University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldog Defense Has Steadily Improved
December 05, 2025 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
When Georgia and Alabama met for the first time this season, back on Sept. 27 at Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs held the Crimson Tide scoreless in the second half. It wasn't enough to pull out a victory — Georgia fell 24-21 — but the Bulldog defense showed just how stout it can be over the final two quarters.
Throughout the season, the Georgia defense has been at its best over the final two quarters. After 12 games, the third-ranked Bulldogs have allowed 65 points in the first quarter — 21 of those came at Tennessee, when Georgia rallied for a 44-41 win in overtime — and 47 in the second (17 of those came in the loss to the ninth-ranked Tide). In the second half this season, Georgia has allowed just 85 total points, plus 3 to the Volunteers in overtime.
Georgia shut out No. 6 Ole Miss in the fourth quarter of what had been a shootout, with the Bulldogs winning 43-35 on Oct. 18. Georgia also shut out No. 13 Texas in the second and fourth quarters of a 35-10 win on Dooley Field on Nov. 15. After trailing Auburn 10-3 at the half on Oct. 11, Georgia blanked the Tigers in the second half of its 20-10 win.
Last week against No. 23 Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Bulldogs will face the Crimson Tide Saturday in the SEC Championship Game, Georgia's defense held a Yellow Jackets offense averaging 35.3 points per game to just three field goals in a 16-9 win.
"I feel like we've taken on the challenge of getting better every week, no matter the outcome of every game," linebacker Raylen Wilson said of the Bulldog defense this season. "It's just going week by week, getting better at what we do. Just the fundamentals of the game. I feel like we've taken that challenge on headfirst and we've been getting better."
Heading into Saturday's game, the Bulldog defense ranks third in the conference in points allowed per game in SEC play at 21.9 (Oklahoma is first at 18.5 and the Tide is second at 19.1). In yards per game allowed, Georgia ranks fifth at 333.5, only about 12 yards behind SEC leader Missouri at 321.4.
Georgia's rushing defense, long a hallmark of coach Kirby Smart's program, allowed just 100.3 yards per game in SEC play, behind only Oklahoma (83.9). Georgia held Texas to 23 yards rushing on 17 carries and Ole Miss to 88 yards on 24 attempts. In the loss to Alabama, the Tide gained 117 yards rushing, but averaged just 3.1 per attempt. In pass defense, Georgia is ranked eighth in the SEC at 233.3 yards allowed per game, though it ranks fourth in yards allowed per pass play at 6.76.
"We're improving. We played better, but some of the offenses we've played have been really explosive," Smart said. "Ole Miss is a really explosive offense. Tennessee is a high-octane offense, and they get a lot of snaps. They go with tempo, they score points, and Alabama's done that. Some of it's how you play, some of it's who you play, and some of it's how you change and adapt. I think we're always trying to change and adapt."
One area where Georgia has improved during the season is in denying opponents on third down. For the season, Georgia ranks 11th in the SEC, holding conference opponents to 46 conversions on 107 attempts (42.9%), with 12 of those 46 coming in the loss to Alabama, when the Tide converted 12 of 19. Since then, the defense has had some strong performances on third down, like holding Texas to 2 of 12 and Tech to 4 of 11.
Individually, linebackers CJ Allen and Wilson have been the Bulldogs' top tacklers. In SEC play, Allen ranks fifth with 8.38 per game and Wilson is averaging 5.25. For the season, Allen has a team-high 80 stops despite missing one game, and Wilson is second with 65.
"They're awesome," Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton said of Allen and Wilson. "Just to see how much hard work they put into it; just their relationship on that side of the ball is awesome. Just the leadership they have on this team is nothing like (any) other. You can credit that to those two guys."
In nine of Georgia's 12 games, Georgia has held its opponent to 21 or fewer points, and in one of those, the 41-21 win at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs led 35-7 before State scored a couple of touchdowns late against Georgia's reserves. Now, Georgia will face Alabama for a second time this season, with both teams knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses, and both teams knowing that each side has grown and developed a lot since their first meeting in September.
"There's no real advantages or no real disadvantages," Smart said of playing a team for a second time. "Both teams have the same tape. ... It's not a huge advantage one way or the other, I don't feel like.
"I think sometimes coaches overdo it, overthink it. I just think it boils down to who blocks, who tackles, who prepares the best, who mentally prepares the best, who handles it the best."
Staff Writer
When Georgia and Alabama met for the first time this season, back on Sept. 27 at Sanford Stadium, the Bulldogs held the Crimson Tide scoreless in the second half. It wasn't enough to pull out a victory — Georgia fell 24-21 — but the Bulldog defense showed just how stout it can be over the final two quarters.
Throughout the season, the Georgia defense has been at its best over the final two quarters. After 12 games, the third-ranked Bulldogs have allowed 65 points in the first quarter — 21 of those came at Tennessee, when Georgia rallied for a 44-41 win in overtime — and 47 in the second (17 of those came in the loss to the ninth-ranked Tide). In the second half this season, Georgia has allowed just 85 total points, plus 3 to the Volunteers in overtime.
Georgia shut out No. 6 Ole Miss in the fourth quarter of what had been a shootout, with the Bulldogs winning 43-35 on Oct. 18. Georgia also shut out No. 13 Texas in the second and fourth quarters of a 35-10 win on Dooley Field on Nov. 15. After trailing Auburn 10-3 at the half on Oct. 11, Georgia blanked the Tigers in the second half of its 20-10 win.
Last week against No. 23 Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Bulldogs will face the Crimson Tide Saturday in the SEC Championship Game, Georgia's defense held a Yellow Jackets offense averaging 35.3 points per game to just three field goals in a 16-9 win.
"I feel like we've taken on the challenge of getting better every week, no matter the outcome of every game," linebacker Raylen Wilson said of the Bulldog defense this season. "It's just going week by week, getting better at what we do. Just the fundamentals of the game. I feel like we've taken that challenge on headfirst and we've been getting better."
Heading into Saturday's game, the Bulldog defense ranks third in the conference in points allowed per game in SEC play at 21.9 (Oklahoma is first at 18.5 and the Tide is second at 19.1). In yards per game allowed, Georgia ranks fifth at 333.5, only about 12 yards behind SEC leader Missouri at 321.4.
Georgia's rushing defense, long a hallmark of coach Kirby Smart's program, allowed just 100.3 yards per game in SEC play, behind only Oklahoma (83.9). Georgia held Texas to 23 yards rushing on 17 carries and Ole Miss to 88 yards on 24 attempts. In the loss to Alabama, the Tide gained 117 yards rushing, but averaged just 3.1 per attempt. In pass defense, Georgia is ranked eighth in the SEC at 233.3 yards allowed per game, though it ranks fourth in yards allowed per pass play at 6.76.
"We're improving. We played better, but some of the offenses we've played have been really explosive," Smart said. "Ole Miss is a really explosive offense. Tennessee is a high-octane offense, and they get a lot of snaps. They go with tempo, they score points, and Alabama's done that. Some of it's how you play, some of it's who you play, and some of it's how you change and adapt. I think we're always trying to change and adapt."
One area where Georgia has improved during the season is in denying opponents on third down. For the season, Georgia ranks 11th in the SEC, holding conference opponents to 46 conversions on 107 attempts (42.9%), with 12 of those 46 coming in the loss to Alabama, when the Tide converted 12 of 19. Since then, the defense has had some strong performances on third down, like holding Texas to 2 of 12 and Tech to 4 of 11.
Individually, linebackers CJ Allen and Wilson have been the Bulldogs' top tacklers. In SEC play, Allen ranks fifth with 8.38 per game and Wilson is averaging 5.25. For the season, Allen has a team-high 80 stops despite missing one game, and Wilson is second with 65.
"They're awesome," Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton said of Allen and Wilson. "Just to see how much hard work they put into it; just their relationship on that side of the ball is awesome. Just the leadership they have on this team is nothing like (any) other. You can credit that to those two guys."
In nine of Georgia's 12 games, Georgia has held its opponent to 21 or fewer points, and in one of those, the 41-21 win at Mississippi State, the Bulldogs led 35-7 before State scored a couple of touchdowns late against Georgia's reserves. Now, Georgia will face Alabama for a second time this season, with both teams knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses, and both teams knowing that each side has grown and developed a lot since their first meeting in September.
"There's no real advantages or no real disadvantages," Smart said of playing a team for a second time. "Both teams have the same tape. ... It's not a huge advantage one way or the other, I don't feel like.
"I think sometimes coaches overdo it, overthink it. I just think it boils down to who blocks, who tackles, who prepares the best, who mentally prepares the best, who handles it the best."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
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