University of Georgia Athletics
Saturday, October 10
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
7:30 p.m. ET
University of Georgia
at
Alabama
Georgia Visits Alabama for Top-10 Matchup
October 05, 2026 | Football
Game & Broadcast Info
- Kickoff: Saturday, October 10 - 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (101,821) | Tuscaloosa, Ala.
- 2026 Records: Georgia (5-0, 3-0), Alabama (5-0, 3-0)
- 2026 Rankings: Georgia #2/#2, Alabama #6/7
- TV: ABC: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe & Laura Rutledge
- Video Stream: ESPN+
- Radio: 95.5 FM WSB - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Learfield): Jeff Dantzler (PxP), Jon Stinchcomb (Analyst), D.J. Shockley (Sideline)
- Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
- Satellite: SiriusXM- 986/82 and the app
- Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
- Twitter: #UGAvsBAMA
- SECN ReBroadcast: 10/13 8:30-11:30pm ET; 10/16 3-6am ET
- GameCenter: View
- History: Georgia vs. Alabama All-Time Series Results: UA 45-27-4
- Last Meeting: Georgia won 28-7 in Atlanta, Ga., 12/4/2026
- Tickets: SeatGeek
Georgia-Alabama Quick Comparison
| Georgia (SEC) | Alabama (SEC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Offense | 51.4 (1st) | 49.6 (2nd) |
| Rushing Offense | 213.0 (5th) | 186.4 (7th) |
| Passing Offense | 265.8 (7th) | 287.4 (4th) |
| Total Offense | 478.8 (5th) | 473.8 (6th) |
| Scoring Defense | 13.4 (2nd) | 20.8 (8th) |
| Rushing Defense | 57.4 (1st) | 78.6 (3rd) |
| Passing Defense | 187.2 (5th) | 234.0 (14th) |
| Turnover Margin | +6 (2nd) | +7 (1st) |
Georgia Bulldogs At A Glance
Georgia (5-0, 3-0 SEC) checks in at No. 2 in the AP and Coaches poll for the fifth straight week.
The Bulldogs are averaging an NCAA-best 51.4 points a game.
The offensive line starters have been the same every game this season in Earnest Greene III, Dontrell Glover, Drew Bobo, Zykie Helton and Juan Gaston Jr. Fifth-year All-SEC quarterback Gunner Stockton ranks 3rd in the NCAA with a 202.0 passing efficiency rating. All-SEC tailbacks Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens lead the running game combining for 11 TDs in only 61 attempts while the wideouts and tight ends have shared the load.
The defense is allowing just 13.4 points a game (1st in the SEC/12th nationally).
The same 11 Bulldogs started on defense through the first four games. The front and middle featured Elijah Griffin, Jordan Hall, Quintavius Johnson, Gabe Harris Jr., Chris Cole and Raylen Wilson while the back end included All-Americans KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV plus Demello Jones, Kyron Jones and Khalil Barnes. Against VU, Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (DL) and Rasean Dinkins (SS) made their first starts this year.
Senior All-SEC placekicker Peyton Woodring is a weapon with a career FG% of 89% (63-of- 71) and an SEC record 206 consecutive PATs made. Junior Drew Miller handles the punting.
The Bulldogs brought in only nine scholarship transfers this year, the fewest in the SEC. The SEC Gauntlet Underway: The two-time defending SEC champion Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 SEC) will take their second road trip of the season and will face No. 6 Alabama (5-0, 3-0 SEC). After opening up with a pair of non-conference foes, Georgia has nine straight SEC contests with one bye after the fifth game in this stretch.
Georgia opened league play with a 45-17 road win over Arkansas and the past two weeks have registered a pair of home wins over then #24 Oklahoma (41-13) and Vanderbilt (38-14).
In the Kirby Smart era, Georgia is 77-18 against SEC teams (regular season, SEC title games and CFP matchups). During this decade, Georgia's only loss to a non-SEC team came to No. 5 Notre Dame in a CFP quarterfinal at the 2025 Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs are 78-9 in this stretch. Fluffy Stats: Georgia is outscoring its opponents 70-7 in the first quarter, 154-26 in the first half and 202-32 through three quarters. Overall, the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 257-67.
Georgia's 257 points is the most after five games to start a UGA season since 1910 (258). Meanwhile, UA has been a scoring machine too, and it is the only FBS team to have at least 45 points in every game this season. UA is outscoring its opponents 248-104.
The Bulldogs have not trailed this season. They have scored at least a TD in 19 of 20 quarters. The lone exception was the 3rd quarter versus OU when they had only a field goal. The Rivalry: Georgia and Alabama first met on the gridiron in 1895, a 30-6 Bulldog win in Columbus. Alabama holds a 45-27-4 advantage in the series including 9-2 in Tuscaloosa.
The Bulldogs are 2-7 against the Crimson Tide under Smart with two games in Tuscaloosa (2020, 2024), five games in Atlanta (2018, 2021, 2023, 2025 SEC Championship Game, 2018 CFP National Championship Game), one in Indianapolis (2022 CFP National Championship Game) and one in Athens (2025).
Georgia's first victory over Alabama under Smart came in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game, a 33-18 triumph in Indianapolis, Ind. It marked Georgia's first national title since 1980.
Last Meeting: These two SEC titans met for the 2025 SEC Championship in Atlanta, and the No. 3 Bulldogs posted a 28-7 victory for their second straight league title and fourth under Smart. The No. 9 Crimson Tide avoided a shutout with a fourth quarter TD, and it marked the first time in SEC Championship Game history that a team had been shut out for the first three quarters. During the regular season, UA made its first visit to Athens since 2008 and won 24-21, ending Georgia's 33-game home winning streak.
Last Time in Tuscaloosa: In 2024, No. 4 Alabama raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and 30-7 at halftime before the No. 2 Bulldogs came charging back. Georgia took a 34-33 lead with 2:31 remaining when Carson Beck connected for a 67-yard touchdown pass to Dillon Bell. However, the lead was short-lived as Jalen Milroe answered with a 75-yard TD strike to Ryan Williams. UA held off the Bulldogs 41-34 with an interception in the endzone to preserve a win.
All-Time Winningest SEC Coaches By Percentage
(All Games at SEC Schools & Min. 10 Years)
(All Games at SEC Schools & Min. 10 Years)
| Rk | Coach | School | Pct. | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | KIRBY SMART | GEORGIA | .853 | 122-21 |
| 2. | Nick Saban | UA/LSU | .847 | 249-45 |
| 3. | Robert Neyland | Tennessee | .829 | 173-31-12 |
Most Wins This Decade (2020-Curr.)
| Rk | School | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | GEORGIA | 78-9 | .897 |
| 2. | Alabama | 74-14 | .841 |
| 3. | Ohio State | 70-12 | .854 |
Most Wins Since 2021
| Rk | School | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | GEORGIA | 70-7 | .909 |
| 2. | Ohio State | 63-11 | .851 |
| 3. | Oregon | 61-13 | .824 |
| 4. | Alabama | 61-14 | .813 |
ESPN College GameDay On Site
The ESPN show will be in Tuscaloosa for this year's top 10 SEC matchup. Last year, they were in Atlanta for the 2025 SEC Championship Game, a 28-7 Bulldog win.
Stockton Moving the Chains With His Arm And Legs
Fifth-year Gunner Stockton is a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga.
Owns a 17-3 Career Record as a starter including 6-2 against ranked teams
Ranks 3rd in NCAA in Passing Efficiency with a 202.0 Rating
Solid 25-for-32 for 295 yards, 3 TDs in 38-14 win over VU to move to 5-0
Led team in rushing (7-for-97 yards including a career-long 62-yard scamper) plus 10-for-13 for 147 yards and 1 TD in 45-17 road win over Arkansas
Tied school record with 5 TD passes in a 70-20 rout of WKU in '26. Went 13-for-16 for 234 yards playing only the first five possessions in the 1st half.
Started 2026 opener versus TSU and built 35-0 lead, going 15-for-16 for 202 yards and 3 TDs in first five possessions before giving way to backups.
5-2 against ranked teams in 2025 including a 83.7 Completion Percentage in the 4th quarter of those games (36-for-43, 383 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INT)
Directed three 4th quarter comebacks in 2025 including over #5 Ole Miss, #15 Tennessee in Knoxville and versus Florida in Jacksonville.
Stockton's Career Highs
| Passing Yards | 304 @ #15 UT, '25 |
| Completions | 26 (2x, last #5 OM'25 |
| Attempts | 37 @ AU, '25 |
| TD Passes | 5 vs. WKU '26 |
| Longest Pass Play | 70 vs. WKU '26 |
| Longest TD Pass | 70 vs. WKU '26 |
| Long Rush | 97 @ ARK '26 |
| Interceptions | 8x, last vs. OU '26 |
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 | 14/14 | 269 | 386 | 69.7 | 2,894 | 5 | 24 | 150.6 | 64 MSU (TD) |
| 2026 | 5/5 | 77 | 102 | 75.5 | 1,049 | 1 | 13 | 202.0 | 70WKU(TD) |
| Total | 28/20 | 403 | 571 | 70.6 | 4,531 | 8 | 40 | 157.6 | 70WKU(TD) |
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.) (L) | 20 | 32 | 62.5 | 234 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 134.2 | 67 |
| 2025 | |||||||||
| Marshall (W) | 14 | 24 | 58.3 | 190 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 152.3 | 47TD |
| Austin Peay (W) | 26 | 34 | 76.5 | 227 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132.6 | 19 |
| @ #15 UT (W) | 23 | 31 | 74.2 | 304 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 177.9 | 45 |
| #17 Alabama (L) | 13 | 20 | 65.0 | 130 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 136.1 | 38TD |
| Kentucky (W) | 15 | 23 | 65.2 | 196 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 142.5 | 36 |
| @ AU (W) | 24 | 37 | 64.9 | 217 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 141.4 | 30 |
| #5 OM (W) | 26 | 31 | 83.9 | 289 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 204.8 | 36 |
| vs. UF (W) | 20 | 29 | 69.0 | 223 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 149.4 | 42 |
| @ MSU (W) | 18 | 29 | 62.1 | 264 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 172.7 | 64TD |
| #10 Texas (W) | 24 | 29 | 82.8 | 229 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 187.7 | 30TD |
| Charlotte (W) | 17 | 21 | 81.0 | 196 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 149.8 | 38 |
| @ #23 GT (W) | 11 | 21 | 52.4 | 70 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 86.6 | 24 |
| #9 UA{SECCG} (W) | 20 | 26 | 76.9 | 156 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 165.4 | 19 |
| #6 OM {CFP/Sug} (L) | 18 | 31 | 58.1 | 203 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 123.7 | 31 |
| 2026 | |||||||||
| TSU (W) | 15 | 16 | 93.8 | 202 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 261.7 | 25 |
| WKU (W) | 13 | 16 | 81.3 | 234 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 307.2 | 70TD |
| @ ARK (W) | 10 | 13 | 76.9 | 147 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 197.3 | 61TD |
| #24 OU (W) | 14 | 25 | 56.0 | 171 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 118.7 | 41 |
| VU (W) | 25 | 32 | 78.1 | 295 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 186.5 | 55 |
Behind Stockton, the QB room with game experience includes a trio of Bulldogs. Junior Ryan Puglisi (12 career games) has the been the first one off the bench in 2026 followed by sophomores Ryan Montgomery (three games), and Hezekiah Millender (two games).
Puglisi showed off some speed in the win over WKU, racing 70 yards for a TD. It was the longest TD-run by a Bulldog since 2022 when wideout Ladd McConkey went 70 yards for a score against Miss. State. Montgomery made his debut against Charlotte in 2025 and went 1-for-1 for 12 yards, and then in the 2026 opener against TSU, he connected with Jeremy Bell for a team-long 54-yard TD. He finished 2-for-2 for 60 yards. Millender made his debut in 2026 against TSU, going 1-for-1 for 17 yards plus two rushes for 22 yards.
Puglisi's Career Passing Statistics
| Year | G/GS | Cmp. | Att. | Pct. | Yds. | INT | TD | Eff. | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7/0 | 16 | 27 | 59.3 | 161 | 2 | 1 | 106.8 | 27 UK |
| 2026 | 5/0 | 17 | 28 | 60.7 | 197 | 0 | 2 | 143.4 | 27 TSU |
| Total | 12/0 | 33 | 55 | 60.0 | 358 | 2 | 3 | 125.4 | 27 (2x) |
Puglisi tied a career-high for completions, going 7-for-8 for 63 yards and one TD playing the final eight minutes of the 45-17 road win over Arkansas.
Puglisi posted a career-high 7-of-13 for 109 yards and 1 TD (16-yarder to freshman TE Kaiden Prothro) in the 63-3 win over TSU in 2026.
Puglisi's Career Highs
| Completions: 7, 3x last @ ARK '26 | Attempts: 13 vs. TSU '26 |
| TD Passes: 1, 3x last @ ARK '26 | Passing Yards: 109 vs. TSU '26 |
| Longest Pass 27, 2x last TSU '26 | Longest TD Pass: 23 vs. MAR '25 |
| Rush Yards: 79 vs. WKU '26 | INTs: 1 (2x, last vs. UK '25) |
Georgia's Explosive Plays In 2025 (12-yd Rush, 16-yd Comp.)
| Game | Georgia | Opp. | Final (AP rank then CFP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSU | 19 (8R, 11P) | 1 (0R, 1P) | #3 Georgia, 63-3 |
| WKU | 8 (3R, 5P) | 3 (3R, 0P) | #2 Georgia 70-20 |
| ARK | 11 (7R, 4P) | 6 (6P) | #2 Georgia 45-17 |
| OU | 6 (2R, 4P) | 4 (4P) | #2 Georgia 41-13 |
| VU | 8 (2R, 6P) | 6 (2R, 4P) | #2 Georgia 38-14 |
| TOTAL | 52 (22R, 30P) | 20 (5R, 15P) |
Longest Rush by Georgia: 70-yd TD by Ryan Puglisi (WKU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 19-yd by Le'Kamren Meadows (WKU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 70-yd TD (Stockton to White-Helton (WKU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 60-yd TD (Berlowitz to Sherrill, VU
Frazier & Bowens Have 11 TDs In 61 Attempts
Georgia is averaging 213.0 rushing yards including 6.5 yards a rush.
The longest rushes of the year have been on QB runs. Ryan Puglisi scored on a 70-yarder against WKU while Gunner Stockton rumbled 62 yards against Arkansas.
The longest rush by an RB is sophomore Bo Walker's 59-yarder versus VU while the longest by an RB for a TD is a 54-yarder by Dwight Phillips Jr. against #24 OU. Also, Phillips Jr. had a special teams tackle versus OU.
The Bulldogs have 16 rushing TDs on the year. Junior Nate Frazier ranks second on the team with five rushing TDs that came in the first three games. He reached that mark in his first 12 attempts. Then, he missed the OU game due to an injury and saw only a few snaps in the second half against VU.
Frazier started against TSU and tied his career high with three TDs in only four carries! His first touch resulted in a 48-yard TD, his second was a 14- yard TD, and his final carry was a three-yarder for a score. His finished with 72 yards on four carries (18.0 avg) and three TDs. Against Arkansas, he had 14 carries for 80 yards and a score but left in the 3rd quarter due to an injury.
Junior Chauncey Bowens has a team-high six TDs in 35 attempts. He has been the feature back the past two contests. He flashed as a receiver against WKU with two catches for 45 yards including a 21-yarder for a TD when he hurdled the final defender near the goal line. Against Arkansas, Bowens became the sixth Bulldog in the Smart era to rush for a career-high 3 TDs in a game, tallying 39 yards on 11 carries.
Spread The Wealth
Georgia is averaging 265.8 passing yards a game in its 5-0 start.
The 16 TD catches on the year belong to 13 different Bulldogs.
Georgia has had a different leading receiver in four of five games this year, and most recently it was junior RB Dwight Phillips Jr., who had a career-high five catches for 75 yards and one TD against VU. Junior RB Chauncey Bowens ranks second on the team with 10 for 132 yards and one TD.
Sophomore WR Talyn Taylor leads the team with 12 for 176 yards and 3 TDs followed by junior WR Sacovie White-Helton with 10 receptions for 135 yards and one TD.
Thanks in part to a 61-yard TD catch against Arkansas, freshman WR Craig Dandridge Jr., has a team-best 177 yards on nine catches.
Four quarterbacks saw action in the rout of TSU to open the 2026 season, and they combined to complete 25 passes to 15 different Bulldogs for 388 yards and five TDs. Then, three QBs played in the win over WKU as 12 different Bulldogs caught a pass with five TDs.
With Arkansas focusing on coverage, Georgia turned to its running game with 42 attempts for 254 yards and four scores while two QBs combined to go 17-for-21 for 210 yards and 2 TDs.
Taylor had his first career 100-yard receiving game in the win over #24 OU, tallying four catches for 110 yards including a 35-yard TD and a 41-yard one-handed grab.
Taylor, White-Helton, Dandridge Jr., Landon Roldan and Jeremy Bell have been utilized in the running game too. Roldan had a career-long 55-yard reception in the win over VU.
Georgia saw six of its top seven pass catchers depart to the NFL/graduation. Senior London Humphreys is the top returning receivier. This year, he has seven catches for 42 yards and a score plus blocked a punt at Arkansas.
Bulldog junior transfer Isiah Canion has three catches for 28 yards on the year. He left the Arkansas game during the first series due to an injury and has missed the past two games. Sophomore Thomas Blackshear, who has gotten more playing time with Canion out, was on his way to having a career day against VU with three catches for 33 yards in the first half but then missed the rest of the game due an upper body injury.
Bell and Tyler J. Wiliams provided highlight catches against TSU. Bell caught a 54-yard TD strike from Ryan Montgomery while Williams made a nifty 27-yard catch in traffic.
Familiarity Up Front
Georgia's offensive line has featured the same starting five this season, and that's a welcome sight after last year. The Bulldog front had an eventful season in 2025 due to injuries. Georgia used a different starting OL unit in its first six games.
In 2026, Georgia leads the NCAA averaging 51.4 points/game. The Bulldogs have been sacked just five times for 34 yards.
In 2026, fifth-year Drew Bobo (C), a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick, and fifth year Earnest Greene III (LT) are the veteran leaders of the unit. They are joined by sophomores Dontrell Glover (LG) and Juan Gaston Jr. (RT) plus freshman Zykie {Zuh-kye} Helton (RG) to round out the starters.
Greene III now has a team-best 37 career starts. Last year, Gaston Jr. started at RG and RT while Glover, who earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors, started the last 10 games at RG.
Helton became just the third true freshman offensive lineman to start an opener in the Kirby Smart era. The others were Andrew Thomas (2017-RT) and Gaston (2025-RG). Overall, 14 true freshmen have started an opener under Smart. Also, don't be surprised if you see Helton lined up as a fullback near the goal line as the Bulldogs some times occupy a jumbo look.
Georgia returns Jahzare Jackson, Malachi Toliver and Michael Uini who made spot starts last year. Along with Helton, another freshman to watch is Ekene Ogboko {Ek-uh-nay Oge-boko}, who is the younger brother of Bulldog DL Nnamdi {Namh-dee} Ogboko.
Well-Stocked Tight End Room
Tight ends have been a staple of the Bulldog offense and the player development is notable. Five former Bulldogs are in the NFL in 2026, most notably two-time John Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers (Las Vegas). The Bulldogs aim to continue that trend with a stocked room in 2026 as only Oscar Delp graduated from the group. He is now with the New Orleans Saints.
Georgia's tight ends have combined for 22 catches for 285 yards and 6 TDs in 2026. They take pride in their vital role as blockers and every now and then are an option in the run game too.
In the latest win over VU, Elyiss Williams, Jaden Reddell and Lawson Luckie combined for five catches for 80 yards and one TD. Reddell scored his first career rushing TD while Luckie snagged a career-long 43-yard catch off a deflection.
In the win over TSU, Georgia's tight ends combined for 100 receiving yards on six catches including three TDs: Reddell (2-38, 1 TD plus a 29-yard rush), Williams (2-26, 1 TD), Kaiden Prothro (1-16, 1 TD) and Ethan Barbour (1-10). It was the first career TDs for Reddell and Prothro.
In the rout of WKU, the tight ends had three catches for 25 yards and one TD. Williams made his first career start while Barbour notched his first TD.
In the road victory over Arkansas, they had five catches for 81 yards and one TD, a 2-yarder by Luckie from Puglisi for the team's final score.
Reloading The Defense With Elite Talent
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.
This year, Georgia leads the SEC in Scoring Defense, allowing 13.4 points a game including just seven in the first quarter and 26 points in the first half.
The Bulldogs face their biggest test of the year in No. 7 Alabama (49.6 ppg).
In 2026, Georgia opened with a 63-3 rout of FCS-member Tennessee State. The Tigers field goal came in the second quarter. WKU managed 20 points including 14 in the 4th quarter with Georgia up 63-6. Two of the Hilltopper scoring drives covered just 15 and 23 yards following Bulldog turnovers.
In the 45-17 road win over Arkansas, Georgia built a 38-3 advantage before the Razorbacks managed a pair of 75-yard scoring drives in the 4th quarter including one in the final minute.
In the 41-13 win over #24 OU, the Sooners final TD came with 3:23 left while their first one covered 35 yards following a Bulldog turnover in the 3rd quarter.
VU became the first team to score a first quarter TD against Georgia this year and tallied 14 points in the first half before being blanked in the second half.
Stopping The Run Starts Up Front
In 2026, Georgia's opponents are averaging only 57.4 rushing yards/game, which ranks 3rd nationally. Also, the Bulldogs have 13 sacks for 102 yards.
The longest rush by an opponent this year has been 19 yards by Le'Kamren Meadows (WKU).
In the SEC opener, the Razorbacks had 17 yards on 20 attempts and were sacked thrice. Their longest rush was eight yards. The #24 Sooners were sacked three times and finished with 65 yards on 35 attempts (1.9 avg.).
VU had 85 rushing yards on 26 attempts (3.3 avg.). VU was sacked twice.
Senior Jordan Hall and senior Gabe Harris Jr., and sophomore Elijah Grifin have been the starters up front. Harris Jr., had a sack in the win over VU.
Junior Joseph Jonah-Ajonye had a career-high six stops against Arkansas. He made his first start of the season against VU.
Harris Jr. and Anthony Lonon Jr. each had a sack against WKU.
PJ Dean and Valdin Sone are a couple more freshmen like Lonon Jr., to watch as they gain experience. In the season opener against TSU, Dean posted a team-high 1.5 sacks for a loss of 20 yards plus two tackles. He is the younger brother of former Georgia center Jared Wilson. Sone had 3 stops against #24 OU.
Junior transfer Amaris Williams (Auburn) is out with a knee injury.
Johnny-On-The-Spot
In SEC action, junior Chris Cole and senior Raylen Wilson have made their share of game-changing plays for the Bulldogs. They have starred as a result of the pressure, the calls and the effort of the entire defense.
Against #24 OU, Cole became the first Bulldog to have two fumble recoveries in a game since Butkus Award winner Roquan Smith in the 2017 SEC Championship Game victory over Auburn. Cole returned one 85 yards for a TD, the fourth longest in school history and second longest ever in Sanford Stadium. Cole finished with a career-high eight tackles and a sack to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors and Lott IMPACT Trophy Player of the Week. Cole ranks second on the team with 22 stops this year.
In the 2026 SEC opener at Arkansas, Wilson picked up two sacks for a loss of 21 yards, forced a fumble and had three stops. Then, Wilson followed up that performance with a career-high 11 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble against #24 OU. He was the co-leader in tackles against VU with seven and leads the team with 24 this season.
With the lopsided scores in the first four games this season, the Bulldogs have been able to get a look at their depth on both sides of the football. Sophomore Quintavius Johnson has been in the starting lineup for every game with Wilson and Cole this year while junior Justin Williams and sophomore AJ Kruah are in the early rotation. Williams picked up another sack against VU.
In the win at Arkansas, Williams made four tackles and got his first career sack that knocked the Razorbacks out of field goal range.
Against Arkansas, Johnson sniffed out a trick play, and he collected a TFL for five yards. UA had moved the ball to the UGA 31 after a 37-yard completion.
Freshman Elijah Littlejohn made three solo stops and his first career sack against TSU while freshman Khamari Brooks had three stops too.
Against WKU, Kruah led the team with five tackles and had a forced fumble while Brooks picked up his first sack.
Sophomore Chase Linton, who was expected to make an impact this yearbefore an injury sidelined him, saw his first action of the season against VU.
Opponents Forced To Air It Out
With Georgia's propensity to stop the run, Bulldog opponents are forced to lean on their passing game. This season, Georgia's opponents are averaging 187.2 passing yards/game and only 57.4 rushing yards. The Bulldog secondary has four interceptions.
Facing a 38-3 deficit, Arkansas padded their passing stats in the 4th quarter, completing 11-of-15 for 126 yards and one score. For the game, UA was 29- of-42 for 283 yards and one TD. The Bulldogs tallied three sacks.
The #24 Sooners had 65 rushing yards and tallied 231 passing yards while VU finished with 208 passing yards and 85 on the ground.
Georgia's starting unit has featured preseason All-Americans KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV plus Demello Jones, Kyron Jones and a local Athens product in Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes. Against VU, Rasean Dinkins got the start in place of K. Jones.
Bolden tied for the team-high in tackles against VU with seven while Dinkins matched his career-high with five. Robinson IV made a spectacular INT on a deep ball versus VU that will be on his higlight reel.
Barnes helped set the tone in the road win against Arkansas. On its opening drive, UA had made three first downs and then attempted a 4th-and-4 from the UGA38. Barnes came up with a pass break up, and the Bulldogs went on to score a TD on their first possession.
Demello Jones posted a career-high six stops in the victory over Arkansas.
Kyron Jones started the first six games of 2025 before missing the rest of the season due to a foot injury while Demello Jones (no relation) appeared in 12 games last year before making his first start against TSU in the 2026 opener. Demello Jones had a 41-yard INT return against WKU.
Georgia made four portal additions in the secondary: Along with Barnes, Georgia's depth here includes fifth-year Gentry Williams (Oklahoma), junior Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU) and junior Braylon Conley (USC).
Dinkins made four stops, forced and recovered a fumble in the win over OU while Bolden had a 28-yard INT return that led to a TD.
Freshmen Tyriq Green and Blake Stewart have contributed to some big plays in the early going this year. Green has missed the past three games.
Before an injury against WKU, Green was getting a look as a a kickoff returner. He raced 91 yards for a TD against WKU. Also, he scored a TD after Stewart fumbled into the endzone following an INT versus WKU. This marked the first time since a 2018 win at Missouri that the Bulldogs registered a pair of non-offensive TDs in a game.
Against WKU, Green became the first Bulldog defender to score a pair of TDs in a game since defensive back Brandon Boykin in the 2012 Outback Bowl against Michigan State. Boykin had a 92-yard punt return for a TD, and then on offense, he had a 13-yard TD reception agains the Spartans.
We're Going For It!
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (98-for-152) with 17 TDs.
In 2026, Georgia is 2-for-3 on 4th Down. The first one failed this year, however, it came on a botched hold during a field goal attempt in the season opener. The result of the play was an incomplete pass.
In 2025, Georgia ranked second nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 75% (15-for-20) with 3 TDs. Some of the more memorable ones from last year included a 4th-and-3 at the Auburn 40 with 5:14 left in the contest. It was part of the clinching go-ahead TD drive that lasted a school record-tying eight minutes and 45 seconds. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 Tennessee, Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the UT 28 for a TD (Stockton pass-to-Humphreys).
Did You Know? Prior to the Tennessee game last year, the only other fourth quarter 4th down conversion featuring a TD pass when Georgia was behind under Smart came in 2016 at Missouri. The Bulldogs trailed 27-21 with 1:31 left in the game and faced a 4th-and-10. Jacob Eason hit Isaiah McKenzie for a 20-yard TD in a 28-27 win.
That's An SEC Record, Geaux Dawgs!
Senior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., is a three-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. In the win over #24 OU, he made a couple of field goals from 40+ yards and set the SEC and Georgia record for Consecutive PATs Made in a career. Currently, he is 206-for-206. The old marks belonged to Rodrigo Blankenship (200).
The NCAA mark for Consecutive PATs made is 233 (Alex Trilca, Texas Tech).
For the year, Woodring has a team-best 45 points (4x4 FG, 33x33 PATs).
Woodring's Career FG% of 88.73% (63-of-71) is on track for a school record as the current mark belongs to Blankenship who posted an 82.47% from 2016- 19, making 80-of-97 attempts.
Woodring tied a school record with 10 PATs in the 70-20 rout of Western Kentucky this year. He became the third Bulldog to make 10 PATs in a game, joining Kanon Parkman (1994 vs. Northeast Louisiana) and George Jernigan (1946 vs. Furman).
Also, Georgia has freshman PK Harran Zureikat. He took care of the final two PATs and last two kickoffs in the 63-3 season-opening win over TSU. He handled the final two kickoffs against WKU.
Kickoff returns under Woodring have been rare but look for Kyron Jones, Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams, Chris Cole and Will Taylor to be among those with special teams tackles.
In 2026, Woodring has 40 kickoffs with 30 touchbacks. Zureikat has four kickoffs with three touchbacks.
Did You Know? After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, Woodring has been good on 59 of his past 64 FG (four of those misses were from 50+ yards while one was from 45 yards).
Single Game Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23);
PATs: 10 (vs. WKU '26-ties school record.)
FGA: 3 (11x, last vs. #6 Ole Miss in CFP Qtrfinal at Sugar Bowl '26)
FGM: 3 (8x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
LG: 55 (vs. Clemson '24 in MBS, Atlanta)
Did You Know?
Georgia's last game-winning field goal with two minutes or less to play came in the 2021 Peach Bowl against undefeated and No. 8 Cincinnati. Jack Podlesny hit a 53 yarder with three seconds left for a 22-21 lead. The Bulldogs would register a safety on the last play for a 24-21 final.
It's Miller Time
Junior Drew Miller serves as the punter with 2025 Ray Guy Award winner Brett Thorson now in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings.
A native of Mediapolis, Iowa, Miller is averaging 48.1 yards on 14 punts with seven covering 50+ yards and five touchbacks. In the win over #24 OU, he punted a season-high five times and had a career-high 50.0 average.
Against TSU in the season opener, he had just one, and it covered a career-long 65 yards with a touchback for a net of 45 yards. He punted four times in the second half against WKU and posted a 46.7 average. At Arkansas, he had two punts for a 43.5 average.
Senior Will Snellings serves as the snapper. He is the 2026 receipient of UGA's Joel Eaves Award, given to the male student-athlete with the highest GPA entering his senior year. He is the seventh member of the football program to receive this honor and the first since 2021 (Owen Condon). Head coach Kirby Smart earned this award in 1997. He was a teammate and roommate of Will's father, defensive lineman and 1998 team captain Paul Snellings.
The returning gunners include KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Jeremy Bell and Talyn Taylor.
Single Game Career Highs For Miller
Punts: 6 (MU25)
Long: 65 (TSU '26))
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 50.0 on five (OU26) with 0 PR yards
Back Deep For The Bulldogs In The Return Game
Junior Sacovie White-Helton is averaging 11.3 yards per punt return, tallying nine for 102 yards. He has one KOR for 18 yards.
Freshman Tyriq Green, currently sidelined due to injury, has a team-best 35.8 average on four KOR. Green ignited the crowd against WKU with a 91-yard KOR for a TD. It marked the first KOR for a TD by a Bulldog since 2016 (Terry Godwin, 43-yarder at South Carolina).
Sophomore Landon Roldan is another option as a PR plus he is on the kickoff coverage team and has served as a holder on PATs. He muffed a punt return against WKU but also recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. Both plays led to eventual TDs. Bo Walker had one KOR for 14 yards against WKU.
Did You Know? Georgia's last punt return for a TD came in 2023 (Mekhi {MUH-kye} Mews vs. Ball State, 69 yards)
It's Blocked
Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have blocked 10 punts and nine field goals. There's three players on the current squad with a block for Georgia.
This year, Jordan Hall blocked a 58-yard FG attempt by VU while London Humphreys blocked a punt at Arkansas in the 2026 SEC opener.
In the 2025 opener against Marshall, KJ Bolden blocked a punt.
Selflessness
This past offseason, the Bulldogs studied the 2025 NBA Champion OKC Thunder and noted how they led the league in eight major defensive and team statistical categories and most importantly, "seflessness," according to Smart. He aims for the 2026 Bulldogs to showcase that trait.
Playing To Our Standard
Georgia's 2026 Senior Class owns a record of 41-6 with back-to-back SEC titles. The 2025 Senior Class went 51-6 with a national title (2022) and three SEC crowns. They were the third straight class to register 50 wins, joining the '23 group (50- 4) and the record-setting '24 class (53-5).
Georgia has a current winning streak over every SEC team except Ole Miss that equals 80 games. The streaks range from one game up to 16 straight.
| Most SEC Championship Game Titles (SECCG Began In 1992) | ||
| Rk | School | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama | 11 |
| 2. | Florida | 7 |
| 3. | GEORGIA | 6 |
| Most SEC CG Titles By Coach (By Coaches Since Game Began In 1992) | ||
| Rk | Coach | Titles (Schools) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nick Saban | 11 (LSU-2, Alabama-9) |
| 2. | Steve Spurrier | 5 (Florida) |
| 3. | KIRBY SMART | 4 (GEORGIA) |
| Longest Active Bowl Streak | |||||
| Rk | School | Start | 2025-26 | Bowl Streak | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | GEORGIA | 1997 | CFPQtr./Sug. | 29 | |
| 2. | Oklahoma | 1999 | CFP 1st Rd. | 27 | |
| 3. | Alabama | 2004 | CFP 1st/Qtr. | 22 | |
Note: The longest streak is 36 by FSU from 1982-2017 followed by Nebraska at 35 (1969-2003), Michigan 33 (1975-2007) and then Georgia's current streak at 29.
| Most Bowl Game/CFP Appearances (Entering 2026 Season) | |||
| Rk | Schools | Bowls | Record (incl BCS/CFP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama | 80 | 47-30-3 |
| 2. | GEORGIA | 64 | 38-23-3 |
| 3. | Texas | 63 | 34-27-2 |
| Most SEC Titles | |||
| Rk | School | Titles | Last One |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Alabama | 30 | 2023 |
| 2. | GEORGIA | 16 | 2025 |
| 3. | Tennessee | 13 | 1998 |
Georgia's All-Time Overtime Record (11-7)
Home: 2-2; Away: 5-2; 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.
Overtime In The Kirby Smart Era (4-2)
Home: 1-1; Away: 1-0; Neutral: 2-1
(Bowl Game/CFP: 1-1; *SEC Games: 2-2)
Includes SECCG & CFP National Championship)
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)
Sept. 13, 2025: #6 Georgia beat #15 Tennessee 44-41 in Knoxville, Tenn.
Big Plays (25+ yards) In 2026
Georgia has 13 big plays. Opponents have none.
G1: 6 (54-yd. TD pass Montgomery-Bell);
G2: 7 (91-yd KOR by T. Green); WKU: 0
G3: 4 (62-yd. rush Stockton); ARK: 4
G4: 6 (85-yd. Fum. Ret TD by Cole); OU: 2
G5: 4 (59-yd. rush B. Walker); VU: 2
Points Off Turnovers In 2026
Georgia is 2nd in the SEC with a +6 Turnover Margin.
Georgia has 59 points off 10 turnovers.
Opponents have 19 points off four turnovers. TSU: No TO forced by either team.
TSU: No TO forced by either team.
WKU: Georgia got 28 pts off 4 TO; WKU got 13 off 2
ARK: Georgia got 7 pts off 1 TO; ARK got None
#24 OU: Georgia got 17 pts off 4 TO; OU got 6 off 2
VU: Georgia got 7 pts off 1 TO; VU got None
Bulldog Career INTs & Pick-Six
Georgia has 4 INTs in 2026: Blake Stewart (WKU), Demello Jones (WKU), KJ Bolden (OU), Ellis Robinson IV (VU);
Opp. have 1 INT.
| Bulldog | INT | TD | Last INT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellis Robinson IV, DB | 5 | 0 | VU26 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 4 | 0 | OU26 |
| Demello Jones, DB | 1 | 0 | WKU26 |
| Kyron Jones, Star | 1 | 1 | UTM23 |
| Daniel Okonkwo | 1 | 0 | CHAR25 |
| !Khalil Barnes (CLEM) | 7 | 0 | vs. SMU24 |
| !Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU) | 6 | ^1 | FAU25 |
| !Gentry Williams (OU) | 4 | 0 | @Texas23 |
Bulldog Career Fumble Recoveries
Georgia has 3 FR in 2026; Opp. have 2 FR.
| Bulldog | FR | Last FR |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Cole, LB | 4 | 2 vs. OU26 |
| Rasean Dinkins, SS | 1 | OU26 |
| Jordan Hall | 1 | ARK26 |
| Khamari Brooks, OLB | 1 | WKU26 |
| Landon Roldan, WR | 1 | WKU26 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 1 | @ MSU25 |
| Kyron Jones, S | 1 | @ AU25 |
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 1 | UMass24 |
| !Khalil Barnes (CLEM) | ^1 | @ SC23 |
| !Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU) | 1 | FAU25 |
| !Gentry Williams (OU) | 1 | @Texas23 |
Note: ! FR at previous school; ^ 42-yd TD
Bulldog Career Sacks
Georgia has 13 sacks in 2026; Opponents have 5.
| Bulldog | '26 | '25 | '24 | '23 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 3 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 7.5 |
| Chris Cole, LB | 1.5 | 4.5 | 0 | n/a | 6.0 |
| Gabe Harris Jr., LB | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Quintavius Johnson, LB | - | 2 | 0 | n/a | 2 |
| Zayden Walker, LB | - | 2 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Justin Williams, LB | 2 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 2 |
| PJ Dean, DL | 1.5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.5 |
| Josh Horton, DL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Anthony Lonon Jr., DL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Elijah Littlejohn, LB | 1 | n/an | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| KJ Bolden, S | - | 0 | 1 | n/a | 1 |
| Elijah Griffin, DL | - | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Nnamdi Ogboko, DL | - | 1 | 0 | n/a | 1 |
| Jordan Thomas, DL | - | 0 | 1 | n/a | 1 |
| !Khalil Barnes, S (CLEM) | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| !Zion Branch, CB(USC) | - | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| !Amaris Williams, LB(AU) inj. | inj. | 2 | 0.5 | n/a | 2.5 |
Note: ! Sacks at previous school
Four First-Time Starters In 2026
TSU (4): E. Griffin (DL), Z. Helton (RG), D. Jones (DB), T. Taylor (WR)
WKU (1): E. Williams (TE); A
ARK (1): S. White-Helton (WR)
OU (1): C. Dandridge, Jr. (WR)
VU (1): Thomas Blackshear (WR), Jaden Reddell (TE);
True Freshmen Getting A Taste
The Bulldogs had 26 true freshmen make their debut in the 2026 season-opening win over TSU. Last year, 22 Bulldogs saw action in the opener against Marshall.
The Bulldog Captains In 2026
TSU: Drew Bobo, Chris Cole, Jordan Hall, Peyton WoodringWKU: KJ Bolden, Terrell Foster, Nate Frazier, London Humphreys
ARK: Earnest Greene III, Lawson Luckie, Gabe Harris Jr., Raylen Wilson
OU: Drew Bobo, Gunner Stockton, Chris Cole, Quintavius Johnson
VU: Chauncey Bowens, Dontrell Glover, Khalil Barnes, Jordan Hall
HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART QUICK FACTS
- Career Record: 122-21 (.853), 11th year at Georgia
- 2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
- 2017 CFP national runner-up
- One of just two active coaches with multiple national titles (Dabo Swinney-Clemson, '16 & '18)
- Most wins (117) in NCAA FBS history in the modern era (last 100 years) for a coach in his first 10 seasons.
- 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 & 2025 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); 2025 Eddie Robinson Finalist
- 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, Mannelly Award, Manning Award, Ray Guy Award & Burlsworth Trophy, two NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards & one Heisman Trophy finalist
- 28 1st-team All-Americans
- 21 First Round NFL Draft picks, 84 total draft picks
- 354 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls
THE KIRBY SMART RECORD
| 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 | 12 | 2 | .857 | 8-2 | CFP Sugar (Qtr.) | 6th |
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 3-0 | -- | -- |
| Total | 122 | 21 | .853 | *77-18 |
#5-6 (includes 2017-19, '21-'25 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC, 2026 CFP Quarterfinal at Sugar Bowl)
19 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 |
| 2025 | @ #15 Tennessee | Trailed 28-27; then 38-30 with 6:40 left; 41-38 in OT | 44-41 (OT) |
| 2025 | #5 Ole Miss | Trailed 35-26 and outscored Rebels 17-0 to end the game | 43-35 |
| 2025 | vs. Florida | Tied 17-17; Trailed 20-17 with 14:52 left | 24-20 |
%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) & TSU (9/5/26); Bo Walker vs. CHAR (11/22/25);
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, G. Stockton (WKU-9/12/26), 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: 3, Lawson Luckie vs. #5 OM (10/18/25);
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);
35 DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES UNDER SMART
The Bulldogs are 30-2 (losses versus #8 UF in 2020 & #6 OM In 2026 Sugar Bowl) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This season against WKU, Tyriq Green recovered a fumble in the end zone for a score and had a 91-yard kickoff return for a TD. Against OU, Chris Cole returned a fumble 85 yards for a TD. In the 2026 Sugar Bowl, Daylen Everette returned a fumble 47 yards for a TD. In 2024, Cole returned a fumble 28 yards for a TD versus UMass; In 2023, Kyron Jones returned an INT versus UT Martin 26 yards for a score; 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
132 Points: 20 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.)
2025: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)
2026: 12 points in two games (Fumble Rec., Fumble Ret.)
54 POINTS ON BIG SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS SINCE 2016
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;
2025: none;
2026: 6 points in 1 game (KOR)
MOST GAMES COACHING AP NO. 1 TEAM
| Rank | Coach (School, Seasons at No. 1) | Games | Rec. | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nick Saban (UA, 2008-2022) | 98 | 88-10 | 89.8 |
| T2. | Woody Hayes (Ohio St.. 1954-75) | 45 | 40-4-1 | 90.0 |
| T2. | Bobby Bowden (FSU, 1988-2000) | 45 | 40-5 | 88.9 |
| 4. | Kirby Smart (Georgia, 2021-24) | *35 | 33-2 | 94.3 |
In school history, Georgia has played 45 games as the No. 1 ranked team and has a record of 41-4 in those contests (91.1%). Prio to Smart, these games were in 1942 (2-1), 1980 (3-0), 1982 (2-1) and 2008 (1-0).
Players Mentioned
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