Saturday, September 13
Knoxville, TN
3:30 p.m.
University of Georgia
at
Tennessee
Georgia Visits Rocky Top For First Road Trip of 2025
September 08, 2025 | Football
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Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 55-5. This run includes back-to-back CFP national titles (2021-22) and two SEC titles (2022 & 2024).
Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games in each of the past four seasons.
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The GameDay crew will be in Knoxville for Saturday's tilt. Georgia is 20-18 when the ESPN show is on site including 4-6 in road games. Last year, the crew watched the Bulldogs upset No. 1 Texas 30-15 in Austin, beat No. 7 Tennessee 31-17 in Athens and the No. 2 Longhorns again (22-19 OT) for the SEC title in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 SEC) check in at No. 6 in the Associated Press top 25 poll, No. 3 in the Coaches top 25 poll and No. 4 in the FWAA-NFF Super 16 poll.
Georgia and Tennessee first met on the gridiron in 1899, and the Bulldogs own a 29-23-2 advantage in the history of the series. Both teams enter the contest 2-0 and ranked in the top 15.
The Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings, which is the longest stretch of success against the Vols in school history. Georgia can match UT's best streak in the series, which was nine straight that started in 1989 and then continued from 1992-1999.
The Bulldogs are 8-1 against the Vols under Kirby Smart. The lone defeat came in his first season (2016) and featured a Hail Mary for a 34-31 triumph in Athens. It marked the first home loss for Coach Smart who is 52-4 at home in his tenure.
In 2024, No. 12 Georgia erased an early 10-0 deficit to post a 31-17 victory over the No. 7 Vols. At halftime, the game was tied at 17 as the Bulldog defense would post a second half shutout. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs would tally two more score as the Vols yielded more than 18 points in a game for the first time that year. Georgia's TD drives covered 75, 84, 87 and a season-long 92 yards. UT finished with 313 yards of offense after coming in averaging 472 and 37.6 points per game. Playing With FPE (Fire, Passion & Energy)
One of Georgia's main themes during the preseason and now in 2025 will be to play with "FPE." Fifty-four percent of Georgia's roster is made of players in their first or second seasons in Athens, and they have displayed youthful exuberance throughout spring, fall camp and now in season.
In the opener, the Bulldogs tallied 488 yards of total offense and led 45-0 until the Thundering Herd scored with 10:27 remaining in the contest. Against Austin Peay, Georgia leaned on its ground game for 190 yards on 40 carries with four scores in a 28-6 victory.
Redshirt junior quarterback Gunner Stockton provided four scores, two through the air and two on the ground in the season-opening win over Marshall. Against Austin Peay, he posted career-highs in completions and attempts (26-for-34) but did not have a passing or rushing TD in a 28-6 win.
In the opener, Georgia went 3-for-3 on 4th Down conversion attempts and scored two touchdowns. On Georgia's first posession of the season, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-2 from the Marshall 31 when Stockton rushed for 14 yards. Georgia would score one play later for a 7-0 lead. Then on their second possesion, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-1 at the Marshall 13. Stockton scampered in from 13 yards out for a 14-0 lead. The third conversion came with the Bulldogs up 31-0 in the 3rd quarter. On 4th-and-Goal, Stockton completed a two-yard TD strike to London Humphreys.
A total of 22 true freshmen Bulldogs (most in the Smart era) made their debut and two drew a starting assignment, Ethan Barbour (Bar-bore), one of two tight ends, and Juan Gaston Jr., at right guard. Under Smart, only 13 true freshmen have started a season opener. Unfortunately, Gaston injured his ankle late in the first quarter of the opener and did not return and then missed the Austin Peay game while Barbour missed the second half against Austin Peay with an ankle injury.
Against Marshall, the Branch brothers, Zachariah and Zion, made an immediate impact in their Bulldog debut after transferring from USC. Zachariah, a junior wideout/return specialist, had a team-high 95 yards on three catches including a 47-yard touchdown plus had three punt returns for 24 yards. Zion, a junior safety, was the co-leader in tackles with a career-high seven, all solo stops.
Kirby Smart is in his 10th season at the helm of his alma mater with a 107-19 mark. He is one of only two active coaches (Dabo Swinney, Clemson) with multiple national championships. *Georgia is the only team in the CFP-era to win back-to-back national titles, doing it in 2021-2022.
The Bulldogs are 9-0 in their first SEC road game each year of the Smart era, winning at Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina (twice), Vanderbilt (twice), Arkansas, Auburn and Kentucky.
Georgia is 33-2 in its last 35 SEC regular season games. 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 last year.
In 2024, the Bulldogs made their fourth straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) and seventh overall trip under Smart. After a 22-19 overtime win over then No. 2 Texas, the Bulldogs claimed their 15th SEC title in school history and the No. 2 seed in the CFP.
Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton, a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga., is 2-1 as starter in his career. Rookies are behind him in redshirt freshmen Ryan Puglisi and Colter Ginn plus true freshmen Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender.
Stockton posted a successful home debut in the 2025 opening win over Marshall as the team's leading rusher (73 yards on 10 attempts with 2 scores) plus threw for 190 yards and 2 TDs.
2024 Stockton Highlights: Delivered when called on to start the 2nd half of the 2024 SECCG against Texas who had the No. 1 rated pass defense (No. 3 total defense)...Led the Bulldogs on scoring drives of 75, 61 and 72 yards in three of the first four possessions and then the game-winning TD in OT...Made first career start versus No. 5 Notre Dame in the CFP Quarterfinal Allstate Sugar Bowl (20-for-32 for 234 yards, 1 TD despite being sacked four times).
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Puglisi made his Bulldog debut in the 45-7 win over Marshall, directing four possession in the second half with one TD drive covering 80 yards in eight plays...Finished the game 5-for-8 for 59 yards and one TD, a 23-yard strike to freshman TE Elyiss Williams. Went 1-for-2 for 4 yards versus Austin Peay.
Longest Rush by Georgia: 23-yd by Dwight Phillips Jr (AP)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 11-yd by Zion Turner (MU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 47-yd TD (Stockton to Branch vs. MU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 44-yd (Turner to Bradshaw, MU)
RUSHING
#3 Nate Frazier, RB 116 yards, 25 att., 4.6 avg., 2 TD, 12 long
#20 Dwight Phillips, Jr, RB 115 yards, 12 att., 9.0 avg., 1 TD, 23 long
#33 Chauncey Bowens, RB 89 yards, 17 att., 5.2 avg., 2 TD, 21 long
PASSING
#14 Gunner Stockton, QB 40 comp., 58 att., 417 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 47 long
#12 Ryan Puglisi, QB 6 comp., 10 att., 63 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 23 long
RECEIVING
#8 Colbie Young, WR 9 rec., 106 yards, 11.8 avg., 0 TD, 24 long
#1 Zachariah Branch, WR 6 rec., 112 yards, 18.7 avg., 1 TD, 47 long
#16 London Humphreys, WR 6 rec., 37 yards, 6.2 avg., 1 TD, 16 long
TACKLES
#5 Raylen Wilson, ILB 14 total tackles, 8 solo, 6 assist, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
#3 CJ Allen, ILB 11 total tackles, 9 solo, 2 assist, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack
#4 KJ Bolden, DB 10 total tackles, 3 solo, 7 assist, 0 INT, 1 PBU
#2 Zion Branch, DB 7 total tackles, 7 solo, 0 assist, 0 INT, 0 PBU
#9 Chris Cole, ILB 7 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 assist, 2 TFL, 1 sack
Georgia's top returning running back is 5-10, 205-pound sophomore Nate Frazier from Compton, Calif. He appeared in 13 games with three starts and led the team with 671 yards and eight TDs. Against Tennessee last year, he became the first Bulldog freshman tailback to start a game since 2014 when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both did it that season. Frazier has honored some of the Georgia greats of "RBU" with his TD celebrations from Michel's jazz hands to Todd Gurley's signature bow. This season, he has 116 yards.
Redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens and sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., have paired with Frazier to carry the load in 2025. Senior Cash Jones has proven to be a reliable pass catcher and blocker too.
In the 45-7 win over Marshall, QB Gunner Stockton was the leading rusher with 73 yards on 10 attempts with a pair of scores. Phillips Jr., was next with 60 yards with one TD. Frazier started and tallied 47 yards on 11 carries.
Bowens had a breakout performance against Austin Peay with a career-high 11 carries for 56 yards and two scores. Phillips finished with 55 yards on seven carries including a team-best 23-yard scamper. He is averaging 9.6 ypc.
Georgia's top receivers to date have been senior Colbie Young, USC transfer Zachariah Branch and junior London Humphreys, but the room has just three TDs this year.
Young now has a team-high nine catches for 106 yards after being targeted seven times against Austin Peay. He finished with seven catches for 76 yards in the win over the Govs.
Branch, who tallied 47 receptions for 503 yards and one TD last year as a Trojan, has six catches for 112 yards and one TD for the Bulldogs.
Look for senior Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas to make an impact. He had three catches for 24 yards against the Govs after one target against Marshall. Last year for the Aggies, he had 39 catches for 574 yards and eight TDs.
Senior Dillon Bell, redshirt freshman Sacovie White-Helton plus true freshmen CJ Wiley and Talyn Taylor have been options too. Taylor had his first two catches for 28 yards against the Govs.
Twelve Bulldogs caught a pass in the season opener against Marshall with receivers accounting for 12 of the 19 receptions. Branch led the group with three catches for 95 yards including a 47-yard TD. Humphreys hauled in three for just eight yards but one was a two-yard TD.
Georgia was banged up for much of 2024 on the offensive line while facing the nation's toughest schedule per ESPN's FPI. Still, the line helped lead the Bulldogs to another SEC title. This year, the Bulldogs have a retooled group because All-American Tate Ratledge, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson and Xavier Truss are all in the NFL. Fairchild and Truss were the only ones to start all 14 games last year.
In 2025, the Bulldogs have not allowed a sack. The starters against Marshall featured redshirt junior Drew Bobo (C), junior Monroe Freeling (LT), Earnest Greene III (RT), redshirt senior Micah Morris (LG) and true freshman Juan Gaston Jr. (RG). The longest starting streak among all offensive players belongs to Freeling at seven games.
It only took one game in 2025 before injuries surfaced again as Georgia had a different right guard and tackle for Austin Peay.
Georgia's depth was tested early as Gaston and Greene III both left the Marshall game with injuries and neither played against Austin Peay as sophomore Jahzare Jackson (RT) and redshirt freshman Michael Uini (RG) made their first starts. Redshirt freshman Daniel Calhoun (G/T) Bo Hughley (T), redshirt sophomore Jamal Meriweather (G) and Henry Peagler (G), freshmen Cortez Smith (C/G) and Dontrell Glover (G), Nyer Daniels (T) and Marcus Harrison (G) plus freshman Mason Short (G/C) have seen action this season. Did You Know? Gaston joined Andrew Thomas (RT, 2017) as the only true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener in the Smart era. Thomas went on to be a first round pick (fourth overall selection) in the 2020 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He remains a starter for the Giants.
Tight ends always have played a significant role in the Bulldog offense with six currently in the NFL, and the 2025 group should be no different. Junior Lawson Luckie and senior Oscar Delp are expected to play the lead roles. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich are ready too.
Highly-touted freshmen Ethan Barbour and Elyiss Williams contributed in the opener. Barbour joined Delp in the starting lineup while Williams notched a 23-yard TD on his first career catch. Incidentally, the last Bulldog to do that was Delp in 2022 against South Carolina. Barbour injured his left leg at the end of the first half against Austin Peay and did not return.
In the win over Marshall, the tight ends had four catches for 62 yards and one score. Delp had the longest catch, a 28-yarder, while Williams had the score.
A tight end did not have a catch against Austin Peay, marking the first time that happened since a 2021 win over Arkansas. Georgia was 7-for-11 that day.
Luckie is a second generation Bulldog. His father Mike (LB) was part of Bulldog triplets from 1996-98 (uncles Dustin-LB and Miles-C).
Georgia has had 55 players drafted over the past five seasons, including 30 on defense and 11 of those defenders have gone in the first round.
2025 Scoring Defense: 6.5 ppg; Rushing Defense: 61.5: Pass Defense: 140.0
Began 2025 by blanking Marshall for three quarters and shut out Austin Peay in the first and fourth quarters to give the Bulldogs five scoreless quarters.
One of the hallmarks of an elite defense is stopping the run, and that starts up front. In 2025, Georgia is replacing a host of seasoned veterans now playing in the NFL like Mykel Williams, Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
This year, Marshall was limited to 78 rushing yards on 31 attempts as Georgia built a 24-0 lead by halftime on its way to a 45-7 win. Austin Peay gained just 45 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Up next, nationally-ranked Tennessee is averaging 252.5 rushing yards a game and 605 yards of total offense/game.
Redshirt junior Christen Miller and junior Jordan Hall are the veterans. Miller started 10 games last year. Hall battled leg injuries, limiting him to six games and has admitted that rehabbing the mental side more than the physical was the toughest part. Hall made his first career start in the 2025 season opener against Marshall and made two tackles in the win over Austin Peay.
Along with Miller and Hall, redshirt freshmen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nasir Johnson, Nnamdi Ogboko, and Jordan Thomas, redshirt sophomore transfer Josh Horton (Miami) and freshmen Elijah Griffin and JJ Hanne are in the rotation. Jonah-Ajonye and Griffin posted a career-high three stops versus Austin Peay.
In 2024, junior CJ Allen ranked second in tackles behind safety Malaki Starks (1st round pick of Baltimore) with 76 while fellow junior Raylen Wilson posted 47 stops with seven tackles for loss. In the 2025 season opener, Wilson tied for the team-high with seven stops including two TFLs and a sack, while Allen, a preseason All-America selection, chipped in with four tackles.
One of the most veteran linebackers, junior Gabe Harris Jr., made his first start against Marshall and had a pair of TFLs.
Redshirt junior Terrell Foster made three tackles, and in the second quarter, he recovered a blocked punt at the Marshall 20 that set up an eventual score.
Freshmen All-SEC selections Chris Cole and Justin Williams stepped up last year when Smael Mondon (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) was hurt, and that duo should be even better in 2025. Cole had a career-high five tackles in the win over Marshall and got his first career sack plus three tackles against Austin Peay while Williams made a career-high four stops. Cole has elite speed and flexibility to help him cover along with great length.
Keep an eye on sophomore Quintavius Johnson, redshirt freshman Kris Jones and freshmen Zayden Walker and Anthony Kruah too.
Junior transfer Elo Modozie (Army) should contribute after tallying 34 stops, including eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, last year.
Georgia's defense including the secondary will face an SEC passing attack in Tennessee that is averaging 352 yards per game (ypg). The Bulldogs have not allowed a passing TD this season with opponents averaging 140 ypg.
Marshall finished 11-for-21 for 120 yards and no passing TDs or INTs.
Austin Peay went 16-for-23 for 151 yards and no passing TDs with 1 INT.
In the secondary this year, USC transfer Zion Branch led the team with a career- high seven stops versus Marshall while KJ Bolden had six stops against Austin Peay. Bolden blocked a punt against Marshall too.
Senior Daylen Everette, the MVP of the SEC Championship Game, emerged last season with a team-high three INTs plus ranked sixth with 58 tackles. He entered 2025 with a team-best 28 consecutive starts but that was snapped when he missed the season opener against Marshall due to an injury. He returned to his starting role against Austin Peay.
Junior DB Daniel Harris joined Bolden, junior Star Joenel Aguero, plus first-time starters redshirt freshman Ellis Robinson IV and redshirt sophomore Kyron Jones to open the game versus Marshall. Robinson had the team's first INT of the year against Austin Peay.
Also, newcomer Adrian Maddox (UAB), redshirt freshman Demello Jones and freshman Rasean Dinkins are in the rotation.
In 2024, Georgia was the only team in the FBS that had its punter (Brett Thorson), placekicker (Peyton Woodring) and snapper (Beau Gardner) named a semifinalist for a national award at their position, and all three are back! Thorson and Gardner were named finalists for the Ray Guy Award and Patrick Mannelly Award, while Woodring was up for the Groza Award.
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (84-for-132) with 16 TDs.
In 2025, Georgia is 3-for-3 with 2 TDs on 4th Down. Rutgers (5-for-5) and Tulsa (4-for-4) were the only schools to eclipse Georgia in week one.
In 2024, Georgia led the SEC and ranked 16th nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 67% (18-for-27 with 4 TDs).
With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, All-America punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs ranked 5th nationally in Net Punting (43.5) in 2024. However in the SEC Championship Game, Thorson's season ended due to a knee injury during a return after a punt. He finished with four punts for a 53.5 average in the game including a 60-yarder. After missing the 2025 opener while still recovering, he returned against Austin Peay with four punts for a 43.8 average including a 54 yarder.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson was a 2024 finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Thorson won the fan vote but Eddie Czaplicki (USC) claimed the trophy. In 2024, Thorson averaged 47.6 yards on 42 punts, the second best mark in school history. His average would've ranked 3rd nationally in 2024, but the NCAA's minimum for leaders is 3.6 punts a game (Min. 47 punts in 13 games).
Thorson's career average of 45.6 ranks 2nd best in school history, trailing only Jake Camarda's record mark of 45.8 set from 2018-21.
Thorson's social media features a 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.
Thanks in part to Thorson's punts and the coverage team, 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. Along with Cole Speer, gunners in 2025 have included KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Daniel Harris and Jeremy Bell.
Georgia had its streak of not allowing a positive yard on a punt return end at #16 Ole Miss last year, a span of 28 games. Georgia allowed its first significant punt return since 2022 when Boo Carter (Tennessee) posted a 26-yarder last year and was promptly tackled to save a TD by Thorson!
With Thorson out for the CFP last year, Georgia turned to then true freshman Drew Miller in the Sugar Bowl. In his debut, he had four punts for a 39.8 average with a long of 48. Miller handled punting duties against Marshall in the 2025 season opener, posting a 48.0 average on six punts.
Punts: 6 (UK24)
Long: 75 (Tenn22)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 54.0 on four (@ #1 Texas24) with minus 5 PR yards
Punts: 6 (MU25)
Long: 54 (MU 25)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 48.0 on six (MU25) with 14 PR yards
#at least two punts
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (vs. FSU23, Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
FGA: 3 (6x, last vs. #2 Texas at SECCG, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
FGM: 3 (5x, last vs. #2 Texas at SECCG, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
LG: Clemson 24 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Redshirt senior Liam Badger and freshman Connor Ferguson are options too. Ferguson made his debut with the final kickoff versus Marshall.
Junior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., returns as a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. In the win over Marshall, he made a 43-yard FG, six PATs and handled the first seven kickoffs. Did You Know? After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, he's been good on 39 of his past 42 FG (all three misses from 50 yards). He's made all 129 PATs too.
His 91.3 FG% in 2024 ranked 2nd in the SEC and 3rd best in Georgia history.
Team-high 111 points in 2024, going 21-for-23 on FGs (both misses from 50+), 48-for-48 on PATs and handled kickoffs too (80 of 85 overall with a 63.7 avg.).
Redshirt senior Liam Badger and freshman Connor Ferguson are options too. Ferguson made his debut with the final kickoff versus Marshall. Snap Judgment: Gardner Named Finalist In 2024, 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). He is back in 2025.
Snapped on a combined 71 field goal attempts and PATs as well as each of the 46 punts in 2024.
The experienced kickoff returners include graduate Cash Jones (4-for-58 yards in 2024) along with USC transfer junior Zachariah Branch (Career: 30-for-567 yards, 1 TD). At punt returner, Branch has done this as well during his days with the Trojans and now with Georgia (Career: 33-for-439 yards, 1 TD). In 2023, Branch won The Jet Award for the nation's top returner.
In the season opener against Marshall, the Bulldogs did not have any kick returns while Branch had three PR for 24 yards. KJ Bolden blocked a Marshall punt and was credited with a two-yard return.
Did You Know? Georgia's last punt return for a TD came in 2023 (Mekhi {MUH-kye} Mews vs. Ball State, 69 yards)
Did You Know? Georgia's last KOR for a TD came in 2016 (Terry Godwin @ South Carolina, 43 yards)
Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have blocked eight punts and eight field goals. There's two players on the current squad with a block for Georgia. In the 2025 season opener against Marshall, KJ Bolden blocked a punt that led to an eventual TD after the Bulldogs recovered it at the MU20. Junior DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt in 2023 that resulted in a safety.
Junior transfer OLB Elo Modozie blocked field goal attempts by Rice and Notre Dame in 2024 while playing for Army. Senior transfer DB Adrian Maddox blocked a field goal attempt by Prairie View A&M in 2022 while playing for Alabama State. Georgia's last blocked field goal came in 2024 by Dan Jackson against Auburn. He is now with the Detroit Lions on IR.
Georgia ranks 3rd in NCAA history for consecutive games scoring and among schools with active streaks: Florida: 464 games (1988-present); TCU: 408 games (1991-present); Georgia: 389 games (1995-present)
Home: 2-2; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 4-3
Bowl Game/CFP: 3-2 !SEC Games: 4-4
!Includes SECCG & CFP National Championship)
The Bulldogs are 3-2 in overtime games under Kirby Smart. Georgia's complete overtime history can be found on page 110 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: S.C. 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.
Dec. 7, 2024: #2 Georgia beat #5 Texas 22-19 in Atlanta, Ga. (SEC Championship, Mercedez-Benz Stadium)
CJ Allen, ILB
SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council; *SEC Football Leadership Council Preseason All-America: Second Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN; Preseason All- SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Bednarik, Butkus and Maxwell Awards, Nagurski Trophy, Senior Bowl Top 300
Dillon Bell, WR
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: Senior Bowl Top 300; Watch List: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Drew Bobo, OL
Preseason Watch List: Rimington Trophy
KJ Bolden, DB
Preseason All-America: Second Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Coaches, SEC Media Second Team; Preseason Watch Lists: Bednarik, Maxwell and Jim Thorpe Awards, Nagurski Trophy
Zachariah Branch, WR / KR
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media (KR/PR), SEC Coaches (All Purpose); Third Team – Athlon (KR/PR); Preseason Watch Lists: Jet Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
Chris Cole, ILB
Preseason Watch List: Butkus Award
Oscar Delp, TE
Preseason All-SEC: Second Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches, Third Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: John Mackey Award
Daylen Everette, DB
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Jim Thorpe Award, Bednarik and Maxwell Awards, Senior Bowl Top 300, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy
Nate Frazier, RB
Preseason All-SEC: Second Team – Athlon; Third Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award
Monroe Freeling, OL
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon
Beau Gardner, SN
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Patrick Mannelly Award
Earnest Greene, III, OL
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Lombardi Award
Elijah Griffin, DL
Preseason Watch List: Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award
Jordan Hall, DL
Preseason Watch List: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Cash Jones, RB
Preseason Watch List: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Lawson Luckie, TE
Preseason Watch Lists: John Mackey Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
Josh McCray, RB
Preseason Watch List: Doak Walker Award
Christen Miller, DL
Preseason All-America: Second Team – ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Second Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: Outland Trophy, Bednarik and Maxwell Awards, Nagurski Trophy, Senior Bowl Top 300
Gunner Stockton, QB
Preseason Watch List: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Noah Thomas, WR
Preseason Watch Lists: Senior Bowl Top 300, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Brett Thorson, P
Preseason All-America: First Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Ray Guy Award, College Football Comeback Player of the Year, Senior Bowl Top 300
Raylen Wilson, ILB
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon
Peyton Woodring, PK
Preseason All-America: Second Team – Sporting News, AP Third Team – Athlon; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media (PK/KS), SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Lou Groza Award
Colbie Young, WR
Preseason Watch List: Senior Bowl Top 300
Georgia is -1 in Turnover Margin.
Georgia has no points off one turnover.
Opponents have 3 points off two turnovers.
MU: No turnovers by either team
AP: No points off 1 TO; AP got 3 points off 2 TO
Georgia has 1 INT in 2025: Ellis Robinson IV (AP);
Opponents have no INTs.
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Georgia has no FR in 2025; Opponents have two FR.
^on Offense; #on Special Teams
Georgia has 3 sacks in 2025; Opponents have none.
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MU (7): E. Barbor (TE), Z. Branch (WR), J. Gaston, Jr. (RG), J. Hall (DL), Q. Johnson (OLB), K. Jones (FS), E. Robinson IV (CB). AP (2): Jahzare Jackson (RT), Michael Uini (RG). Last year, there were 21 first-time starters during the season
AP: AP: Gunner Stockton, Colbie Young, KJ Bolden, Raylen Wilson
#4-5 (includes 2017-19, '21, '22, '23, '24' SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)
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%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 in Atlanta (9/3/16);
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK
(11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma in CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl (1/1/18); Daijun Edwards vs. 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, GT-11/29/24), S. Bennett (UAB-9/11/21);
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton vs. MSU (11/21/20);
Receiving TDs: 2, by nine Bulldogs multiple times;
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to Brock Bowers vs. UAB (9/11/21);
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF in Jacksonville (11/7/20);
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16);
Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24);
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20), vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Trenton Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24) & #2 Texas in SECCG (12/7/24);
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.
114 Points: 17 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)
2024: none;
"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.
Game & Broadcast Info
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- Kickoff: Saturday, September 13 - 3:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Neyland Stadium (101,915) | Knoxville, Tenn.
- 2025 Records: Georgia (2-0, 0-0), Tennessee (2-0, 0-0)
- 2025 Preseason Rankings: Georgia #6, Tennessee #15
- TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit & Holly Rowe)
- Video Stream: ESPN+
- Radio: 95.5 FM WSB - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Josh Brock (Analyst), D.J. Shockley (Sideline)
- Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
- Satellite: SiriusXM TBA
- Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
- Twitter: #UGAvsTENN
- SECN ReBroadcast: TBA
- GameCenter: View
- History: Georgia vs. Tennessee All-Time Series Results: UGA 29-23
- Last Meeting: UGA won 31-17 in Athens, 11/16/2024
- Tickets: SeatGeek
Georgia-Tennessee Quick Comparison
| Georgia | Tennessee | |
| Scoring Offense/Game: | 36.5 | 58.5 |
| Rushing Offense/Game: | 214.5 | 252.5 |
| Passing Offense/Game: | 240.0 | 352.5 |
| Total Offense/Game: | 454.5 | 605.0 |
| Scoring Defense/Game: | 6.5 | 21.5 |
| Rushing Defense/Game: | 61.5 | 76.0 |
| Passing Defense/Game: | 140.0 | 220.5 |
| Turnover Margin: | -1 | Even |
Simply The Best (Since 2021)
Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 55-5. This run includes back-to-back CFP national titles (2021-22) and two SEC titles (2022 & 2024).
Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games in each of the past four seasons.
| Rank | School | Record |
| 1. | GEORGIA | 55-5 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 49-8 |
| 3. | Michigan | 49-9 |
| 4. | Oregon | 47-10 |
ESPN College GameDay On Site
The GameDay crew will be in Knoxville for Saturday's tilt. Georgia is 20-18 when the ESPN show is on site including 4-6 in road games. Last year, the crew watched the Bulldogs upset No. 1 Texas 30-15 in Austin, beat No. 7 Tennessee 31-17 in Athens and the No. 2 Longhorns again (22-19 OT) for the SEC title in Atlanta.
Georgia In The Polls This Week
The Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 SEC) check in at No. 6 in the Associated Press top 25 poll, No. 3 in the Coaches top 25 poll and No. 4 in the FWAA-NFF Super 16 poll.
Serious Streak In The Series As SEC Play Opens On The Road
Georgia and Tennessee first met on the gridiron in 1899, and the Bulldogs own a 29-23-2 advantage in the history of the series. Both teams enter the contest 2-0 and ranked in the top 15.
The Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings, which is the longest stretch of success against the Vols in school history. Georgia can match UT's best streak in the series, which was nine straight that started in 1989 and then continued from 1992-1999.
The Bulldogs are 8-1 against the Vols under Kirby Smart. The lone defeat came in his first season (2016) and featured a Hail Mary for a 34-31 triumph in Athens. It marked the first home loss for Coach Smart who is 52-4 at home in his tenure.
In 2024, No. 12 Georgia erased an early 10-0 deficit to post a 31-17 victory over the No. 7 Vols. At halftime, the game was tied at 17 as the Bulldog defense would post a second half shutout. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs would tally two more score as the Vols yielded more than 18 points in a game for the first time that year. Georgia's TD drives covered 75, 84, 87 and a season-long 92 yards. UT finished with 313 yards of offense after coming in averaging 472 and 37.6 points per game. Playing With FPE (Fire, Passion & Energy)
One of Georgia's main themes during the preseason and now in 2025 will be to play with "FPE." Fifty-four percent of Georgia's roster is made of players in their first or second seasons in Athens, and they have displayed youthful exuberance throughout spring, fall camp and now in season.
In the opener, the Bulldogs tallied 488 yards of total offense and led 45-0 until the Thundering Herd scored with 10:27 remaining in the contest. Against Austin Peay, Georgia leaned on its ground game for 190 yards on 40 carries with four scores in a 28-6 victory.
Redshirt junior quarterback Gunner Stockton provided four scores, two through the air and two on the ground in the season-opening win over Marshall. Against Austin Peay, he posted career-highs in completions and attempts (26-for-34) but did not have a passing or rushing TD in a 28-6 win.
In the opener, Georgia went 3-for-3 on 4th Down conversion attempts and scored two touchdowns. On Georgia's first posession of the season, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-2 from the Marshall 31 when Stockton rushed for 14 yards. Georgia would score one play later for a 7-0 lead. Then on their second possesion, the Bulldogs had a 4th-and-1 at the Marshall 13. Stockton scampered in from 13 yards out for a 14-0 lead. The third conversion came with the Bulldogs up 31-0 in the 3rd quarter. On 4th-and-Goal, Stockton completed a two-yard TD strike to London Humphreys.
A total of 22 true freshmen Bulldogs (most in the Smart era) made their debut and two drew a starting assignment, Ethan Barbour (Bar-bore), one of two tight ends, and Juan Gaston Jr., at right guard. Under Smart, only 13 true freshmen have started a season opener. Unfortunately, Gaston injured his ankle late in the first quarter of the opener and did not return and then missed the Austin Peay game while Barbour missed the second half against Austin Peay with an ankle injury.
Against Marshall, the Branch brothers, Zachariah and Zion, made an immediate impact in their Bulldog debut after transferring from USC. Zachariah, a junior wideout/return specialist, had a team-high 95 yards on three catches including a 47-yard touchdown plus had three punt returns for 24 yards. Zion, a junior safety, was the co-leader in tackles with a career-high seven, all solo stops.
SMART Football
Kirby Smart is in his 10th season at the helm of his alma mater with a 107-19 mark. He is one of only two active coaches (Dabo Swinney, Clemson) with multiple national championships. *Georgia is the only team in the CFP-era to win back-to-back national titles, doing it in 2021-2022.
The Bulldogs are 9-0 in their first SEC road game each year of the Smart era, winning at Missouri, Tennessee, South Carolina (twice), Vanderbilt (twice), Arkansas, Auburn and Kentucky.
Georgia is 33-2 in its last 35 SEC regular season games. 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 last year.
In 2024, the Bulldogs made their fourth straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) and seventh overall trip under Smart. After a 22-19 overtime win over then No. 2 Texas, the Bulldogs claimed their 15th SEC title in school history and the No. 2 seed in the CFP.
Stockton Ranks As The Veteran Signal-Caller
Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton, a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga., is 2-1 as starter in his career. Rookies are behind him in redshirt freshmen Ryan Puglisi and Colter Ginn plus true freshmen Ryan Montgomery and Hezekiah Millender.
Stockton posted a successful home debut in the 2025 opening win over Marshall as the team's leading rusher (73 yards on 10 attempts with 2 scores) plus threw for 190 yards and 2 TDs.
2024 Stockton Highlights: Delivered when called on to start the 2nd half of the 2024 SECCG against Texas who had the No. 1 rated pass defense (No. 3 total defense)...Led the Bulldogs on scoring drives of 75, 61 and 72 yards in three of the first four possessions and then the game-winning TD in OT...Made first career start versus No. 5 Notre Dame in the CFP Quarterfinal Allstate Sugar Bowl (20-for-32 for 234 yards, 1 TD despite being sacked four times).
Stockton's Career Highs
| Passing Yards | 234 vs. #5 ND, '25 |
| Completions | 26 vs. AP, '25 |
| Attempts | 34 vs. AP,'25 |
| TD Passes | 2 vs. MU, '25, #5FSU'23 |
| Passing Yards | 439 @ #4 UA, '24 |
| Longest Pass Play | 67 vs. #5 ND, '25 |
| Longest TD Pass | Longest TD Pass: 47 vs. MU, '25 |
| Long Rush | 73/10 vs. MU '25 |
| Interceptions | 1 (2x, last vs. #2 TX-2,'24) |
Stockton's Career Passing Statistics
| Year | G/GS | Cmp. | Att. | Pct. | Yds. | INT | TD | Eff. | LG |
| 2023 | 4/0 | 12 | 19 | 63.2 | 148 | 1 | 2 | 152.8 | 31 FSU |
| 2024 | 5/1 | 45 | 64 | 70.3 | 440 | 1 | 1 | 130.1 | 67 ND |
| 2025 | 2/2 | 40 | 58 | 69.0 | 417 | 0 | 2 | 140.7 | 47MU (TD) |
| Total | 11/3 | 97 | 141 | 68.8 | 1,005 | 2 | 5 | 137.5 | 67 ND |
Stockton's Career Game-By-Game
| Game | Cmp. | Att. | Pct. | Yds. | INT | TD | SK | EFF | LG |
| 2023 | |||||||||
| UT Martin | 3 | 5 | 60.0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.7 | 20 |
| Ball State | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 133.6 | 4 |
| UAB | 2 | 3 | 66.7 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 53.2 | 15 |
| #4 FSU (Orange) | 6 | 10 | 60.0 | 96 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 206.6 | 31 |
| 2024 | |||||||||
| #14 Clemson | 0 | 0 | 00.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - |
| Tenn. Tech | 10 | 12 | 83.3 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 146.3 | 21 |
| UMass | 3 | 4 | 75.0 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 169.5 | 23 |
| #2 Texas (SEC) | 12 | 16 | 75.0 | 71 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 99.8 | 18 |
| #5 ND(CFP Qtr.) | 20 | 32 | 62.5 | 234 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 134.2 | 67 |
| 2025 | |||||||||
| Marshall | 14 | 24 | 58.3 | 190 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 152.3 | 47TD |
| Austin Peay | 26 | 34 | 76.5 | 227 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132.6 | 19 |
| Career Total | 97 | 141 | 68.8 | 1,005 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 137.5 | 67 |
Puglisi's Career Passing Statistics
| Year | G/GS | Cmp. | Att. | Pct. | Yds. | INT | TD | Eff. | LG |
| 2025 | 2/0 | 6 | 10 | 60.0 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 145.9 | 23 MU (TD) |
| Total | 2/0 | 6 | 10 | 60.0 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 145.9 | 23 MU (TD) |
Puglisi made his Bulldog debut in the 45-7 win over Marshall, directing four possession in the second half with one TD drive covering 80 yards in eight plays...Finished the game 5-for-8 for 59 yards and one TD, a 23-yard strike to freshman TE Elyiss Williams. Went 1-for-2 for 4 yards versus Austin Peay.
Georgia's Explosive Plays In 2025 (12-yd Rush, 16-yd Comp.)
| Game | Georgia | Opp. | Final (AP rank then CFP) |
| MU | 10 (6R, 4P) | 2 (0R, 2P) | #5 Georgia, 45-7 |
| AP | 5 (2R, 3P) | 6 (3R, 3P) | #4 Georgia 28-6 |
Longest Rush by Georgia: 23-yd by Dwight Phillips Jr (AP)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 11-yd by Zion Turner (MU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 47-yd TD (Stockton to Branch vs. MU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 44-yd (Turner to Bradshaw, MU)
2025 STATISTICAL LEADERS
RUSHING
#3 Nate Frazier, RB 116 yards, 25 att., 4.6 avg., 2 TD, 12 long
#20 Dwight Phillips, Jr, RB 115 yards, 12 att., 9.0 avg., 1 TD, 23 long
#33 Chauncey Bowens, RB 89 yards, 17 att., 5.2 avg., 2 TD, 21 long
PASSING
#14 Gunner Stockton, QB 40 comp., 58 att., 417 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 47 long
#12 Ryan Puglisi, QB 6 comp., 10 att., 63 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 23 long
RECEIVING
#8 Colbie Young, WR 9 rec., 106 yards, 11.8 avg., 0 TD, 24 long
#1 Zachariah Branch, WR 6 rec., 112 yards, 18.7 avg., 1 TD, 47 long
#16 London Humphreys, WR 6 rec., 37 yards, 6.2 avg., 1 TD, 16 long
TACKLES
#5 Raylen Wilson, ILB 14 total tackles, 8 solo, 6 assist, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack
#3 CJ Allen, ILB 11 total tackles, 9 solo, 2 assist, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack
#4 KJ Bolden, DB 10 total tackles, 3 solo, 7 assist, 0 INT, 1 PBU
#2 Zion Branch, DB 7 total tackles, 7 solo, 0 assist, 0 INT, 0 PBU
#9 Chris Cole, ILB 7 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 assist, 2 TFL, 1 sack
"Nate the Great" Frazier Leads Backfield in Second Year
Georgia's top returning running back is 5-10, 205-pound sophomore Nate Frazier from Compton, Calif. He appeared in 13 games with three starts and led the team with 671 yards and eight TDs. Against Tennessee last year, he became the first Bulldog freshman tailback to start a game since 2014 when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both did it that season. Frazier has honored some of the Georgia greats of "RBU" with his TD celebrations from Michel's jazz hands to Todd Gurley's signature bow. This season, he has 116 yards.
Redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens and sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., have paired with Frazier to carry the load in 2025. Senior Cash Jones has proven to be a reliable pass catcher and blocker too.
In the 45-7 win over Marshall, QB Gunner Stockton was the leading rusher with 73 yards on 10 attempts with a pair of scores. Phillips Jr., was next with 60 yards with one TD. Frazier started and tallied 47 yards on 11 carries.
Bowens had a breakout performance against Austin Peay with a career-high 11 carries for 56 yards and two scores. Phillips finished with 55 yards on seven carries including a team-best 23-yard scamper. He is averaging 9.6 ypc.
Options Abound At Wideout
Georgia's top receivers to date have been senior Colbie Young, USC transfer Zachariah Branch and junior London Humphreys, but the room has just three TDs this year.
Young now has a team-high nine catches for 106 yards after being targeted seven times against Austin Peay. He finished with seven catches for 76 yards in the win over the Govs.
Branch, who tallied 47 receptions for 503 yards and one TD last year as a Trojan, has six catches for 112 yards and one TD for the Bulldogs.
Look for senior Texas A&M transfer Noah Thomas to make an impact. He had three catches for 24 yards against the Govs after one target against Marshall. Last year for the Aggies, he had 39 catches for 574 yards and eight TDs.
Senior Dillon Bell, redshirt freshman Sacovie White-Helton plus true freshmen CJ Wiley and Talyn Taylor have been options too. Taylor had his first two catches for 28 yards against the Govs.
Twelve Bulldogs caught a pass in the season opener against Marshall with receivers accounting for 12 of the 19 receptions. Branch led the group with three catches for 95 yards including a 47-yard TD. Humphreys hauled in three for just eight yards but one was a two-yard TD.
Next Man Up Again On The Line
Georgia was banged up for much of 2024 on the offensive line while facing the nation's toughest schedule per ESPN's FPI. Still, the line helped lead the Bulldogs to another SEC title. This year, the Bulldogs have a retooled group because All-American Tate Ratledge, Dylan Fairchild, Jared Wilson and Xavier Truss are all in the NFL. Fairchild and Truss were the only ones to start all 14 games last year.
In 2025, the Bulldogs have not allowed a sack. The starters against Marshall featured redshirt junior Drew Bobo (C), junior Monroe Freeling (LT), Earnest Greene III (RT), redshirt senior Micah Morris (LG) and true freshman Juan Gaston Jr. (RG). The longest starting streak among all offensive players belongs to Freeling at seven games.
It only took one game in 2025 before injuries surfaced again as Georgia had a different right guard and tackle for Austin Peay.
Georgia's depth was tested early as Gaston and Greene III both left the Marshall game with injuries and neither played against Austin Peay as sophomore Jahzare Jackson (RT) and redshirt freshman Michael Uini (RG) made their first starts. Redshirt freshman Daniel Calhoun (G/T) Bo Hughley (T), redshirt sophomore Jamal Meriweather (G) and Henry Peagler (G), freshmen Cortez Smith (C/G) and Dontrell Glover (G), Nyer Daniels (T) and Marcus Harrison (G) plus freshman Mason Short (G/C) have seen action this season. Did You Know? Gaston joined Andrew Thomas (RT, 2017) as the only true freshman offensive lineman to start a season opener in the Smart era. Thomas went on to be a first round pick (fourth overall selection) in the 2020 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He remains a starter for the Giants.
Delp, Luckie Lead Loaded TE Room
Tight ends always have played a significant role in the Bulldog offense with six currently in the NFL, and the 2025 group should be no different. Junior Lawson Luckie and senior Oscar Delp are expected to play the lead roles. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Reddell and Colton Heinrich are ready too.
Highly-touted freshmen Ethan Barbour and Elyiss Williams contributed in the opener. Barbour joined Delp in the starting lineup while Williams notched a 23-yard TD on his first career catch. Incidentally, the last Bulldog to do that was Delp in 2022 against South Carolina. Barbour injured his left leg at the end of the first half against Austin Peay and did not return.
In the win over Marshall, the tight ends had four catches for 62 yards and one score. Delp had the longest catch, a 28-yarder, while Williams had the score.
A tight end did not have a catch against Austin Peay, marking the first time that happened since a 2021 win over Arkansas. Georgia was 7-for-11 that day.
Did You Know?
Luckie is a second generation Bulldog. His father Mike (LB) was part of Bulldog triplets from 1996-98 (uncles Dustin-LB and Miles-C).
Defensive Playmakers at Each Level
Georgia has had 55 players drafted over the past five seasons, including 30 on defense and 11 of those defenders have gone in the first round.
2025 Scoring Defense: 6.5 ppg; Rushing Defense: 61.5: Pass Defense: 140.0
Began 2025 by blanking Marshall for three quarters and shut out Austin Peay in the first and fourth quarters to give the Bulldogs five scoreless quarters.
The First Line Of Defense
One of the hallmarks of an elite defense is stopping the run, and that starts up front. In 2025, Georgia is replacing a host of seasoned veterans now playing in the NFL like Mykel Williams, Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
This year, Marshall was limited to 78 rushing yards on 31 attempts as Georgia built a 24-0 lead by halftime on its way to a 45-7 win. Austin Peay gained just 45 rushing yards on 28 attempts. Up next, nationally-ranked Tennessee is averaging 252.5 rushing yards a game and 605 yards of total offense/game.
Redshirt junior Christen Miller and junior Jordan Hall are the veterans. Miller started 10 games last year. Hall battled leg injuries, limiting him to six games and has admitted that rehabbing the mental side more than the physical was the toughest part. Hall made his first career start in the 2025 season opener against Marshall and made two tackles in the win over Austin Peay.
Along with Miller and Hall, redshirt freshmen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nasir Johnson, Nnamdi Ogboko, and Jordan Thomas, redshirt sophomore transfer Josh Horton (Miami) and freshmen Elijah Griffin and JJ Hanne are in the rotation. Jonah-Ajonye and Griffin posted a career-high three stops versus Austin Peay.
Allen Making Tackles Along with His Fellow 'Backers
In 2024, junior CJ Allen ranked second in tackles behind safety Malaki Starks (1st round pick of Baltimore) with 76 while fellow junior Raylen Wilson posted 47 stops with seven tackles for loss. In the 2025 season opener, Wilson tied for the team-high with seven stops including two TFLs and a sack, while Allen, a preseason All-America selection, chipped in with four tackles.
One of the most veteran linebackers, junior Gabe Harris Jr., made his first start against Marshall and had a pair of TFLs.
Redshirt junior Terrell Foster made three tackles, and in the second quarter, he recovered a blocked punt at the Marshall 20 that set up an eventual score.
Freshmen All-SEC selections Chris Cole and Justin Williams stepped up last year when Smael Mondon (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) was hurt, and that duo should be even better in 2025. Cole had a career-high five tackles in the win over Marshall and got his first career sack plus three tackles against Austin Peay while Williams made a career-high four stops. Cole has elite speed and flexibility to help him cover along with great length.
Keep an eye on sophomore Quintavius Johnson, redshirt freshman Kris Jones and freshmen Zayden Walker and Anthony Kruah too.
Junior transfer Elo Modozie (Army) should contribute after tallying 34 stops, including eight tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, last year.
Secondary Faces SEC Road Test Saturday
Georgia's defense including the secondary will face an SEC passing attack in Tennessee that is averaging 352 yards per game (ypg). The Bulldogs have not allowed a passing TD this season with opponents averaging 140 ypg.
Marshall finished 11-for-21 for 120 yards and no passing TDs or INTs.
Austin Peay went 16-for-23 for 151 yards and no passing TDs with 1 INT.
In the secondary this year, USC transfer Zion Branch led the team with a career- high seven stops versus Marshall while KJ Bolden had six stops against Austin Peay. Bolden blocked a punt against Marshall too.
Senior Daylen Everette, the MVP of the SEC Championship Game, emerged last season with a team-high three INTs plus ranked sixth with 58 tackles. He entered 2025 with a team-best 28 consecutive starts but that was snapped when he missed the season opener against Marshall due to an injury. He returned to his starting role against Austin Peay.
Junior DB Daniel Harris joined Bolden, junior Star Joenel Aguero, plus first-time starters redshirt freshman Ellis Robinson IV and redshirt sophomore Kyron Jones to open the game versus Marshall. Robinson had the team's first INT of the year against Austin Peay.
Also, newcomer Adrian Maddox (UAB), redshirt freshman Demello Jones and freshman Rasean Dinkins are in the rotation.
Did You Know This About the Specialists?
In 2024, Georgia was the only team in the FBS that had its punter (Brett Thorson), placekicker (Peyton Woodring) and snapper (Beau Gardner) named a semifinalist for a national award at their position, and all three are back! Thorson and Gardner were named finalists for the Ray Guy Award and Patrick Mannelly Award, while Woodring was up for the Groza Award.
Are We Punting? We're Going For It!
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (84-for-132) with 16 TDs.
In 2025, Georgia is 3-for-3 with 2 TDs on 4th Down. Rutgers (5-for-5) and Tulsa (4-for-4) were the only schools to eclipse Georgia in week one.
In 2024, Georgia led the SEC and ranked 16th nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 67% (18-for-27 with 4 TDs).
G'day Mate! Thorson Returns
With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, All-America punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs ranked 5th nationally in Net Punting (43.5) in 2024. However in the SEC Championship Game, Thorson's season ended due to a knee injury during a return after a punt. He finished with four punts for a 53.5 average in the game including a 60-yarder. After missing the 2025 opener while still recovering, he returned against Austin Peay with four punts for a 43.8 average including a 54 yarder.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson was a 2024 finalist for the Ray Guy Award. Thorson won the fan vote but Eddie Czaplicki (USC) claimed the trophy. In 2024, Thorson averaged 47.6 yards on 42 punts, the second best mark in school history. His average would've ranked 3rd nationally in 2024, but the NCAA's minimum for leaders is 3.6 punts a game (Min. 47 punts in 13 games).
Thorson's career average of 45.6 ranks 2nd best in school history, trailing only Jake Camarda's record mark of 45.8 set from 2018-21.
Thorson's social media features a 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.
Thanks in part to Thorson's punts and the coverage team, 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. Along with Cole Speer, gunners in 2025 have included KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Daniel Harris and Jeremy Bell.
Georgia had its streak of not allowing a positive yard on a punt return end at #16 Ole Miss last year, a span of 28 games. Georgia allowed its first significant punt return since 2022 when Boo Carter (Tennessee) posted a 26-yarder last year and was promptly tackled to save a TD by Thorson!
With Thorson out for the CFP last year, Georgia turned to then true freshman Drew Miller in the Sugar Bowl. In his debut, he had four punts for a 39.8 average with a long of 48. Miller handled punting duties against Marshall in the 2025 season opener, posting a 48.0 average on six punts.
Single Game Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 6 (UK24)
Long: 75 (Tenn22)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 54.0 on four (@ #1 Texas24) with minus 5 PR yards
Single Game Career Highs For Miller
Punts: 6 (MU25)
Long: 54 (MU 25)
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 48.0 on six (MU25) with 14 PR yards
#at least two punts
Single Game Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (vs. FSU23, Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
FGA: 3 (6x, last vs. #2 Texas at SECCG, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
FGM: 3 (5x, last vs. #2 Texas at SECCG, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta)
LG: Clemson 24 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Redshirt senior Liam Badger and freshman Connor Ferguson are options too. Ferguson made his debut with the final kickoff versus Marshall.
Geaux Dawgs
Junior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., returns as a two-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. In the win over Marshall, he made a 43-yard FG, six PATs and handled the first seven kickoffs. Did You Know? After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, he's been good on 39 of his past 42 FG (all three misses from 50 yards). He's made all 129 PATs too.
His 91.3 FG% in 2024 ranked 2nd in the SEC and 3rd best in Georgia history.
Team-high 111 points in 2024, going 21-for-23 on FGs (both misses from 50+), 48-for-48 on PATs and handled kickoffs too (80 of 85 overall with a 63.7 avg.).
Redshirt senior Liam Badger and freshman Connor Ferguson are options too. Ferguson made his debut with the final kickoff versus Marshall. Snap Judgment: Gardner Named Finalist In 2024, 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). He is back in 2025.
Snapped on a combined 71 field goal attempts and PATs as well as each of the 46 punts in 2024.
Back Deep For The Bulldogs
The experienced kickoff returners include graduate Cash Jones (4-for-58 yards in 2024) along with USC transfer junior Zachariah Branch (Career: 30-for-567 yards, 1 TD). At punt returner, Branch has done this as well during his days with the Trojans and now with Georgia (Career: 33-for-439 yards, 1 TD). In 2023, Branch won The Jet Award for the nation's top returner.
In the season opener against Marshall, the Bulldogs did not have any kick returns while Branch had three PR for 24 yards. KJ Bolden blocked a Marshall punt and was credited with a two-yard return.
Did You Know? Georgia's last punt return for a TD came in 2023 (Mekhi {MUH-kye} Mews vs. Ball State, 69 yards)
Did You Know? Georgia's last KOR for a TD came in 2016 (Terry Godwin @ South Carolina, 43 yards)
It's Blocked
Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have blocked eight punts and eight field goals. There's two players on the current squad with a block for Georgia. In the 2025 season opener against Marshall, KJ Bolden blocked a punt that led to an eventual TD after the Bulldogs recovered it at the MU20. Junior DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt in 2023 that resulted in a safety.
Junior transfer OLB Elo Modozie blocked field goal attempts by Rice and Notre Dame in 2024 while playing for Army. Senior transfer DB Adrian Maddox blocked a field goal attempt by Prairie View A&M in 2022 while playing for Alabama State. Georgia's last blocked field goal came in 2024 by Dan Jackson against Auburn. He is now with the Detroit Lions on IR.
Putting Points On The Board
Georgia ranks 3rd in NCAA history for consecutive games scoring and among schools with active streaks: Florida: 464 games (1988-present); TCU: 408 games (1991-present); Georgia: 389 games (1995-present)
Georgia's All-Time Overtime Record (10-7)
Home: 2-2; Away: 4-2; Neutral: 4-3
Bowl Game/CFP: 3-2 !SEC Games: 4-4
!Includes SECCG & CFP National Championship)
The Bulldogs are 3-2 in overtime games under Kirby Smart. Georgia's complete overtime history can be found on page 110 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: S.C. 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.
Dec. 7, 2024: #2 Georgia beat #5 Texas 22-19 in Atlanta, Ga. (SEC Championship, Mercedez-Benz Stadium)
Bulldog Honor Roll
CJ Allen, ILB
SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council; *SEC Football Leadership Council Preseason All-America: Second Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN; Preseason All- SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Bednarik, Butkus and Maxwell Awards, Nagurski Trophy, Senior Bowl Top 300
Dillon Bell, WR
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: Senior Bowl Top 300; Watch List: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Drew Bobo, OL
Preseason Watch List: Rimington Trophy
KJ Bolden, DB
Preseason All-America: Second Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Coaches, SEC Media Second Team; Preseason Watch Lists: Bednarik, Maxwell and Jim Thorpe Awards, Nagurski Trophy
Zachariah Branch, WR / KR
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media (KR/PR), SEC Coaches (All Purpose); Third Team – Athlon (KR/PR); Preseason Watch Lists: Jet Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
Chris Cole, ILB
Preseason Watch List: Butkus Award
Oscar Delp, TE
Preseason All-SEC: Second Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches, Third Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: John Mackey Award
Daylen Everette, DB
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Jim Thorpe Award, Bednarik and Maxwell Awards, Senior Bowl Top 300, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Nagurski Trophy
Nate Frazier, RB
Preseason All-SEC: Second Team – Athlon; Third Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Maxwell Award, Doak Walker Award
Monroe Freeling, OL
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon
Beau Gardner, SN
Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Patrick Mannelly Award
Earnest Greene, III, OL
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Lombardi Award
Elijah Griffin, DL
Preseason Watch List: Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award
Jordan Hall, DL
Preseason Watch List: Allstate Wuerffel Trophy
Cash Jones, RB
Preseason Watch List: Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Lawson Luckie, TE
Preseason Watch Lists: John Mackey Award, Senior Bowl Top 300
Josh McCray, RB
Preseason Watch List: Doak Walker Award
Christen Miller, DL
Preseason All-America: Second Team – ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Second Team – Athlon; Preseason Watch Lists: Outland Trophy, Bednarik and Maxwell Awards, Nagurski Trophy, Senior Bowl Top 300
Gunner Stockton, QB
Preseason Watch List: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Noah Thomas, WR
Preseason Watch Lists: Senior Bowl Top 300, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
Brett Thorson, P
Preseason All-America: First Team – Athlon, Sporting News, ESPN, AP; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media, SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch Lists: Ray Guy Award, College Football Comeback Player of the Year, Senior Bowl Top 300
Raylen Wilson, ILB
Preseason All-SEC: Third Team – Athlon
Peyton Woodring, PK
Preseason All-America: Second Team – Sporting News, AP Third Team – Athlon; Preseason All-SEC: First Team – Athlon, SEC Media (PK/KS), SEC Coaches; Preseason Watch List: Lou Groza Award
Colbie Young, WR
Preseason Watch List: Senior Bowl Top 300
Points Off Turnovers In 2025
Georgia is -1 in Turnover Margin.
Georgia has no points off one turnover.
Opponents have 3 points off two turnovers.
MU: No turnovers by either team
AP: No points off 1 TO; AP got 3 points off 2 TO
Bulldog Career INTs & Pick-Six
Georgia has 1 INT in 2025: Ellis Robinson IV (AP);
Opponents have no INTs.
| Bulldog | INT | TD | Last INT |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 3 | 0 | #2TX-SECCG24 |
| CJ Allen, LB | 1 | 0 | vs. UF24 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 1 | 0 | MSU24 |
| Kyron Jones, Star | 1 | 1 | UTM23 |
| Ellis Robinson IV, DB | 1 | 0 | AP25 |
Bulldog Career Fumble Recoveries
Georgia has no FR in 2025; Opponents have two FR.
| Bulldog | FR | Last FR |
| Chris Cole, LB | 2 | UMass24/td> |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 1 | @ #1 TX24/td> |
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 1 | UMass24/td> |
| Cole Speer, WR | #1 | vs. #4 FSU23 |
^on Offense; #on Special Teams
Bulldog Career Sacks
Georgia has 3 sacks in 2025; Opponents have none.
| Bulldog | '25 | '24 | '23 | '22 | '21 | Total |
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | n/a | n/a | 3 |
| Christen Miller, DL | 0 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | n/a | 2.5 |
| CJ Allen, LB | 1 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Gabe Harris Jr., LB | 0 | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Chris Cole, LB | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 1 |
| Daniel Harris, CB | 0 | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Jordan Thomas, DL | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
A Total of 7 First-Time Starters In 2025
MU (7): E. Barbor (TE), Z. Branch (WR), J. Gaston, Jr. (RG), J. Hall (DL), Q. Johnson (OLB), K. Jones (FS), E. Robinson IV (CB). AP (2): Jahzare Jackson (RT), Michael Uini (RG). Last year, there were 21 first-time starters during the season
The True Freshman Experience
The Bulldogs had 22 true freshmen make their debut in the 2025 season-opening win over Marshall: Ethan Barbor (TE), Juan Gaston, Jr. (RG) started while 20 others saw action: Elyiss Williams (TE), Zayden Walker (ILB), Talyn Taylor (WR), Darren Ikinnagbon (OLB), Tyler J. Williams (WR), Anthony Kruah (ILB), Bo Walker, (RB) Dominick Kelly (CB), Rasean Dinkins (S), Isaiah Gibson (OLB), Cortez Smith (OL), London Seymour (DT), CJ Wiley (WR), Dontrell Glover (OL), Mason Short (OL), Landon Roldan (WR), Thomas Blackshear (WR), Elijah Griffin (DL), JJ Hanne (DL) and Connor Ferguson (K). Last year, 13 true freshmen made their debut in the opening win over No. 14 Clemson.
The Bulldog Captains In 2024
MU: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Earnest Greene IIIAP: AP: Gunner Stockton, Colbie Young, KJ Bolden, Raylen Wilson
HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART QUICK FACTS
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- 10th season as Georgia coach
- Career Record: 107-19 (.849)
- 2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
- 2017 CFP national runner-up
- One of just two active coaches with multiple national titles (Dabo Swinney-Clemson, '16 & '18)
- T5th fastest coach in NCAA FBS history to win 100 games, doing it in 117; Fastest to do it in SEC history
- Best record & winning percentage (85-15, .850) after his first 100 games of any coach in SEC history
- 2017, 2022 & 2024 SEC Champions
- Georgia has been ranked in the top five nationally in Scoring Defense five times including leading the nation in 2019 & 2021; Been ranked in the top 10 in Scoring Offense three times (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 three 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
- 25 1st-team All-Americans
- 76 NFL Draft Picks
- 20 First Round NFL Draft picks
- 290 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls, including a high of 48 on the 2024 team
THE KIRBY SMART RECORD
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| 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 | 11 | 3 | .786 | 7-2 * | CFP Sugar (Qtr.) | 6th |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | 1.00 | 0-0 | ||
| Total | 107 | 19 | .849 | *66-16 |
#4-5 (includes 2017-19, '21, '22, '23, '24' SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)
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16 VICTORIES WHEN TIED OR TRAILING LATE
| 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 | @ 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; then 27-13 with 5:37 left; 40-34 in 2nd OT | 44-42 (8-OT) |
| 2024 | #2 Texas (SECCG) | Trailed 19-16 in OT | 22-19 |
%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game; ~Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl; !CFP National Championship
TOP IND. SINGLE GAME PERFORMANCES UNDER SMART
 Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC in Atlanta (9/3/16);
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK
(11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma in CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl (1/1/18); Daijun Edwards vs. 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, GT-11/29/24), S. Bennett (UAB-9/11/21);
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton vs. MSU (11/21/20);
Receiving TDs: 2, by nine Bulldogs multiple times;
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to Brock Bowers vs. UAB (9/11/21);
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF in Jacksonville (11/7/20);
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16);
Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24);
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20), vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Trenton Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24) & #2 Texas in SECCG (12/7/24);
31 DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES UNDER SMART
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.
DEFENSIVE SCORING IN THE SMART ERA
 114 Points: 17 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.)
48 POINTS ON SPECIAL TEAMS IN THE SMART ERA
 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)
2024: none;
UGA COVERAGE ON WAGA FOX 5 ATLANTA TO INCLUDE:
 "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.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballGeorgia Football - Monroe Freeling - Post Practice Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09
Georgia Football - Kyron Jones - Post Practice Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09
Georgia Football - Coach Smart - Post Practice Press Conference
Tuesday, September 09
Kirby Smart All Access vs Austin Peay - 2025
Monday, September 08
