UGA Football: SEC Championship Game Preview – Bulldogs Take Aim At 15th SEC Title

Seventh-ranked Georgia (10-2, 6-2 SEC) enters the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) on a three-game winning streak while the No. 3 Longhorns (11-1, 7-1 SEC) have won five straight since falling to the Bulldogs 30-15 on Oct. 19 in Austin. After playing one of the toughest schedules in school history, the Bulldogs return to the SECCG for the fourth straight year. Georgia will be the visiting team. Once again, ESPN College GameDay and SEC Nation will be in Atlanta for the game.

The Bulldogs wrapped up the regular season with three straight victories in Athens to extend its school record and FBS-leading streak of consecutive home wins to 31. Georgia registered a 31-17 victory over No. 7 Tennessee, beat UMass 59-21 and then Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes.

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have won the SEC in 2017 and 2022, beating No. 4 Auburn and No. 14 LSU in the SECCG. In rematches during a season under Smart, the Bulldogs are 2-0 (2017 lost at No. 10 AU 40-17 in regular season, won 28-7 over No. 4 AU in SECCG; 2021 lost to No. 4 Alabama 41-24 in SECCG, won 33-18 over No. 1 Alabama in CFP National Championship).

2002 (W): #4 Georgia d. #22 Arkansas 30-3 Att: 74,835 in Ga. Dome
2003 (L): #3 LSU d. #5 Georgia 34-13 Att: 74,913 in Ga. Dome
2005 (W): #13 Georgia def. #3 LSU 34-14 Att: 73,717 in Ga. Dome
2011 (L): #1 LSU d. #12 Georgia 42-10 Att: 74,715 in Ga. Dome
2012 (L): #2 Alabama d. #3 Georgia 32-28 Att: 75,624 in Ga. Dome
2017 (W): #6 Georgia d. #4 Auburn 28-7 Att: 76,534 in Mercedes-Benz
2018 (L): #1 Alabama d. #4 Georgia 35-28 Att: 77,141 in Mercedes-Benz
2019 (L): #2 LSU d. #4 Georgia 37-10 Att: 74,150 in Mercedes-Benz
2021 (L): #3 Alabama d. #1 Georgia 41-24 Att: 78,030 in Mercedes-Benz
2022 (W): #1 Georgia d. #14 LSU 50-30 Att: 74,810 in Mercedes-Benz
2023 (L): #8 Alabama d. #1 Georgia 27-24 Att: 78,320 in Mercedes-Benz
MVPs: David Greene, QB, ’02; D.J. Shockley, QB, ’05; Roquan Smith, LB, ’17, Stetson Bennett, QB, ’22

The 2024 Bulldogs finished 6-2 in the SEC including 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. The Bulldogs started this run by winning their final three games of the 2020 all-SEC schedule and are 33-2 in this span.

Georgia’s 2024 Senior Class is an FBS-leading and school record 52-4 (46-2 in the regular season) since 2021. The next best mark in this span is 47-8 by Michigan. Georgia’s 2023 Senior Class held the previous school mark at 50-4 with two national titles, an SEC crown plus went 6-0 in bowl/CFP games.

The Bulldogs are making their fourth straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) and seventh overall trip under Kirby Smart. Florida is the only school to have an SECCG streak longer as it went to five straight from 1992-96. In school history, Georgia has won the SEC title 14 times (2nd most in SEC), the last one coming in 2022 over LSU. The Bulldogs are 4-7 in the SECCG.

Georgia owns the nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons and has won its last seven matchups. At 10-2, 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 (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.

Four Bulldogs have been named a finalist for the national award at their position: junior linebacker Jalon Walker (Butkus Award); junior safety Malaki Starks (Jim Thorpe Award); junior punter Brett Thorson (Ray Guy Award); and graduate snapper Beau Gardner (Patrick Mannelly Award).

ABC reported the 2024 Georgia-Texas regular season game delivered 13.2 million viewers (peak of 14.4 million) 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 year came in front of the largest crowd ever at DKR-Memorial Stadium (105,215). The ESPN College GameDay crew was on hand too.

Trevor Etienne scored three TDs, Peyton Woodring made three fields goals, Jalon Walker notched three sacks and Daylen Everette had seven tackles, an INT, a sack, forced fumble and fumble recovery to lead the Bulldogs in providing Kirby Smart with his 100th career victory.

The Texas crowd ranked 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.

1949	Lost	28	41	%Miami
1957	Lost	7	26	Atlanta
1958	Lost	8	13	Austin
1984	Won	10	9	Dallas
2019	Lost	21	28	+New Orleans
2024	Won	30	15	Austin

%Orange Bowl; &Cotton Bowl; +Sugar Bowl

Fifth-year senior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., owns a 23-3 record as a starter. Led Georgia to 13-1 mark in ’23.

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.

Superb in rallying Bulldogs back from 14-point 4th quarter deficit in 44-42 win over Ga. Tech in eight overtimes; In 4th quarter, went 12-for-17 for 124 yards and 2 TDs and then was 3-for-3 for 45 yards and 2 TDs in OT

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

Davey O’Brien Great 8 For Week 14 win over Ga. Tech (Nov. 29), Week 12 win over #7 UT (Nov. 18), two-time Manning Star of the Week (Sept. 2, Nov. 18) plus SEC Offensive Player of the Week after 34-3 win over #14 Clemson

Among the 10 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

Georgia’s top backup is Gunner Stockton. The redshirt-sophomore saw action in four games in 2023 and was 12-for-19 (63%) for 148 yards and two TDs. This year, Stockton is 13-for-16 (81%) for 135 yards in three games.

Passing Yards	389 vs. #20 UK, 2023
Completions	29 @ VU, 2023
Attempts	50 @ #4 UA, ’24
TD Passes	5 vs. GT & TT, ’24
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	12/12	283	435	65.1	3,429	12	28	147.0	67TD UA
Total	38/26	621	910	68.2	7,856	20	58	157.4	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
UMass (W)	20	31	64.5	297	0	4	1	145.4	49
GT (W)	28	43	65.1	297	0	5	2	161.5	25
Career Total	621	910	68.2	7,856	20	58	28	157.4	67TD

First Meeting: Georgia entered the 1949 Orange Bowl on an eight-game winning streak and No. 8 AP ranking. Texas was 6-3-1 and playing in its first Orange Bowl and posted a 41-28 win. UT ran 58 times for 324 yards and five TDs, including 107 yards and a score by Tom Landry (eventual Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame coach) in his final game.

Second Meeting: The 1957 contest came at Grant Field in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 33,000 and was the first game of 33-year-old Darrell Royal’s tenure at UT as the Longhorns won 26-7.

Third Meeting: In 1958 in Austin, Georgia was trailing 6-0 early in the 4th quarter when future Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton put himself in (coaches had planned to redshirt him as the 3rd-string QB) when he saw starting QB Charlie Britt still sitting on the bench as the team took the field. He ran in and told his teammates, “I’ve come to win this game.” He directed a 21-play, 95-yard TD drive along with a two-point conversion for an 8-6 edge. UT answered with a 17-play, 72-yard TD drive capped by a 1-yard run by Bobby Gurwitz to lift 11th-ranked Texas to a 13-8 win.

Fourth Meeting: Ask a Georgia fan what time it is in Texas and you’ll likely hear it’s Ten to Nine! In the 1984 Cotton Bowl, UT entered 11-0 and ranked No. 2 with a shot at its fifth national championship if it beat No. 7 Georgia (9-1-1). Down 9-3 with less than five minutes left, the Bulldogs took advantage of a muffed punt return by Craig Curry at the UT 24. Gary Moss recovered it and Georgia later scored on a 17-yard scamper by QB John Lastinger with 3:22 remaining for a 10-9 lead as Vince Dooley’s Dogs claimed the upset and finished with a No. 4 ranking.

Fifth Meeting: Sam Ehlinger finished with three rushing TDs and 169 passing yards to lead Tom Herman’s UT squad to a 28-21 upset of No. 6 Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs finished 11-3 and ranked No. 7 while UT ended the season 10-4 and No. 9.

Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.):Nyier Daniels, OL; Sydir Mitchell, DL – UT
Buford HS (Buford, Ga.):KJ Bolden, S – UGA; Isaiah Bond, WR – UT
IMG Academy (Badenton, Fla.):Ellis Robinson IV, DB, Daylen Everette, DB, Sam M’Pemba, OLB, Gabe Harris Jr., OLB, Terrell Foster, ILB, Warren Brinson, DT – UGA; Jerrick Gibson, RB, Jordon Johnson-Rubell, DB – UT;
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif): Brandon Baker, OL, Spencer Shannon, TE, UT; Nate Frazier, RB – UGA
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.): Earnest Greene III, OT – UGA; DeAndre Moore Jr., WR – UT

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
UMass	10 (3R, 7P)	6 (5R, 1P)	#10 Georgia 59-21
GT	7 (2R, 5P)	12 (5R, 7P)	#7 Georgia 44-42 (8-OT)

Longest Rush by Georgia: 52-yd by Anthony Evans III (MSU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 68-yd by Jalen John (UMass)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 67-yd TD (Beck to Bell @ #4 UA)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 75-yd TD (Hairston to Keeney-James, UMass; 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 but missed the last three games due to injury, has 477 yards (5.0 avg.) and 7 TDs.

Frazier, who has appeared 11 games including starting the past three, now leads the team with 587 yards and eight TDs. He made his first start in the win over #7 Tennessee 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. Frazier exploded for a career-high 136 yards on 21 attempts with three scores against UMass. He provided the game-winning conversion to beat Ga. Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes.

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, he registered 83 yards on 11 carries including a 40-yard scamper and his first TD. The longest Bulldog rush belongs to wideout Anthony Evans III (52 vs. MSU). Branson Robinson has missed the past six games with an injury while Roderick Robinson II made his 2024 debut versus Ga. Tech.

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).

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 plus had five carrries for 31 yards against UMass.

Redshirt junior running back Cash Jones has served as a game captain twice this year and his contributions have been aplenty.

10 carries for 23 yards on the year. His lone carry against #14 Clemson was a 15-yard TD that featured an impressive stiff arm.

22 catches for 238 yards overall including a 22-yard TD against UF, finishing with three catches for 37 yards. Had a career-long 30-yarder at #4 Alabama.

Tallied a career-high four catches versus UMass including an 8-yard TD.

Posted career-high 53 yards receiving on four catches including a 25-yard TD in overtime against Ga. Tech that made it 40-all.

A key member on special teams including as a KOR (4-for-58 yards).

Georgia has been banged up for much of the year on the offensive line while facing one of the nation’s toughest schedules. The Bulldogs rank 10th nationally in Passing Offense (297.0 ypg), 101st in Rushing Offense (128.3 ypg) and 37th in Total Offense (425.3 ypg).

Against #7 Tennessee, sophomore Monroe Freeling made his first career start at LT (and now has started the past three games) in place of an injured Earnest Greene III who had made 23 consecutive starts. The starting unit played the entire game against the Vols 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 gave up five sacks after allowing just 10 total in the first eight games of the season.

Senior guard Tate Ratledge, who missed a four-game stretch due to an ankle injury, earned SEC OL Player of the Week honors after the win over #7 UT.

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. Morris returned to action against UMass while Freeling started his second straight for Greene.

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 (53-for-571 yards, 6 TDs), senior Arian Smith (42-for-709 yards, 4 TDs) and junior Dillon Bell (37-for-433 yards, 4 TDs). Also, Bell has 106 yards rushing on eight attempts including a 3-yarder for a score at #4 UA. Bell missed the UMass game due to injury and returned to play against Ga. Tech.

Smith tallied 110 yards (his fourth career 100+-yard game) on three catches including a 34-yard TD in the win over UMass.

Lovett had a pair of TDs in the win over Tech including the game-tying catch with 1:01 left in regulation. His 10-yard TD was the go-ahead score in the win over UF plus 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. Delp made his one catch versus UMass count as it resulted in a 17-yard TD.

Luckie leads the room with 334 yards receiving on 23 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.

In the comeback over Ga. Tech, they combined for 8 rec., 82 yards and 1 TD.

With their home win over No. 7 Tennessee on Nov. 16, 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. 3 Bulldogs lost at No. 16 Ole Miss on Nov. 9 and then bounced back against No. 7 Tennessee with a 31-17 victory.

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. Georgia improved to 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, which is the second longest streak in the AP Poll era that began in 1936. Miami holds the mark with 13 home wins in a row over top 10 teams from 1986-94.

Facing a 17-0 halftime deficit and then a 14-point deficit with less than six minutes left in the 4th quarter against Ga. Tech, the Bulldogs stormed back for a 44-42 win in eight overtimes against their in-state rival.

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down (79-for-124) with 14 TDs. This year, the Bulldogs rank 9th nationally in 4th Down Conversions with an SEC best 73% (16-for-22 with 4 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 OM; 3-for-4 with a TD versus UMass and 1-for-2 versus Ga. Tech.

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 25th nationally in Scoring Defense (20.5 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

Has forced at least one turnover in 11 of 12 games including seven straight

If you follow college football and didn’t know Jalon Walker, just about everybody does now especially after his game in the road win over #1 Texas. A 2024 Butkus Award finalist, the junior plays both inside and outside linebacker. A native of Salisbury, N.C., he 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! Georgia’s most recent Butkus Award winner was All-America Nakobe Dean in 2021. Dean now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ranks fourth on the team with 54 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.

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 played in seven contests in 2022, and this year ranks third in tackles (56) 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

Tallied 6 tackles plus colossal forced fumble in win over Ga. Tech. Georgia was trailing 27-20 and Tech had a 3rd-and-1 at its 31 when Jackson’s hit forced a fumble which was recovered by Chaz Chambliss. With 2:02 left in regulation, the Bulldogs would tie the game five plays later.

The defensive backfield is led by All-America safety Malaki Starks, who has a team-high 40 consecutive starts.

Starks, a finalist for the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award, is the co-leader in tackles with 65 plus he has four TFL and one interception on the year. Also, he served as the punt returner versus UF, at #16 OM and UMass when Anthony Evans was sidelined with an injury.

Junior Daylen Everette has emerged this year and ranks fifth with 51 tackles including a career-high 10 in the overtime win over Ga. Tech.

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 ranks sixth on the squad with 49 stops. He 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 12 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.

Also of note, sophomore DB Daniel Harris has started the past two games.

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, 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 6.5. Williams was the co-leader with five tackles, a sack and forced fumble in the win over UMass.

Senior Nazir Stackhouse is tied for the team lead with 40 career starts. The rest of the crew includes Warren Brinson, Christen Miller, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Miller left the UMass game with a shoulder injury and did not play versus Ga. Tech.

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 were freshman Chris Cole and Justin Williams.

Allen is the co-leader in tackles with 65 including a career-high 10 versus Ga. Tech. He had a team-high eight stops and his first career interception against UF. He made six stops in the road win over #1 Texas.

Mondon posted a career-high 13 stops in the overtime win versus Ga. Tech.

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. He recovered a fumble versus UMass.

Cole and Williams are starting to make an impact. Cole has elite speed and flexibility to help him cover along with great length. He scooped up a fumble and returned it 28 yards for a TD against UMass. It marked the first scoop and score by a Bulldog since 2020 when Monty Rice did it against #14 Tennessee.

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, along with sophomores Damon Wilson II and Gabe Harris, Jr.

Chambliss, who is tied for the team-lead in sacks (5.5) and TFLs (7.5), saw action as a fullback around the goal line in the win over #7 Tennessee. Also, he had a huge fumble recovery late in the 4th quarter in the win over Ga. Tech.

Georgia is the only team in the FBS that has its punter (Brett Thorson), placekicker (Peyton Woodring) and long snapper (Beau Gardner) named a semifinalist for the national award at their position! Recently, Thorson and Gardner were named finalists for these awards.

With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, junior punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs rank 3rd nationally in Net Punting (44.29). 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 have a total of 21 yards on seven PR.

A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson is a finalist for the Ray Guy Award which goes to the nation’s top punter. The others are Alex Mastromanno (FSU) and Eddie Czaplicki (Southern Cal). Georgia’s Drew Butler won it in 2009.

Thorson is averaging 46.9 yards on 38 punts, placing 20 inside the 20 with 13 fair catches. His 46.9 average would rank 4th nationally, but the NCAA’s minimum for stat leaders is 3.6 punts a game (Min. 43 punts in 12 games).

Thorson’s career average of 45.3 ranks third best in school history, trailing Jake Camarda’s record mark of 45.8 set from 2018-21 and Butler at 45.4.

Challenging the Bulldog record for Highest Punting Avg. in a Season (Drew Butler, the 2009 Ray Guy Award winner, at 48.1)

Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after #7 UT Game (Nov. 18).

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 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.

Sophomore Peyton Woodring, who hails from Lafayette, La., is a twotime Lou Groza Award semifinalist.

In 2024, Woodring has a team-high 97 points, going 17-for-19 on FGs (both misses from 50+), 46-for-46 on PATs and handling kickoffs too (72 of 77 overall with a 63.6 avg.).

Made his first nine FGs this season before a 55-yard miss against MSU, then made eight straight until missing a 53-yarder in the win versus Ga. Tech.

3-for-5 from 50+ including a 53-yarder into the wind versus UMass.

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).

Duke graduate transfer Charlie Ham, a native of Atlanta, Ga., provides depth. This year, he has five kickoffs with two touchbacks for a 62.8 average.

Recently, San Franicsco native Beau Gardner, a graduate transfer from UCLA, became Georgia’s first finalist for the Patrick Mannelly Award (nation’s best long snapper, annual award began in 2019).

Snapped on a combined 65 field goal attempts and PATs as well as each of the 38 punts this season.

The 2024 winner will be announced Dec. 14 in Chicago. The other finalists are William Wagner (Michigan) and Rocco Underwood (Florida).

Sophomore Anthony Evans III has 16 punt returns for 123 yards (7.7 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 has missed a pair of games due to injury.

Junior Malaki Starks (4 PR, 39 yards, 9.8 avg.) 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 while Cash Jones has four KOR for 58 yards including a 19-yarder versus UMass and an 18-yarder against Ga. Tech.

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	46-46	1.000	17-19	.895	55	97
Total	117-117	1.000	38-44	.864	55	231
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	3-5	55
Total	6-8	21-21	8-9	3-6	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	38	1,784	46.9	20	15	0	13	0	58 (3x)
Total	106	4,807	45.3	53	30	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

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

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.

TDid You Know? Mike Bobo and Kirby Smart were teammates at UGA from 1994-97. In 2006, Drew served as the ring bearer at Smart’s wedding.

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.

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 23-3.

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. Coaching Staff Moves For 2024 The Bulldogs welcome back James Coley (wide receivers), who is in his

Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year (FAB14):KJ Bolden, DB
Ray Guy Award (Finalist):Brett Thorson, P
Patrick Mannelly Award (Finalist):Beau Gardner, SN
Jim Thorpe Award (Finalist):Malaki Starks, DB
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Top 10 Finalist):Carson Beck, QB
Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year (Semifinalist):Jalon Walker, LB
Allstate/AFCAGood Works Team:Malaki Starks, DB

Comeback Player of the Year:Branson Robinson, RB
Broyles Award:Tray Scott
Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award:Kirby Smart, Head Coach
Dodd Trophy:Kirby Smart, Head Coach
Manning Award:Carson Beck, QB
Rimington Trophy:Jared Wilson, OL

Georgia is one of only three teams in the nation with a pair of wins versus the current AP Top 10. Oregon and Ohio State are the other squads.

School (*CFP)	SEC	Overall
Texas (3)	7-1	11-1
GEORGIA (7	6-2	10-2
Tennessee (8	6-2	10-2
Alabama (13	5-3	9-3
Ole Miss (14	5-3	9-3
Missouri (21	5-3	9-3
South Carolina (15	5-3	9-3
Texas A&M (20	5-3	8-4
LSU	5-3	8-4
Florida	4-4	7-5
Arkansas	3-5	6-6
Vanderbilt	3-5	6-6
Oklahoma	2-6	6-6
Auburn	2-6	5-7
Kentucky	1-7	4-8
Mississippi St	0-8	2-10

Rk	School	Rec.
1.	GEORGIA	52-4
2.	Michigan	46-8
3.	Alabama	44-9

Rk	School	Rec.	Years
T1.	Clemson	55-4	2016-19
T1.	Clemson	55-4	2015-18
T1.	Alabama	55-4	2015-18
4.	Alabama	53-5	2014-17
T5.	%GEORGIA	52-4	2021-24
T5.	Clemson	52-5	2017-20
T6.	Alabama	51-6	2013-16
T6.	Alabama	51-5	2016-19; 2018-21
T6.	Alabama	51-4	2017-20
T11.	GEORGIA	50-4	2020-23

%school record

Home: 2-2; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 3-3
Bowl Game/CFP: 3-2 *SEC Games: 3-4
*Includes CFP National Championship)

The Bulldogs are 2-2 in overtime games under Kirby Smart. Georgia’s complete overtime history can be found on page 108 of the media guide.

Jan. 1, 2018: #3 Georgia beat #2 Oklahoma 54-48 (2-OT) 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 (2-OT) in Athens, Ga.
Nov. 29, 2024: #7 Georgia beat Ga. Tech 44-42 (8-OT, SEC Record) in Athens, Ga.

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

Team – Games
Florida 460 (1988-present)
TCU 406 (1991-present)
Georgia 385 (1995-present)

Georgia has 41 big plays. Opponents have 33.
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)
G11 (LG):
#10 UGA: 4 (49-yd pass, Beck-Smith);
UMass: 3 (75-yd TD pass, Hairston-Keeney-James)
G12 (LG):
#7 UGA: 2 (30-yd rush, Smith);
GT: 4 (J. Haynes 44-yd rush)

Georgia is Even in Turnover Margin (64th nationally).

Georgia has 76 points off 16 turnovers.

Opponents have 47 points off 16 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
UMass: UGA got 14 pts. off 2; UGA had none
GT: UGA got 7 pts. off 1; GT got 7 of 1

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 10 FR this year (Chris Cole-2, Jalon Walker-2, Damon Wilson II-2, Daylen Everette, Dan Jackson, Raylen Wilson, Chaz Chambliss);
Opponents have 4.

Bulldog	FR	Last FR
Jalon Walker, LB	2	vs. UF24
Damon Wilson II, LB	2	@ #1 TX24
Chris Cole, LB	2	UMass24
Chaz Chambliss, LB	1	GT24
Daylen Everette, CB	1	@ #1 TX24
Dan Jackson, S	1	TT24
Raylen Wilson, LB	1	UMass24
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 30 sacks this year; Opponents have 18.

Bulldog	’24	’23	’22	’21	’20	Total
Mykel Williams, DL	3	4.5	4.5	n/a	n/a	12
Jalon Walker, LB	5.5	5	1	n/a	n/a	11.5
Chaz Chambliss, LB	5.5	0	2	0.5	n/a	8
Smael Mondon, Jr., LB	2	3	1	1	n/a	7
Warren Brinson, DL	1	2	1	1	0	5
T. Ingram-Dawkins, DL	3	1	0	0	n/a	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
Gabe Harris Jr., LB	2	0	n/a	n/a	n/a	2
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
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 (1): D. Harris (DB)

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: UMass: Truss, J. Wilson, Jackson, M. Williams
GT: Beck, Ratledge, Chambliss, Mondon

• Ninth season as Georgia coach
• 104-18 (.852) 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	10	2	.833	6-2
Total	104	18	.852	#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
2024	Ga. Tech	Trailed 17-6, trailed 27-13 with 5:37 left	44-42 (8-OT)

%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); Nate Frazier vs. UMass (11/23/24)
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 28-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart.
• In 2024, freshman LB Chris Cole returned a fumble 28 yards for a TD; 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 TD 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 TD 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).

{114 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)
2024: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)

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.