshman kicker. This year, he has a team-high 82 points, going 16/17 on FGs, 34/34 on PATs and handling kickoffs too (59 of 62 overall).
Tallied 10 points in 34-20 win over Florida in Jacksonville, hit a pair of field goals for team’s only points in the first half including a 53-yarder.
Named one of the Groza “Stars of the Week” after 12 points in 30-15 road win over #1 Texas, hitting field goals of 33, 44 and 48 yards plus three PATs.
Woodring made his first nine FGs this year before missing a 55-yarder vs MSU.
Earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in the win over #14 Clemson with 10 points including the first six points of the season on field goals of 30 yards and a career-long 55-yarder — the longest by a Bulldog since the 2018 Rose Bowl (Rodrigo Blankenship vs. Oklahoma).
The snapping duties are handled primarily by Beau Gardner, a graduate transfer from UCLA who is from San Francisco. Recently, he became Georgia’s first semifinalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award, which goes to the nation’s best college football long snapper. The award began in 2019.
Graduate transfer Charlie Ham, a native of Atlanta, Ga., is back in the Peach State to provide depth. This year, he has three kickoffs with one touchback for a 61.3 average. He had a successful undergraduate career at Duke (2019-23).
Sophomore Anthony Evans III has 15 punt returns for 120 yards (8.0 avg.) with a career-long 46-yarder versus TTU. Evans has six KOR for 105 yards (17.5 avg.) with a long of 28 against #4 UA. He has nine catches for 88 yards and a 52-yard rush versus MSU.
Prior to the UF game, Evans was the lone Bulldog to have any PR or KOR. However, he missed that game and the OM contest due to injury. Junior Malaki Starks made his debut as a PR with three for 21 yards versus UF. Senior Chaz Chambliss fielded a short kickoff and made a four-yard return versus UF.
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 and a field goal versus Auburn in 2024.
Career Placekicking For Peyton Woodring | ||||||
Year | PAT | Pct. | FG | Pct. | LG | Pts |
2023 | 71-71 | 1.000 | 21-25 | .840 | 48 | 134 |
2024 | 34-34 | 1.000 | 16-17 | .941 | 55 | 82 |
Total | 105-105 | 1.000 | 37-42 | .881 | 55 | 216 |
Field Goal History For Peyton Woodring | ||||||
Year | 20-29 | 30-39 | 40-49 | 50-99 | LG | |
2023 | 3-5 | 14-14 | 4-5 | 0-1 | 48 | |
2024 | 3-3 | 7-7 | 4-4 | 2-3 | 55 | |
Total | 6-8 | 21-21 | 8-9 | 2-4 | 55 |
Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (FSU23)
FGA: 3 (@ #1UT24, USC23, UK23, @VU23, MIZ23)
FGM: 3 (@ #1UT24, UK23, @VU23, MIZ23)
LG: LG: 55 (vs. CU24)
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 |
2024 | 35 | 1,622 | 46.3 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 58UK/TX |
Total | 103 | 4,645 | 45.1 | 52 | 28 | 2 | 52 | 0 | 75 UT |
Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 6 (UK24)
*Avg.: 54.0 on four at #1 Texas with minus 5 PR yards;
Long: 75 (Tenn22)
*at least two punts
Redshirt sophomore center Drew Bobo made his first career start against Auburn this season while his father, Mike, is in his second year back as Georgia’s John & Alice Sands Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks coach. The Bulldog offensive line was down a pair of starters against AU and MSU with senior right guard Tate Ratledge and redshirt junior center Jared Wilson sidelined with injuries. Redshirt junior Micah Morris filled in at guard for five games for Ratledge while Bobo, a graduate of Auburn High School, got the nod at center versus AU and MSU. Wilson returned to start at #1 Texas while Ratledge saw action against UF and then started at #16 OM.
Did You Know? Mike Bobo and head coach Kirby Smart were teammates at UGA from 1994-97. In 2006, Drew served as the ring bearer at Smart’s wedding.
With the road win over No. 1 Texas, Kirby Smart joined a select group of head coaches who were the fastest to reach the century mark in their career. Smart is the fastest SEC coach to do it. Currently, he is is 101-18 in nine seasons.
Fewest Games To Reach 100 Victories
{Must have five years or 50 victories at a school that was classified as a major college at the time per NCAA}
Games–Coach Milestone Win/School(s)/Year
108–Gil Dobie 100-5-3 with Washington-Navy-Cornell in 1922
109–George Woodruff 100-9-0 with Penn in 1899
111–Bud Wilkinson 100-8-3 with Oklahoma in 1957
114–Fielding Yost 100-10-4 mainly with Michigan in 1911
117–Kirby Smart 100-17 with Georgia in 2024
117–Knute Rockne 100-12-5 with Notre Dame in 1930
117–Chris Petersen 100-17-0 with Boise State-Washington in 2014
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.
ABC reported the UGA-Texas game delivered 13.2 million viewers (peak of 14.4m) making it the most-watched regular season primetime game on any network since 2014. Georgia’s 30-15 win over top-ranked Texas in Austin this season came in front of the largest crowd ever at DKR-Memorial Stadium at 105,215. That ranks seventh in Bulldog history. Georgia has faced Tennessee in Knoxville multiple times in front of larger crowds with the biggest ever in 2005 when 108,470 watched No. 5 Georgia beat No. 7 Tennessee 27-14.
On Oct. 22, the Southeastern Conference announced its 2024 SEC Football Legends class presented by T-Mobile, who will be honored at events surrounding the SEC Football Championship Game in Atlanta in December.
Terrence Edwards (UGA 1999-2002) led Georgia in receiving for four consecutive seasons from 1999-2002, starting with an All-SEC Freshman campaign that ranked third in school history with 53 catches. He remains the only Bulldog to have a 1,000-yard season after catching passes for 1,004 with 11 TDs in 2002 to earn All-SEC First Team honors as a senior.
He finished with school career records for receptions (204, #10 in SEC history), receiving yards (3,093, #4 in SEC history after initially being a conference record that stood for 11 years) and receiving TDs (30, #4 in SEC history).
He spent 11 years in the NFL and CFL. He played for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes, and he was a five-time CFL All-Star and inducted into the Blue Bombers Hall of Fame in 2017.
Edwards graduated with a degree from the University of Georgia in Housing in 2012 and was inducted into the Georgia/Florida Hall of Fame.
Following the retirement of Uga X, 10-month old puppy Boom assumed the vaunted role of Georgia’s on-field mascot in 2023. Currently, Uga XI has a career record of 21-3.
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 FSU in the Orange Bowl. In the offseason, Boom resides with his family in Savannah.
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.
Carson Beck: SEC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2), Manning Award Star of the Week (Sept. 2); Davey O’Brien QB Class of ’24 (Oct. 29); Johnny Unitas Award Top 10 finalist (Nov. 2); Davey O’Brien Great 8 for Week 12 (Nov. 18)
KJ Bolden: Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award semifinalist (Nov. 6) and then FAB14 (Nov. 12)
Chaz Chambliss: SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Nov. 4)
Trevor Etienne: Reese’s Senior Bowl Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 22)
Dylan Fairchild: Reese’s Senior Bowl Midseason All-American (Oct. 11)
Beau Gardner: Patrick Mannelly Award semifinalist (Nov. 12)
Dan Jackson: Burlsworth Trophy nominee
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins: SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Sept. 16)
Malaki Starks: Jim Thorpe Award National DB of the Week (Sept. 4); Allstate AFCA Good Works Team/Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist (Sept. 17); Reese’s Senior Bowl Midseason All-American (Oct. 11); Thorpe Award semifinalist (Oct. 29); Bednarik Award semifinalist (Nov. 12)
Brett Thorson: Ray Guy Award Semifinalist (Nov. 15), Ray Guy Punter of the Week (Oct. 22)
Jalon Walker: Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 2); Reese’s Senior Bowl Midseason All-American (Oct. 11); SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 21); Bednarik Player of the Week, Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week (Oct. 22); Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist (Oct. 22); Butkus Award semifinalist (Nov. 4)
Mykel Williams: SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Sept. 16); Lombardi Award semifinalist (Nov. 7)
Raylen Wilson: SEC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16)
Peyton Woodring: SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 2); Lou Groza Stars of the Week (Oct. 22)
Head Coach Kirby Smart: Bear Bryant Award Coach of the Week (Oct. 22)
Terrence Edwards (WR, 1999-2002): SEC Football Legends Class of 2024 ia Bulldogs: Cheez-It/FWAA National Team of the Week: (Oct. 21)
Terrence Edwards (WR, 1999-2002): SEC Football Legends Class of 2024
Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year (FAB14):KJ Bolden, DB
Chuck Bednarik Award (Semifinalist):Malaki Starks
Dick Butkus Award (Semifinalist):Jalon Walker, LB
Ray Guy Award (Semifinalist):Brett Thorson, P
The Lombardi Award (Semifinalist):Mykel Williams, DE
Lott IMPACT Trophy (Quarterfinalist):Malaki Starks, DB
Patrick Mannelly Award (Semifinalist):Beau Gardner, SN
Jim Thorpe Award (Semifinalist):Malaki Starks, DB
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Top 10 Finalist):Carson Beck, QB
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award (Semifinalist): JalonWalker, LB
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Nominee/Good Works Team:Malaki Starks, DB
Watch Lists To Be Trimmed Later This Season
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
Paul Hornung Award:Trevor Etienne, RB
Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award:Kirby Smart, Head Coach
Dodd Trophy:Kirby Smart, Head Coach
Manning Award:Carson Beck, QB
Bronko Nagurski Trophy: Smael Mondon, LB; Malaki Starks, DB; Mykel Williams, DL
Outland Trophy:Dylan Fairchild, OL; Tate Ratledge, OL; Nazir Stackhouse, DL; Xavier Truss, OL
Rimington Trophy:Jared Wilson, OL
Doak Walker Award:Trevor Etienne, RB
Georgia closes out the regular season Between the Hedges with Ga. Tech on Friday, Nov. 29th on ABC at 7:30 pm. This week, Tech (6-4, 4-3 ACC) plays host to N.C. State (5-5, 2-4 ACC) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).
School (*CFP) | SEC | Overall |
Texas (3) | 5-1 | 9-1 |
Texas A&M (15) | 5-1 | 8-2 |
Georgia (12) | 6-2 | 8-2 |
Tennessee (7) | 5-2 | 8-2 |
Alabama (10) | 4-2 | 8-2 |
Ole Miss (11) | 4-2 | 8-2 |
South Carolina (21) | 5-3 | 7-3 |
LSU (22) | 3-3 | 6-4 |
Missouri (23) | 3-3 | 7-3 |
Vanderbilt (24) | 3-3 | 6-4 |
Arkansas | 3-4 | 5-5 |
Florida | 3-4 | 5-5 |
Oklahoma | 1-5 | 5-5 |
Auburn | 1-5 | 4-6 |
Kentucky | 1-6 | 4-6 |
Mississippi St. | 0-6 | 2-8 |
(*CFP Ranking/Nov. 5) 2024 SEC Championship Game: Dec. 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta |
Georgia ranks third in NCAA history for consecutive games scoring and third among schools with active streaks:
Team – Games
Florida 457 (1988-present)
TCU 401 (1991-present)
Georgia 382 (1995-present)
Georgia has 35 big plays while its opponents have 26.
G1 (LG):
#1 UGA: 5 (40-yd TD pass, Beck to Humphreys;
40-yd rush Frazier);
#14 CU: 1 (36-yd pass, Klubnik to Williams)
G2 (LG):
#1 UGA: 4 (50-yd TD pass, Beck to Smith);
TT:1 (26-yd rush A. Littles)
G3 (LG):
#1 UGA: 2 (33-yd pass, Beck to Lovett-2);
UK: 0
G4 (LG):
#2 UGA: 7 (67-yd TD pass, Beck to Bell);
#4 UA: 7 (75-yd TD pass Milroe to Williams)
G5 (LG):
#5 UGA: 3 (33-yd pass, Beck to Luckie);
AU: 3 (38-yd TD rush J. Hunter)
G6 (LG):
#5 UGA: 6 (55-yd pass, Beck to Smith); MSU: 3
(72-yd pass, Van Buren to Craver)
G7 (LG):
#5 UGA: 1 (43-yd pass, Beck to Delp)
#1 UT: 2 (36-yd INT Ret. J. Barron)
G8 (LG):
#2 UGA: 4 (34-yd pass, Beck to Smith)
UF: 3 (43-yd TD pass, Lagway to Mizell)
G9 (LG):
#3 UGA: 1 (29-yd pass, Beck to Jones)
#16 OM: 5 (33-yd pass, Dart to Watkins)
G10 (LG):
#12 UGA: 5 (38-yd pass, Beck to Lovett);
#7 UT: 1 (27-yd TD rush, Sampson)
Georgia is -2 in Turnover Margin (T79th nationally).
Georgia has 55 points off 13 turnovers.
Opponents have 40 points off 15 turnovers.
#14 CU: UGA 6 pts. off 1 TO; UGA had no TOs
TT: UGA 7 pts. off 1 TO; UGA had no TOs
@UK: UGA got 3 pts off 1 TO; UGA had no TOs
@#4 UA: UGA got 0 pts. off 1 TO: UA got 7 off 4 TO
AU: No turnovers by either team
MSU: UGA got 0 pts. off 1 TO; MSU got 10 off 2 TO
@ #1 UT: UGA got 17 pts. off 4 TO; UT got 7 off 3 TO
vs. UF: UGA got 14 pts. off 2 TO; UF got 10 off 3 TO
@ #16 OM: UGA got 7 pts. off 1; OM got 6 off 3
#7 UT: UGA got 0 pts. off 1; UGA had 0
Georgia has 6 INTs this year (CJ Allen, KJ Bolden, Daylen Everette, Dan Jackson & Malaki Starks);
Opponents have 12.
Bulldog | INT | TD | Last INT |
Malaki Starks, S | 6 | 0 | vs. CU24 |
Dan Jackson, S | 4 | 0 | @OM24 |
Daylen Everette, CB | 2 | 0 | @ #1 TX244 |
CJ Allen, LB | 1 | 0 | vs. UF24 |
KJ Bolden, S | 1 | 0 | MSU24 |
Chaz Chambliss, LB | 1 | 0 | BS23 |
Kyron Jones, Star | 1 | 1 | UTM23 |
Smael Mondon, Jr., LB | 1 | 0 | vs. #11 LSU22 |
Nazir Stackhouse, DL | 1 | 0 | #14 MIZ23 |
Georgia has 7 FR this year (Chris Cole, Daylen Everette,Dan Jackson, Jalon Walker-2, Damon Wilson II-2);
Opponents have 3.
Bulldog | FR | Last FR |
Jalon Walker, LB | 2 | vs. UF24 |
Damon Wilson II, LB | 2 | @ #1 TX24 |
Chris Cole, LB | 1 | #7 Tenn24 |
Daylen Everette, CB | 1 | @ #1 TX24 |
Dan Jackson, S | 1 | TT24 |
Cole Speer, WR | %1 | vs. #4 FSU23 |
Mykel Williams, DE | 1 | vs. #4 FSU23 |
Warren Brinson, DL | 1 | vs. #11 LSU22 |
T. Ingram-Dawkins, DE | 1 | #2 Tenn22 |
% on Special Teams
Georgia has 26 sacks this year; Opponents have 15.
Bulldog | ’24 | ’23 | ’22 | ’21 | ’20 | Total |
Jalon Walker, LB | 5.5 | 5 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 11.5 |
Mykel Williams, DL | 2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | n/a | n/a | 11 |
Chaz Chambliss, LB | 5.5 | 0 | 2 | 0.5 | n/a | 8 |
Smael Mondon, Jr., LB | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | n/a | 6 |
T. Ingram-Dawkins, DL | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 4 |
Warren Brinson, DL | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Nazir Stackhouse, DL | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Christen Miller, DL | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 2.5 |
Damon Wilson II, LB | 2 | 0.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2.5 |
Raylen Wilson, LB | 1.5 | 0.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 |
CJ Allen, LB | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
KJ Bolden, S | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
Daylen Everett, CB | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
Gabe Harris Jr., LB | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
Jordan Thomas, DL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
#14 CU (6): L. Luckie (TE), B. Robinson (RB), J. Wilson (C), J. Humphrey (DB), C. Miller (DL), J. Thomas (Star); TT (6): J. Aguero (Star), T. Etienne (RB), G. Harris (LB), T. Ingram-Dawkins (DE), J. Walker (LB), C. Young (WR); UK (2): L. Humphreys (WR), D. Wilson (LB); @ #4 UA (1): M. Morris (RG) AU: D. Bobo (C), B. Yurosek (TE); MSU: None; @ #1 TX: None; vs. UF (1): KJ Bolden (DB); @ #16 OM: None; #7 UT: Frazier (TB), Freeling (LT); UMass:
The Bulldogs had 13 true freshmen make their debut in the 2024 season-opening win over #14 Clemson in Atlanta: KJ Bolden (S), Nate Frazier (RB), Ellis Robinson IV (CB), Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (DE), Jordan Thomas (DL), Justin Williams (LB), Chris Cole (LB), Daniel Calhoun (OL), Jahzare Jackson (OT), Jaden Redell (TE), Colton Heinrich (TE), Chauncey Bowens (RB) and Quintavius Johnson (LB).
vs. #14 CU: C. Beck, T. Ratledge, J. Walker & M. Williams
TT: C. Jones, X. Truss, C. Chambliss, N. Stackhouse
@UK: T. Etienne, T. Ratledge, S. Mondon, M. Starks
@#4 UA: Beck, Etienne, Starks, Walker
AU: Bell, Greene III, Allen, Jackson
MSU: Jones, Smith, Chambliss, Stackhouse
@ #1 TX: Beck, Etienne, Starks, Walker
vs. UF: Beck, Ratledge, Allen, Chambliss
@ #16 @OM: Bell, B. Yurosek, Walker, M. Williams
UT: #7 UT: Allen, Chambliss, Lovett, Ratledge
UMASS:
GT:
- Ninth season as Georgia coach
- 102-18 (.850) 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 |
2024 | 8 | 2 | .778 | 6-2 | ||
Total | 102 | 18 | .850 | #65-16 |
#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 |
2024 | @ Kentucky | Trailed 9-6 | 13-12 |
2024 | vs. Florida in Jax. | Tied 20-20 with 7:29 left | 34-20 |
%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); Trevor Etienne @ #1 Texas (10/19/24)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D’Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18);
Passing Yards: 459, Carson Beck vs. MSU (10/13/24);
Passing TDs: 5, C. Beck (TT-9/7/24); 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); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24)
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); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24)
- 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.