University of Georgia Athletics
Thursday, January 1
New Orleans, La.
8:00 p.m.
University of Georgia
vs
#6 Ole Miss
Ole Miss and Georgia to Clash in CFP Sugar Bowl
December 29, 2025 | Football
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Rebels and Bulldogs Will Square Off in 92nd Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day
Southeastern Conference rivals Ole Miss and Georgia will meet in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in the Caesars Superdome. The sixth-seeded Rebels defeated No. 11 Tulane, 41-10, in Oxford on Saturday afternoon in a College Football Playoff First-Round Game to advance to the Playoff Quarterfinals. Georgia, which earned the No. 3 overall seed after winning the SEC Championship, had a first-round bye.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. (Central) and will be televised by ESPN.
The Sugar Bowl Committee encourages fans looking to purchase tickets to visit Ticketmaster as the official verified resale platform of the 2026 Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Also available are multiple premium seating options.
"We knew we would have a tremendous match-up no matter who won the CFP First-Round Game," said Dottie Reese, the President of the Sugar Bowl Committee. "We're confident that having two of the best teams from the SEC facing off here in the Sugar Bowl will be a memorable event for our local fans, the supporters of the schools, and college football fans across the country."
Georgia (12-1, 7-1 SEC) earned the No. 3 seed from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee following its 28-7 victory over Alabama in the SEC Championship game on Dec. 6. The Bulldogs, who will be making their 13th Sugar Bowl appearance (tied for the second-most in history), will be the 97th conference champion to play in the Sugar Bowl in its 92-year history.
Ole Miss (12-1, 7-1 SEC), which posted the program's first-ever 11-win regular season this year, will be making its 11th trip to the Sugar Bowl (fourth most all-time) and its first since the 2021 season.
"We're excited to have two great schools with amazing football traditions, outstanding fan bases, and memorable histories with the Sugar Bowl," said Jeff Hundley, the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "We can't wait for the opportunity to show the schools and their fans a wonderful time in New Orleans as we add another chapter to the organization's exceptional history in postseason college football."
The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be doubling as a College Football Playoff (CFP) game for the sixth time since the CFP was established for the 2014 regular season. It has hosted four CFP Semifinals (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) and one CFP Quarterfinal (2024); those five CFP games have combined for over 100 million worldwide viewers on ESPN's platforms.
The winner of this year's game will advance to the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. The CFP National Championship will be played on Monday, January 19, in Miami.
This season marks the second year of the 12-team format for the CFP. The four highest-ranked teams, including Georgia, are seeded one through four and have received first-round byes. The other eight teams played in the CFP First Round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus.
The Ole Miss-Georgia series dates back to 1940 with the Bulldogs holding a 35-13-1 advantage all-time. The two schools have played seven times at sites that are considered neutral (Memphis, Atlanta, Jackson), but they have never met in a bowl game.
This year's Sugar Bowl will mark just the fourth time in its history that two SEC teams have squared off in the game – the previous three also involved Ole Miss. In the 1953 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), SEC Champion Georgia Tech earned a 24-7 victory over the Rebels, who were making their first major bowl appearance since 1936. On Jan. 1, 1960, the Rebels posted a 21-0 victory over LSU to avenge a regular season loss to the Tigers in a memorable Halloween night showdown. The Miller-Digby Award winner as the Most Outstanding Player of that 1960 game was Bobby Franklin, who will be inducted posthumously into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame on Jan. 1. Then in the 1964 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Alabama took down Ole Miss in a 12-7 defensive battle despite the Crimson Tide not having its star quarterback Joe Namath who was suspended by Bear Bryant – that game is also memorable as it was played between snowbanks following the largest New Orleans snowfall since 1895.
As Georgia defeated Ole Miss, 43-35, on Oct. 18 this season, the Sugar Bowl will be a rematch of a regular season game for just the fourth time in its history. The first was the 1960 showdown between Ole Miss and LSU in which the Rebels gained revenge. The other two were battles between Florida and Florida State. In the 1994 season, the Gators and the Seminoles battled to a 31-31 tie in the regular season to set up the "Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter" at the Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2, 1995). In the 1997 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2), Florida rolled to a 57-20 win over Florida State to avenge a 24-21 regular season loss and earn the national championship.
This year's Sugar Bowl will be the 35th edition of the game featuring 10-win teams and just the fifth involving a pair of 12-win teams. Of the 184 teams that have come to the Sugar Bowl, there have only been 18 12-win teams (including this year's pair).
This will be the 64th bowl appearance for Georgia; it has an all-time bowl mark of 38-22-3. Nine of those bowl appearances have come under the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart, who has posted a 7-2 bowl record in his 10 years at the helm of the Bulldogs. Ole Miss will be making its 42nd bowl appearance with an all-time mark of 25-15.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 110 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.
Georgia is making its 13th Sugar Bowl appearance with a record of 5-7. Only Alabama (17) has more Sugar Bowl appearances (LSU also has 13). Meanwhile, Ole Miss is making its 11th trip to the Sugar Bowl, a total that ranks fourth all-time. The Rebels have an all-time mark of 6-4 in the game.
This year's game marks the 63rd time that a pair of top 10 teams (based on AP Poll) have matched up in the Sugar Bowl. The first time was in the 1936 contest when No. 4 TCU topped No. 1 LSU, 3-2. The most recent time was last year's Allstate Sugar Bowl when No. 3 Notre Dame topped No. 2 Georgia, 23-10.
Georgia is the 97th conference champion to play in the Sugar Bowl in its 92-year history.
This year's Sugar Bowl will be the 37th edition of the game featuring 10-win teams and just the 13th involving a pair of 11-win teams. Of the 184 teams that have come to the Sugar Bowl, there have only been 48 12-win teams (including this year's pair). Georgia recorded its 30th 10-win season in 2025 and Ole Miss wrapped up the 11th 10-win season in its history this season. This year was the first year in history that the Rebels posted 11 regular season victories. A Sugar Bowl victory would give Ole Miss its first 12-win season in its 120-year history.
Georgia has more wins than any other school since 2022 as it has posted a 51-5 (.911) record in the last four years. Ole Miss ranks ninth in the country in that same time frame with a 40-11 (.784) record.
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This year's Sugar Bowl will mark just the fourth time in its history that two SEC teams have squared off in the game – the previous three also involved Ole Miss. In the 1953 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), SEC Champion Georgia Tech rolled to a 24-7 victory over the Rebels, who were making their first major bowl appearance since 1936. On Jan. 1, 1960, the Rebels posted a 21-0 victory over LSU to avenge a regular season loss to the Tigers in a memorable Halloween night showdown. The Miller-Digby Award winner as the Most Outstanding Player of that 1960 game was Bobby Franklin, who will be inducted posthumously into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame on Jan. 1. Then in the 1964 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Alabama took down Ole Miss in a 12-7 defensive battle despite the Crimson Tide not having its star quarterback Joe Namath who was suspended by Bear Bryant – that game is also memorable as it was played between snowbanks following the largest New Orleans snowfall since 1895.
As Georgia defeated Ole Miss, 43-35, on Oct. 18 this season, the Sugar Bowl will be a rematch of a regular season game for just the fourth time in its history. The first was the 1960 showdown between Ole Miss and LSU in which the Rebels gained revenge after a memorable loss on Halloween night in Baton Rouge. The other two were battles between Florida and Florida State. In the 1994 season, the Gators and the Seminoles battled to the 31-31 tie in the regular season to set up the "Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter" at the Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2, 1995). In the 1997 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2), Florida rolled to a 57-20 win over Florida State to avenge a 24-21 regular season loss and to earn the national championship.
Ole Miss' Pete Golding will be the 107th head coach to lead his team into the Sugar Bowl. Kirby Smart, meanwhile, will be making his fourth appearance as a head coach in the game, tied for the seventh most appearances in Sugar Bowl history.
Georgia will be making its 64th overall bowl appearance with an all-time record of 38-22-3. Nine of those bowl appearances have come under the direction of head coach Kirby Smart, who has posted a 7-2 bowl record in his 10 years at the helm of the Bulldogs. Ole Miss will be making its 42nd bowl appearance with an all-time mark of 25-15.
In the first 91 editions of the Sugar Bowl, the higher-ranked team has posted a 53-37-1 record – however, over the past 46 years (since 1980), the lower-ranked teams have kept things nearly even at 22-23-1. This year's game will be the 13th Sugar Bowl to be played on a Thursday. For what it's worth, both Georgia and Ole Miss are 1-1 in Thursday Sugar Bowls.
Georgia has a current winning streak over every SEC team that equals 78 games. The streaks range from one game up to 16 straight.
Georgia's 2025 Senior Class is 51-5 overall. They have won a national title (2022) and three SEC crowns (2022, '24 & '25) in their career. They are the third straight class to register 50 wins, joining the 2023 group (50-4) and last year's record-setting class (53-5).
Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 65-6. This run includes back-to-back CFP national titles (2021-22) and three SEC titles (2022, 2024-25). The next best is Ohio State at 59-9.
Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games every season since 2021.
The Bulldogs (12-1, 7-1 SEC) are the No. 3 seed in the CFP and return to the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champions for the second consecutive year. This will be Georgia's 13th all-time appearance in the Sugar Bowl where it is 5-7.
Georgia enters the CFP on a nine-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are in their fifth CFP, all under Kirby Smart, with a 5-2 mark including winning back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
In its last four games including three of those against top 25 opponents, the Bulldog defense has allowed just two TDs, five field goals and forced 39 punts with five INTs and nine sacks.
Georgia owns the nation's longest active bowl streak now at 29 seasons. Since 2019, the Bulldogs are 7-1 in their past eight bowl/CFP matchups after a CFP quarterfinal loss to #5 Notre Dame in the 2025 Sugar Bowl. Georgia has made 63 appearances in a bowl/CFP game with a 38-22-3 mark. The appearances and wins rank second in FBS.
The Bulldogs won their 16th SEC title on Dec. 6 in Atlanta with a 28-7 rout of No. 9 Alabama. This is the first time Georgia has won two straight SEC titles since it claimed three in a row from 1980-82.
In rematches during a season under Smart, the Bulldogs are 4-0 (2017 AU regular season loss at AU/SEC CG win, 2021 UA SEC CG loss/CFP National Title win, 2024 Texas regular season win in Austin/SEC CG win, 2025 UA loss in Athens/SEC CG win).
On Oct. 18, 2025, No. 9 Georgia defeated No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 35-13-1 and have never played twice in the same season.
Georgia leads the Tulane series 14-10-1, but the programs haven't met since 1985 when the Bulldogs won 58-3 in Athens. They have faced each other 13 times in New Orleans with Georgia going 6-7, the last time in 1972, a 24-13 victory by the Green Wave. Tulane was one of the charter members of the SEC until leaving in 1965, and the Bulldogs went 9-4 against the Green Wave in SEC matchups.
Georgia went 7-1 in the SEC gauntlet this year, trailing early and/or late in seven of those contests. The Bulldogs rallied to beat No. 15 Tennessee and Auburn on the road for their ninth straight victory in those series. They outlasted No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens and never had to punt. Georgia won its fifth straight over Florida in Jacksonville. Georgia erased an early 7-0 deficit at MSU with 38 unanswered points and eventually recorded a 41-21 decision for the program's 900th all-time win. Georgia used a 21-point fourth quarter to defeat No. 10 Texas 35-10 to close out the SEC regular season.
Georgia blanked then No. 17 UA and AU in the second half while Kentucky's lone second half score came on a 23-yard drive with 1:51 left in the contest and the Bulldogs up 35-7. Trailing 35-26, Georgia outscored No. 5 OM 17-0 in the 4th quarter in that win. Against UF, Georgia fell behind 20-17 early in the 4th quarter, took the lead for good with 4:36 left and posted a pair of 4th-Down stops including one in the Red Zone as UF came in 22-for-23 there.
The only league contest in the regular season where Georgia led wire-to-wire was a 35-14 home win over UK while the only comeback that fell short came to then No. 17 UA 24-21 in Athens.
Georgia is 40-3 in its last 43 SEC regular season games with two losses to UA and one to Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs dominated No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game becoming the first team to shutout their opponent for the first three quarters of the title game and eventually won 28-7. UA was held to its second lowest rushing total in school history, finishing with minus three yards.
One of Georgia's main themes in 2025 is to play with "FPE."
Fifty-four percent of Georgia's roster consists of players in their first or second season here.
Georgia's scoring defense this year has allowed 15.9 ppg and posted 24 scoreless quarters.
Junior ILB CJ Allen, a first team All-American and All-SEC selection, ranks third in the SEC in average tackles per game at 7.1. He was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award. He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton, a 3rd team All-SEC selection, is a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award. He finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Senior All-American Brett Thorson earned the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter. Senior All-American Beau Gardner won the Patrick Mannelly Award as the nation's best snapper. Junior 2nd team All-SEC PK Peyton Woodring has been a three-time semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Due to injuries, Georgia started six different offensive line units in the first six games and eight total.
Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton is a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga.
12-2 Career Record as a starter, 3rd Team Coaches All-SEC selection and MVP of 2025 SEC Championship Game (20-for-26, 156 yards, 3 TDs).
Finalist for Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Semifinalist for Maxwell, Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards.
5-1 against ranked teams in 2025 including a 90.6 Completion Percentage in the 4th quarter of those games (29-for-32, 319 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INT)
On pace to be only the second QB in school history to post a Completion Percentage above 70% for a Season (70.7); Carson Beck, record 72.4 in '23.
Accounted for 5 TDs in 35-10 win over No. 10 Texas, tying his career-high with four passing and one rushing, finishing 24-for-29 for 228 passing yards
Directed three 4th quarter comebacks in 2025 including over #5 Ole Miss, #15 Tennessee in Knoxville and versus Florida in Jacksonville.
Swept national weekly QB honors after Georgia's win over No. 5 Ole Miss (26-of-31, 289 yards, 4 TDs, 59 rushing yards including 22-yard TD).
Led Georgia to scoring drives on each of its first 8 drives in win over #5 Ole Miss, the first team to do that against an AP Top-10 team since 2016.
Directed 2nd half comeback against #5 Rebels, going 12-for-12, 135 yards, 3 TDs including erasing a 35-26 deficit in the 4th quarter.
According to ESPN Research, Stockton is the first QB to go 12-for-12 or better in a half against an AP top-five opponent since California's Aaron Rodgers did it versus then-No. 1 USC in 2004.
Won first SEC road start at No. 15 Tennessee in front of a crowd of 101,915.
Named Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week after 44-41 overtime win over #15 UT. Georgia trailed five times, including 21-7 after the 1st quarter, 38-30 with 6:40 left in regulation, and in OT.
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...First Georgia player to have two passing TDs and two rushing scores in a season opener in the past 80 years per ESPN Stats.
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Puglisi made his debut in a 45-7 win over Marshall, directing four possessions 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...Tried Hail Mary on final play of first half at No. 15 UT and resulted in INT...Played most of the second half in the win over Charlotte (7-for-11, 49 yards).
Longest Rush by Georgia: 59-yd TD by Nate Frazier (@ MSU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 27-yd by Star Thomas (#15UT), Jackson Arnold (AU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 64-yd TD (Stockton to Thomas @ MSU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 75-yd TD (Chambliss to Stribling, #5 OM)
Georgia is averaging 186.6 rushing yards per game with 29 TDs.
Sophomore Nate Frazier (team-high 861 yards, 6 TDs), a 3rd Coaches All- SEC selection, has started nine games. He had a team-best 72 rushing yards plus a three-yard TD catch in the win over No. 5 OM. He went for a career-high 181 yards on just 12 carries (15.1 avg.) in a road win over MSU. It was the most yards by a Bulldog since 2018 when D'Andre Swift had 186 in a win at Auburn. Frazier's big day included a career-best 59-yard TD run. He followed that up with a team-best 72 yards against No. 10 Texas. He went for 108 yards in a win versus #23 Tech.
Chauncey Bowens (516 yards, 6 TDs), who earned Coaches Freshman All- SEC honors, made his first career start in the win over UK and provided 70 yards on a career-high 15 carries. Against No. 17 UA, he posted a career-best 119 yards on 12 carries (9.9 average). He had a 36-yard scamper for the go-ahead score in the 4th quarter in the win over UF. He missed the final two games of the regular season and saw limited action in the SECCG.
Senior Cash Jones, redshirt senior Josh McCray, sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., and freshman Bo Walker provide various looks too. With Bowens out versus #23 Tech, McCray saw extensive action. He had 13 carries for 43 yards plus two catches for nine yards.
The Bulldogs had 55 rushes for 198 yard in the win at No. 15 UT. Frazier had a team-long 21-yard burst on the first play in overtime to set up the game-winning score by McCray who notched a pair of scores in the triumph.
Jones can break tackles, is a solid blocker and wideout. He had a 16-yard TD catch versus UK and recovered an onside kick versus No. 10 Texas.
The Bulldogs are averaging 220.3 receiving yards a game with 24 TDs.
Junior Zachariah Branch (73-for-744 yards, 5 TDs), the SEC leader in receptions who made 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC, ranks second in school history for most catches in a season behind Brice Hunter (76 in 1993).
With senior Colbie Young (23-for-336 yards, 1 TD) sidelined with a leg injury (happened in the win over No. 5 OM), Branch and seniors Noah Thomas (16- for-254 yards, 4 TDs), Dillon Bell (27-for-279 yards, 2 TDs) and junior London Humphreys (18-for-276 yards, 3 TDs) are the top targets.
Thomas has the longest catch of the season, a 64-yard TD against MSU. He got his first score as a Bulldog on a 22-yarder against UF for a 17-10 lead. With two TD catches against No. 10 Texas, he has four in the past four games.
Branch posted a career high 10 receptions for 112 yards in the neutral site victory over UF. He had a team-high eight catches for 71 yards in the win over No. 5 OM. Branch had five catches for 69 yards in the win at No. 15 UT, including a 36-yard TD and the game-tying 2-point conversion with 2:32 left.
Humphreys had THE catch of the season. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 UT, it was 4th-and-6. He hauled in a 28-yard touchdown strike from Gunner Stockton.
Senior Dillon Bell has shown he can catch it, run it and even throw it.
As a wideout this year, he has 27 catches for 279 yards and two TDs. In the win over No. 5 OM, he had two receptions for 57 yards. Bell has 11 career TD receptions. He had four catches for 43 yards and a TD in the win over UF.
Bell has flashed in the running game too with a 43-yard dash on a reverse against No. 17 UA. He had two scores in the win against UK. Against No. 5 OM, he had two rushes for 19 yards. For the year, he has 109 yards on 17 carries. Bell has five career rushing TDs in 51 attempts.
In the 2025 SEC Championship Game rout of No. 9 UA, he accounted for 69 yards (24 rushing, 45 receiving) and one TD.
In 2023, he threw an 18-yard TD in a road win over Tennessee.
Due to injuries, Georgia used a different starting OL unit in its first six games, then had the same unit for the next four contests before resting a pair (All-America C-Drew Bobo, RT-Earnest Greene III) in the win over Charlotte. Bobo left the game versus No. 23 Ga. Tech with a leg injury. Redshirt freshman C Malachi Toliver, who started versus Charlotte filled in for Bobo against Tech and started against No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game.
Redshirt senior Micah Morris (LG) is the only linemen to start every game.
The Bulldogs have employed three different starting RGs, two different LTs, two different Cs and four different RTs.
Junior LT Monroe Freeling, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC selection, had the longest the starting streak at 10 games, but he left the UK game in the first quarter with a leg injury. He didn't start at AU but did earn SEC OL of the Week honors and then again versus #10 Texas.
Bobo, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick, was named Outland Trophy National Player of the Week in leading the line in the road win over No. 15 UT.
Freshman Juan Gaston Jr. has started at RG and RT. Dontrell Glover, who earned Coaches Freshman All-SEC honors, has started the last nine games at RG. Bobo started the first 10 games.
Greene III, who has 31 career starts, has been hampered with a back issue during his career. He returned to his starting role in the win over No. 5 OM.
RS-freshmen Bo Hughley saw action at RT in the win at No. 15 UT, made his first career start there against No. 17 UA plus started at LT against AU.
The Bulldogs did not allow a sack in their first two games before the Vols collected four. Still, when the UT game was on the line, the offensive line came through. In overtime, it was three rushing plays for 25 yards that rallied the No. 6 Bulldogs to victory. Also of note, when Georgia trailed No. 15 UT 21-17 to start the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs leaned on their running game, going 75 yards for a TD on 14 plays (13 rushes) to take their first lead.
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.
Currently, six former Bulldog tight ends are in the NFL, most notably Brock Bowers (Las Vegas). The Bulldogs aim to continue that trend.
Junior Lawson Luckie (14 rec., 138 yards, 4 TDs) and senior Oscar Delp (19 rec., 245 yards, 1 TD) are playing the lead roles. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Reddell (1 rec., 9 yards) has appeared in every game this year while freshman Elyiss Williams (7 rec., 117 yards, 1 TD) has played in 12 games.
Against No. 5 OM, Luckie became the first Bulldog with three TD catches in a game since 2008 (Mohamed Massaquoi vs. Ga. Tech).
Williams' lone catch in the win at MSU was a big one, covering 24 yards on a 3rd-and-11 play. He had one catch for 14 yards in the win over UF.
Highly-touted freshmen Ethan Barbour went down with a leg injury in game two (Austin Peay) and has been out since September. He joined Delp in the starting lineup in the opener while Williams notched a 23-yard TD on his first career catch. Delp also did that in 2022 against South Carolina.
In the road win over No. 15 UT, Luckie had three catches for 25 yards while Delp had one for 18 yards. Georgia posted a season-high 502 yards of offense.
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.
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.
Opponents have scored 207 points this year (15.9 ppg/11th nationally).
In 2025, opponents have scored 65 points in the 1st quarter (21 of those at #15 UT) and 47 in the 2nd quarter. However, in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs have allowed a total of 92 points (plus 3 points in OT).
In the SEC Championship Game, No. 9 UA was shut out for the first three quarters and finished with a season-low 7 points, marking just the third time it has been held to single digits since 2011. UA came in averaging 33.3 points.
No. 23 Ga. Tech averaged 35.3 points and were held to three field goals.
No. 10 Texas averaged 29.6 points and managed just 10 points.
No. 5 OM scored 14 in the 3rd quarter and then were shut out in the 4th quarter.
Shut out Auburn in the 2nd half after trailing 10-3 at the half in a 20-10 win.
Blanked No. 17 UA in the 2nd half after it scored 24 points in the first half.
UK had seven points in the 1st half, and it's final TD came courtesy of a 23-yard drive following a turnover with 1:51 left and Georgia up 35-7.
Georgia had a 38-7 lead at MSU before allowing 14 points in the 2nd half.
Georgia ranks fourth nationally, allowing only 79.2 rushing yards a game.
In the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA, the Bulldogs limited the Crimson Tide to minus three yards rushing, their second lowest total ever.
Against No. 10 Texas, UT managed only 23 yards on 17 attempts. UT entered the game averaging 135.3 yards on the ground. Most recently versus No. 23 Ga. Tech who averaged 215 rushing yards, it finished with 69 on 23 attempts.
No. 15 Tennessee averaged 252.5 rushing yards and 605 yards of total offense/ game and Georgia limited them to 125 rushing yards (34 att.) and 496 yards of total offense. Also of note, No. 5 OM had just 88 rushing yards.
No. 17 UA was held to 117 yards (38 att.) for a 3.1 average while UK averaged 188 yards and finished with only 45 yards on 22 attempts.
Redshirt junior Christen Miller and juniors Jordan Hall and Gabe Harris Jr., are the veterans up front with redshirt sophomore Xzavier McLeod now stepping in for the injured Hall the past six games. McLeod made his first career start at MSU and tallied three tackles.
Miller had two tackles and three QB pressures versus No. 15 UT and five tackles, a half sack and three QB pressuers against MSU.
Harris Jr., had a career-high five stops at AU and made four in the win at MSU.
Redshirt freshmen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nnamdi Ogboko, redshirt sophomore Josh Horton (Miami) and freshmen Elijah Griffin and JJ Hanne are in the rotation. Griffin, who earned Coaches Freshman All-SEC honors, got his first career sack against Charlotte.
Jonah-Ajonye posted a career-high three stops versus Austin Peay. Griffin had two tackles each against UK and AU while Horton, who has shown an ability to win one-on-one battles, made three tackles against No. 17 UA. Ogboko got his first career sack versus UK.
Juniors CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson are the tackle leaders with sophomore Quintavius Johnson rounding out the trio that started the first 10 games until Allen missed the Charlotte contest due to injury. They combined for 2.5 of the team's three sacks in the road win over MSU while Johnson and freshman Zayden Walker each had a sack against No. 10 Texas. Allen returned against No. 23 Ga. Tech following knee surgery as Smart said "he's wired different."
The All-America Allen (85 tackles, 8 TFL, 3.5 Sacks) ranks third in the SEC averaging 7.3 tackles per game. He had a career-high 13 stops in the win over UF. He notched his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery in the win over UK and then forced a key fumble at the goal line at AU. He made a team-high 10 tackles, a sack, two TFL at AU and followed that with 10 stops versus No. 5 OM. He left the game versus No. 10 Texas in the first half due to a leg injury.
Allen was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award plus a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Wilson (70 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks) collected a career-best nine stops and three QB pressures in the road win over No. 15 UT and made six tackles plus 1.5 sacks and four QB pressures in the road victory over MSU.
Johnson made a career-best six tackles in the win over No. 23 Tech. He had five stops in the win over UK, forced a fumble at MSU and finished with five stops.
Sophomore Chris Cole, who has a team-high 4.5 sacks, saw extensive playing time against No. 10 Texas when Allen left in the first half with an injury. Cole set a career-high with a team-best seven stops in the win over the Longhorns. He made his first start against Charlotte and tallied four stops and a sack. He made six tackles with one sack and two QB pressures against No. 15 Tennessee.
Sophomore Justin Williams posted a career-high six stops versus UK, collected five tackles at MSU and made four stops against No. 10 Texas. He had a team best five tackles against Charlotte. he recovered a blocked punt against No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game.
Freshman Zayden Walker has come on of late. He made an impact at MSU, tallying a career-high three stops. Then, he picked up his first career sack in the win over No. 10 Texas plus forced a fumble. Walker had another sack in the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA.
Georgia's opponents are averaging 205.3 passing yards per game and have thrown for 12 TDs this season.
The Bulldog defense has nine interceptions and generated 20 sacks.
After No. 17 UA posted a 68% conversion rate (13-of-19) on 3rd Down in the regular season contest, Georgia limited UA to 3-of-14 conversions in the SEC title game as it finished 19-for-39 in the air.
In Atlanta, No. 23 Ga. Tech finished with 181 passing yards and no TDs with just two completions over 25 yards. Redshirt freshman Ellis Robinson IV notched his team-best fourth INT, which tied him for the SEC lead with Bray Hubbard (UA) and Ty Bryant (UK).
Georgia was tested often in SEC play. Against No. 10 Texas, the Longhorns had 251 yards on 43 attempts but only one catch was more than 25 yards. The Bulldogs had three sacks against UT who finished 2-for-12 on 3rd Downs and 2-for-3 on 4th Downs.
Georgia limited MSU to 173 passing yards and no TD catches. MSU was averaging 250.6 passing yards and posted just two explosive plays (20+ yards) with only one of those via the pass and that was late in the 4th quarter.
The top passing attack came at No. 15 Tennessee as the Vols were averaging 352 yards, and Joey Aguilar tallied 371 yards in a shootout. Coming in to that game, the Bulldogs had not allowed a passing TD, and the Vols collected four including three big ones that covered 32, 56 and 72 yards.
Junior Joenel Aguero, who made a career-best seven tackles versus the Vols, and sophomore KJ Bolden, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC selection, came up with interceptions in the road win. This duo was tested in the road win over MSU. Bolden made a career-high 10 stops and recovered a fumble while Aguero tied his career high with seven tackles.
Kentucky completed 25-of-41 passes for 225 yards and two scores. Robinson IV had an INT plus a career-high four tackles. Robinson had his team-high fourth INT in the win over No. 23 Tech.
In Georgia's win at Auburn, the Tigers were 19-for-31 for 137 yards and one sack. Their longest completions was 18 yards. No. 5 Ole Miss threw for 263 yards and one TD (a 75-yard strike to start the 2nd half for a 28-20 lead).
Senior Daylen Everette, the MVP of the 2024 SEC Championship Game, entered 2025 with a team-best 28 consecutive starts but that was snapped when he missed the opener due to an injury and returned for week two. He made six stops against No. 17 UA and five against AU to lead the secondary. Everette was a 3rd Team Coaches All-SEC selection this season.
Sophomore Kyron Jones, senior JaCorey Thomas, redshirt freshman Demello Jones and true freshman Rasean Dinkins have seen the most action. In fact, Dinkins made his first start in the SEC Championship Game.
Kyron Jones, who started the first six games and posted a career-high 10 stops at UT, injured his foot the week of the Ole Miss game and has been out. Thomas has started the past seven contests. He had one of his best games, tallying a career-high six tackles and his first career sack in the win over #9 UA.
Against UF, Zion Branch made six stops while Thomas had five. After missing the MSU game, Demello Jones returned and made four stops and a PBU versus No. 10 Texas.
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (94-for-146) with 17 TDs.
In 2025, Georgia leads the nation in 4th Down Conversions at 76% (13- for-17) with 3 TDs. One impressive conversion came against #5 Texas with Georgia leading 14-10 late in the 3rd quarter on a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 36. Gunner Stockton completed a 10-yard pass to Chauncey Bowens. The Bulldogs would later score on the drive and go on to win 35-10.
The Bulldogs were 2-for-3 on 4th Down in the win at Auburn including a 4th-and-1 at the AU 37 that helped set up the go-ahead 53-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. Also, there was a 4th-and-3 at the AU 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 against No. 15 Tennesseee in Knoxville, Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the UT 28 for a TD (Stockton pass-to-Humphreys). Also that day, Georgia trailed 21-7 in the 1st quarter and converted a 4th-and-3 at the UGA 48.
Did You Know? 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.
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 senior punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs rank 8th nationally in Net Punting at 43.1. On Dec. 12, Thorson was named the winner of the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation's top punter. He was a finalist in 2024.
Boomed a season-long 66-yarder versus Florida in Jacksonville and 60-yarders versus UK, at AU, versus Charlotte and at No. 23 Tech to give him eight of those in his career. Four times in his career, Georgia hasn't had to punt in a game, the most recent time was in the win over No 5. Ole Miss this season.
Thorson's career average of 45.5 (6,921/152) is very close to the school record held by Jake Camarda (45.8 from 2018-21). Also, Camarda holds the school record for Career Net Average at 41.5, and Thorson could own that mark as he currently owns a 42.8 average.
In the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA, Thorson was called on a career-high seven times and delivered a 45.3 average with a long of 59, five placed five inside the 20 and only one return for minus four yards.
Against No. 23 Tech in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Thorson posted a 51.2 average on four punts with a long of 61, no returns and one touchback.
In his first two games in 2025, Thorson was named to the "Ray's 8," the weekly Ray Guy Award group. At #15 Tennessee, he had three punts for a 47.7 average including a long of 52 with two placed inside the 20 and no return yards.
In the 2024 SEC Championship Game, Thorson's season ended due to a knee injury during a return after a punt. He missed the 2025 opener while still recovering with redshirt freshman Drew Miller serving as the punter. Thorson returned to his starting role in week two versus Austin Peay.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson was a 2024 finalist for the Ray Guy Award (47.6 avg. on 42 punts, the second best mark in school history).
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 (14 games) and 36 punts in 2022 (15 games), the two lowest totals dating to at least 1948.
Along with Cole Speer, gunners in 2025 have included KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Jeremy Bell and Talyn Taylor.
Punts: 7 (#9 UA @ 25SECCG)
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
Junior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., is a three-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. This year, he was a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick and twice named SEC Specialist of the Week.
Woodring's Career FG% of 89.06% (57-of-64) is on track for a school record as the current mark belongs to Rodrigo Blankenship who posted an 82.47% from 2016-19, making 80-of-97 attempts. Blankenship holds the Georgia and SEC record for Career PATs, going 200-for-200. Woodring ranks second in school history as he's 169-for-169 in PATs.
In 2025, he has a team-high 95 points (15-16 on FGs, 50-for-50 on PATs, 77 Kickoffs, 56 Touchbacks, 4 Out of Bounds).
Scored 10 points (3 FGs, 1 PAT) in 16-9 win over No. 23 Ga. Tech
Successful onside kick against No. 10 Texas when No. 5 Georgia led 21-10 in the 4th quarter on its way to a 35-10 victory, first one recovered since 2013.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after Georgia's 41-21 rout of MSU in Starkville, scoring 11 points including a 46- and 49-yard field goals.
Scored 13 points in 43-35 win over #5 OM, hit a 51-yard FG on opening drive, a 35-yarder to end the first half to cut the deficit to one and nailed a 42-yarder to extend lead to eight with 2:06 left to play.
Tallied eight points and hit a season-long 53-yard FG in the 20-10 win at AU. Missed a 45-yarder which snapped a streak of 10 straight field goals made.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in 44-41 OT win at #15 Tennessee with 12 points including a 48-yard FG plus eight kickoffs, all touchbacks.
Returns have been rare but Cash Jones, Kyron Jones, Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams and Chris Cole have made special teams tackles.
After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, he's been good on 53 of his past 57 FG (3 of those misses were from 50+ yards while one was from 45 yards).
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (vs. FSU23, Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
FGA: 3 (10x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
FGM: 3 (8x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
LG: 55 (vs. 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.
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.
In 2024, San Franicsco native Beau Gardner, a graduate transfer from UCLA, became Georgia's first finalist of the Patrick Mannelly Award (nation's best long snapper). On Dec. 13, 2025, he became the school's first winner, taking home the award during a banquet in Lake Bluff, Ill., north of Chicago. The other finalists hailed from Penn State and UNC.
Snapped on 65-of-66 PAT/Field Goal attempts plus 48 Punts in 2025.
Named 1st Team Coaches All-SEC
The experienced kickoff returners include 3rd Team All-SEC junior Zachariah Branch (Career: 39-for-752 yards, 1 TD including 10 for 205 yards for UGA) and graduate Cash Jones (4-for-58 yards in 2024; None in 2025). Branch had a season-high 134 all-purpose yards in the win over No. 10 Texas.
Branch was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for his performance in the road win over No. 15 Tennessee. He had five catches for 69 yards including a 36-yard TD, caught the game-tying two-point conversion with 2:32 left in regulation, had one KOR for 28 yards and one rush for four yards.
At punt returner, Branch has done this as well during his career with the Trojans and Bulldogs (Career: 42-for-563 yards, 1 TD including 13 for 157 yards for UGA). In 2023, Branch won The Jet Award for the nation's top returner. Also, redshirt-freshman Sacovie White-Helton has five PR for 57 yards.
Against Marshall, the Bulldogs did not have any kick returns while Branch had three PR for 24 yards. KJ Bolden blocked a punt and got a two-yard return. In the 2025 SEC Championship Game, Cole Speer's blocked punt was scooped up by Justin Williams for a four-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 nine punts and eight field goals. There's three players on the current squad with a block for Georgia.
In the 2025 SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 Alabama, senior Cole Speer blocked a punt in the 1st quarter. It led to a 21-yard drive and a 7-0 lead.
In the 2025 opener against Marshall, sophomore KJ Bolden blocked a punt that led to an eventual TD after a 20-yard drive. Junior DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt that resulted in a safety in the 2023 game.
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.
Did You Know? Georgia's last blocked field goal came in 2024 by Dan Jackson against Auburn. He is now with the Detroit Lions on IR.
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.
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.
In the 41-21 road win over Mississippi State on Nov. 8th, Georgia became just the ninth FBS team to reach 900 victories.
Named for the late Dr. S. V. Sanford, former president of the University and Chancellor of the University system.
An overflow crowd of 30,000 saw the stadium's first game on October 12, 1929, when Yale University made its only trip South. Georgia won the now famous game when a young sophomore end from Macon, Vernon "Catfish" Smith, scored all 15 of the Bulldogs' points. Final score, Georgia 15, Yale 0.
Through the years, the stadium has experienced various projects including adding lights at fiel level, double-decking the stands, closing in the West End, building SkySuites on both sides, work to Reed Plaza and renovating the West End Zone.
Sanford Stadium played host to the medal round of the 1996 Olympic men's and women's soccer, watched y over 3 billion people around the world on television.
Prior to Georgia's 2019 home opener, the playing field at Sanford Stadium was formally renamed in honor of Vince Dooley, the Bulldogs' all-time winningest head coach. Dooley served as head football coach of the Bulldogs from 1964 through 1988 and director of athletics from 1979 to 2004. As head coach, he won 201 games, one national championship and six SEC championships. While Dooley was athletic director, UGA won 23 national championships and 78 SEC team championships.
The latest development was completed in 2024 that featured a new press box, additional premium seating, restrooms, concessions and expanded concourse on the 100-level south side. It raised capacity to 93,033.
HOME RECORD ON DOOLEY FIELD AT SANFORD STADIUM: 391-108-9
LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK: 33 (School Record, 10/19/2019-9/27/25)
BULLDOGS AT HOME UNDER KIRBY SMART: 56-5
CAPACITY SINCE 2024: 93,033
LARGEST HOME CROWD: 93,246 (Beat Notre Dame 23-17, 2019)
CONSECUTIVE SELLOUTS: 84 (School Record; 10/15/2012 vs. FAU-Current); The last non-sellout was versus Buffalo (9/1/2012, Attendance: 92,446)
FIRST GAME: 10/12/1929 - Ga. 15, Yale 0 (Att. 30,000+)
FIRST NIGHT GAME: 10/26/1940, Georgia 7, Kentucky 7
Georgia's Uga has established himself as the nation's most well-known mascot. The line of pure white English bulldogs, which epitomizes everything Georgia, has been owned by the Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler family of Savannah, Ga., since Uga I first graced the campus in 1956. Currently, Uga XI, aka "Boom" is in his third season with a record of 36-5.
Boom is the 11th solid white English Bulldog to serve as Georgia's mascot since the line began in 1956 courtesy of the Seiler family of Savannah. In the offseason, Boom resides with his family in Savannah.
Through the years, Uga has been defined by his spiked collar, a symbol of the position which he holds. He was given his name, an abbreviation for the university, by William Young of Columbus, a law school classmate of Seiler. Each of the Uga mascots is awarded a varsity letter in the form of a plaque, identical to those presented to all Bulldog athletes who letter in their respective sports.
As determined and published by the Pitt Press, the University of Georgia is the only major college that actually buries its mascots within the confines of the stadium. Ugas I-IX are buried in marble vaults near the main gate in the embankment of the South stands. Epitaphs to the dogs are inscribed in bronze, and before each home game, flowers are placed on their graves.
For the past 20 years, Uga's jerseys have been custom-made each season from the same material used for the players' jerseys. Old jerseys are destroyed.
Uga's on-field home is a permanent air conditioned doghouse located next to the cheerleader's platform. The custom-made doghouse is a gift from the Bahamian Bulldog Club of Nassau, Bahamas, through the courtesy of Fred Hazlewood.
Georgia has 22 big plays. Opponents have 19.
The longest each game is listed below.
G1: 3 (47-yd. TD pass Stockton-Branch);
MU: 2 (44-yd. pass, Turner-Bradshaw)
G2: None;
AP: 2 (34-yd. pass Parson-Robinson)
G3: 5 (45-yd. pass Stockton-Young);
UT: 5 (72-yd. TD pass Aguilar-Brazzell II)
G4: 4 (43-yd. rush by Bell & Bowens);
UA: 1 (27-yd. pass Simpson-Riley)
G5: 4 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Delp);
UK: 2 (38-yd. pass Boley-Law)
G6: 1 (30-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas);
AU: 1 (27-yd. rush by Arnold)
G7: 3 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Young; Stockton-Bell)
OM: 2 (75-yd. TD pass Chambliss-Stribling)
G8: 2 (42-yd. pass Stockton-Branch)
UF: 4 (40-yd. TD pass Lagway-Wilson III)
G9: 6 (64-yd. TD pass Stockton-Thomas)
MSU: 1 (57-yd. pass Taylor-Thompson)
G10: 4 (44-yd. KOR Branch)
UT: 1 (40-yd. pass Manning-Mosley V)
G11: 3 (38-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas)
CHAR: 2 (38-yd. pass Loftis-Mason)
G12: None
#23 GT: 2 (30-yd. pass King-Seither)
G13-SECCG: 1 (30-yd. INT return Everette)
#9 UA: 1 (27-yd. pass Simpson-Hill)
Georgia is -1 in Turnover Margin.
Georgia has 27 points off 10 turnovers.
Opponents have 29 points off 11 turnovers.
MU: No turnovers by either team
AP: No points off 1 TO; AP got 3 points off 2 TO
UT: 3 points off 2 TO; UT got 3 points off 2 TO
UA: No Turnovers; UA got 3 points 1 TO
UK: 7 points off 2 TO; UK got 7 points off 2 TO
@ AU: 3 points off 1 TO; AU did not force any TO
#5 OM: No TO by either team
vs. UF: No TO forced; UF got 3 points off 1 TO
@ MSU: 7 points off 1 TO; MSU no points off 1 TO
#10 UT: No points off 1 TO; TX got 7 points off 1 TO
CHAR: 7 points off 2 TO; CHAR 3 points off 1 TO
@ #23 GT: No points off 1 TO; GT 3 points off 1 TO
SECCG-#9 UA: 7 points off 1 TO; UA got none
Georgia has 9 INTs in 2025: Ellis Robinson IV-4 (AP, UK, CHAR, @GT), KJ Bolden-2 (UT, TX), Joenel Aguero-1 (UT), Daniel Okonkwo-1 (CHAR); Daylen Everette-1 (#9 UA)
Opp. have 7 INTs.
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Georgia has 3 FR in 2025; Opp. have 4 FR
#on Special Teams
Georgia has 20 sacks in 2025; Opponents have 18.
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); @ #15 UT (1): Dontrell Glover (RG);
#17 UA (1): BoHugley (RT);
UK (1): Chauncey Bowens (RB);
@AU (1): Noah Thomas (WR);
#5 OM (0): None;
UF: (0): None;
MSU (1): Xzavier McLeod (DL);
#10TX: (0): None
CHAR (3): Cash Jones (RB), Malachi Toliver (C), Chris Cole (ILB)
#23 GT: None; SECCG-#9 UA: L. Humphreys (WR), R. Dinkins (S)
Last year, there were 21 first-time starters during the season.
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.
AP: AP: Gunner Stockton, Colbie Young, KJ Bolden, Raylen Wilson
@ #15UT: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Oscar Delp
#17 UA: Zachariah Branch, Micah Morris, Jordan Hall, Gabe Harris Jr.
UK: Monroe Freeling, Lawson Luckie, Daylen Everette Quintavius Johnson
@ AU: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Colbie Young
#5 OM: Oscar Delp, London Humphreys, Daylen Everette, Quintavius Johnson
UF: Jordan Hall, Raylen Wilson, Dillon Bell, Gunner Stockton
@ MSU: CJ Allen, Daylen Everette, Zachriah Branch, Monroe Freeling
#10 UT: CJ Allen, Gabe Harris Jr., Dillon Bell, Drew Bobo
CHAR: Cash Jones, Micah Morris, KJ Bolden, Christen Miller
@ #23 GT: Quintavius Johnson, Raylen Wilson, Oscar Delp, Gunner Stockton
@ SECCG-#9 UA: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Zachariah Branch, Earnest Greene III
#5-5 (includes 2017-19, '21-'25 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); Bo Walker vs. CHAR (11/22/25); 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, 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);
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.)
2025: none
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;
"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: Thursday, January 1 - 8:00 p.m. ET
- Location: Caesars Superdome - New Orleans, La.
- 2025 Records: Georgia (12-1, 7-1 SEC), Ole Miss (11-1, 7-1 SEC)
- 2025 Rankings: Georgia #3/2/2, Ole Miss #6/6/6
- TV: ESPN (Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath, Laura Rutledge)
- 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: #SugarBowl and #CFPPlayoffs
- GameCenter: View
- History: Georgia vs. Ole Miss All-Time Series Results: UGA 34-14-1
- Last Meeting: Georgia won 43-35 in Athens, Ga., 10/18/2025
- Tickets: SeatGeek
Georgia-Ole Miss Quick Comparison
| Georgia | Ole Miss | |||
| UGA | OPP | OM | OPP | |
| SCORING | 415 | 207 | 447 | 241 |
| Points Per Game | 31.9 | 15.9 | 37.3 | 20.1 |
| FIRST DOWNS | 316 | 204 | 307 | 216 |
| RUSHING YARDAGE | 2,426 | 1,030 | 2,262 | 1,806 |
| Average Per Game | 186.6 | 79.2 | 188.5 | 150.5 |
| PASSING YARDAGE | 2,864 | 2,669 | 3,715 | 2,191 |
| Average Per Game | 220.3 | 205.3 | 309.6 | 182.6 |
| TOTAL OFFENSE | 5,290 | 3,699 | 5,977 | 3,997 |
| Average Per Game | 406.9 | 284.5 | 498.1 | 333.1 |
| KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE | 20.5 | 13.8 | 20.9 | 17.6 |
| PUNT RETURN AVERAGE | 10.5 | 3.6 | 7.4 | 4.9 |
| Average Per Punt | 45.6 | 42.6 | 45.9 | 45.0 |
| PENALTIES-YARDS | 60-571 | 75-574 | 74-699 | 71-619 |
| TIME OF POSSESSION/GAME | 33:59 | 26:01 | 29:42 | 30:18 |
Ole Miss and Georgia to Clash in College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Rebels and Bulldogs Will Square Off in 92nd Annual Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day
Southeastern Conference rivals Ole Miss and Georgia will meet in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday, January 1, 2026, in the Caesars Superdome. The sixth-seeded Rebels defeated No. 11 Tulane, 41-10, in Oxford on Saturday afternoon in a College Football Playoff First-Round Game to advance to the Playoff Quarterfinals. Georgia, which earned the No. 3 overall seed after winning the SEC Championship, had a first-round bye.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. (Central) and will be televised by ESPN.
The Sugar Bowl Committee encourages fans looking to purchase tickets to visit Ticketmaster as the official verified resale platform of the 2026 Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Also available are multiple premium seating options.
"We knew we would have a tremendous match-up no matter who won the CFP First-Round Game," said Dottie Reese, the President of the Sugar Bowl Committee. "We're confident that having two of the best teams from the SEC facing off here in the Sugar Bowl will be a memorable event for our local fans, the supporters of the schools, and college football fans across the country."
Georgia (12-1, 7-1 SEC) earned the No. 3 seed from the College Football Playoff Selection Committee following its 28-7 victory over Alabama in the SEC Championship game on Dec. 6. The Bulldogs, who will be making their 13th Sugar Bowl appearance (tied for the second-most in history), will be the 97th conference champion to play in the Sugar Bowl in its 92-year history.
Ole Miss (12-1, 7-1 SEC), which posted the program's first-ever 11-win regular season this year, will be making its 11th trip to the Sugar Bowl (fourth most all-time) and its first since the 2021 season.
"We're excited to have two great schools with amazing football traditions, outstanding fan bases, and memorable histories with the Sugar Bowl," said Jeff Hundley, the chief executive officer of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. "We can't wait for the opportunity to show the schools and their fans a wonderful time in New Orleans as we add another chapter to the organization's exceptional history in postseason college football."
The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be doubling as a College Football Playoff (CFP) game for the sixth time since the CFP was established for the 2014 regular season. It has hosted four CFP Semifinals (2014, 2017, 2020, 2023) and one CFP Quarterfinal (2024); those five CFP games have combined for over 100 million worldwide viewers on ESPN's platforms.
The winner of this year's game will advance to the CFP Semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl. The CFP National Championship will be played on Monday, January 19, in Miami.
This season marks the second year of the 12-team format for the CFP. The four highest-ranked teams, including Georgia, are seeded one through four and have received first-round byes. The other eight teams played in the CFP First Round with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus.
The Ole Miss-Georgia series dates back to 1940 with the Bulldogs holding a 35-13-1 advantage all-time. The two schools have played seven times at sites that are considered neutral (Memphis, Atlanta, Jackson), but they have never met in a bowl game.
This year's Sugar Bowl will mark just the fourth time in its history that two SEC teams have squared off in the game – the previous three also involved Ole Miss. In the 1953 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), SEC Champion Georgia Tech earned a 24-7 victory over the Rebels, who were making their first major bowl appearance since 1936. On Jan. 1, 1960, the Rebels posted a 21-0 victory over LSU to avenge a regular season loss to the Tigers in a memorable Halloween night showdown. The Miller-Digby Award winner as the Most Outstanding Player of that 1960 game was Bobby Franklin, who will be inducted posthumously into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame on Jan. 1. Then in the 1964 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Alabama took down Ole Miss in a 12-7 defensive battle despite the Crimson Tide not having its star quarterback Joe Namath who was suspended by Bear Bryant – that game is also memorable as it was played between snowbanks following the largest New Orleans snowfall since 1895.
As Georgia defeated Ole Miss, 43-35, on Oct. 18 this season, the Sugar Bowl will be a rematch of a regular season game for just the fourth time in its history. The first was the 1960 showdown between Ole Miss and LSU in which the Rebels gained revenge. The other two were battles between Florida and Florida State. In the 1994 season, the Gators and the Seminoles battled to a 31-31 tie in the regular season to set up the "Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter" at the Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2, 1995). In the 1997 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2), Florida rolled to a 57-20 win over Florida State to avenge a 24-21 regular season loss and earn the national championship.
This year's Sugar Bowl will be the 35th edition of the game featuring 10-win teams and just the fifth involving a pair of 12-win teams. Of the 184 teams that have come to the Sugar Bowl, there have only been 18 12-win teams (including this year's pair).
This will be the 64th bowl appearance for Georgia; it has an all-time bowl mark of 38-22-3. Nine of those bowl appearances have come under the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart, who has posted a 7-2 bowl record in his 10 years at the helm of the Bulldogs. Ole Miss will be making its 42nd bowl appearance with an all-time mark of 25-15.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 110 Hall of Fame players, 55 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 91-year history. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.
Sweet Appearances
Georgia is making its 13th Sugar Bowl appearance with a record of 5-7. Only Alabama (17) has more Sugar Bowl appearances (LSU also has 13). Meanwhile, Ole Miss is making its 11th trip to the Sugar Bowl, a total that ranks fourth all-time. The Rebels have an all-time mark of 6-4 in the game.
Top Ten
This year's game marks the 63rd time that a pair of top 10 teams (based on AP Poll) have matched up in the Sugar Bowl. The first time was in the 1936 contest when No. 4 TCU topped No. 1 LSU, 3-2. The most recent time was last year's Allstate Sugar Bowl when No. 3 Notre Dame topped No. 2 Georgia, 23-10.
Champions
Georgia is the 97th conference champion to play in the Sugar Bowl in its 92-year history.
Double Digit Wins
This year's Sugar Bowl will be the 37th edition of the game featuring 10-win teams and just the 13th involving a pair of 11-win teams. Of the 184 teams that have come to the Sugar Bowl, there have only been 48 12-win teams (including this year's pair). Georgia recorded its 30th 10-win season in 2025 and Ole Miss wrapped up the 11th 10-win season in its history this season. This year was the first year in history that the Rebels posted 11 regular season victories. A Sugar Bowl victory would give Ole Miss its first 12-win season in its 120-year history.
Wins in the Last Four Years
Georgia has more wins than any other school since 2022 as it has posted a 51-5 (.911) record in the last four years. Ole Miss ranks ninth in the country in that same time frame with a 40-11 (.784) record.
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| Wins by FBS Teams (2023-26) | ||
| Rank | Team | Wins |
| 1. | Georgia | 51 (51-5) |
| 2. | Ohio State | 48 (48-7) |
| 3. | Oregon | 46 (46-7) – prior to 12/20 game |
| 4. | Michigan | 45 (45-9) |
| 5. | Notre Dame | 43 (43-11) |
| 5. | Alabama | 43 (43-11) |
| 5. | Tulane | 43 (43-13) |
| 7. | Texas | 42 (42-13) |
| 9. | Ole Miss | 41 (41-11) |
| 10. | Penn State | 40 (40-14) |
| 10. | Washington | 40 (40-14) |
| 10. | James Madison | 40 (40-10) – prior to 12/20 game |
SEC Showdown
This year's Sugar Bowl will mark just the fourth time in its history that two SEC teams have squared off in the game – the previous three also involved Ole Miss. In the 1953 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), SEC Champion Georgia Tech rolled to a 24-7 victory over the Rebels, who were making their first major bowl appearance since 1936. On Jan. 1, 1960, the Rebels posted a 21-0 victory over LSU to avenge a regular season loss to the Tigers in a memorable Halloween night showdown. The Miller-Digby Award winner as the Most Outstanding Player of that 1960 game was Bobby Franklin, who will be inducted posthumously into the Sugar Bowl Hall of Fame on Jan. 1. Then in the 1964 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1), Alabama took down Ole Miss in a 12-7 defensive battle despite the Crimson Tide not having its star quarterback Joe Namath who was suspended by Bear Bryant – that game is also memorable as it was played between snowbanks following the largest New Orleans snowfall since 1895.
Rematch
As Georgia defeated Ole Miss, 43-35, on Oct. 18 this season, the Sugar Bowl will be a rematch of a regular season game for just the fourth time in its history. The first was the 1960 showdown between Ole Miss and LSU in which the Rebels gained revenge after a memorable loss on Halloween night in Baton Rouge. The other two were battles between Florida and Florida State. In the 1994 season, the Gators and the Seminoles battled to the 31-31 tie in the regular season to set up the "Fifth Quarter in the French Quarter" at the Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2, 1995). In the 1997 Sugar Bowl (Jan. 2), Florida rolled to a 57-20 win over Florida State to avenge a 24-21 regular season loss and to earn the national championship.
The Coaches
Ole Miss' Pete Golding will be the 107th head coach to lead his team into the Sugar Bowl. Kirby Smart, meanwhile, will be making his fourth appearance as a head coach in the game, tied for the seventh most appearances in Sugar Bowl history.
Bowling
Georgia will be making its 64th overall bowl appearance with an all-time record of 38-22-3. Nine of those bowl appearances have come under the direction of head coach Kirby Smart, who has posted a 7-2 bowl record in his 10 years at the helm of the Bulldogs. Ole Miss will be making its 42nd bowl appearance with an all-time mark of 25-15.
Random Stat History
In the first 91 editions of the Sugar Bowl, the higher-ranked team has posted a 53-37-1 record – however, over the past 46 years (since 1980), the lower-ranked teams have kept things nearly even at 22-23-1. This year's game will be the 13th Sugar Bowl to be played on a Thursday. For what it's worth, both Georgia and Ole Miss are 1-1 in Thursday Sugar Bowls.
Dominating Dawgs
Georgia has a current winning streak over every SEC team that equals 78 games. The streaks range from one game up to 16 straight.
Georgia's 2025 Senior Class is 51-5 overall. They have won a national title (2022) and three SEC crowns (2022, '24 & '25) in their career. They are the third straight class to register 50 wins, joining the 2023 group (50-4) and last year's record-setting class (53-5).
Simply The Best (Since 2021)
Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 65-6. This run includes back-to-back CFP national titles (2021-22) and three SEC titles (2022, 2024-25). The next best is Ohio State at 59-9.
Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games every season since 2021.
Fast Facts on the SEC Champion Bulldogs
The Bulldogs (12-1, 7-1 SEC) are the No. 3 seed in the CFP and return to the Sugar Bowl as the SEC champions for the second consecutive year. This will be Georgia's 13th all-time appearance in the Sugar Bowl where it is 5-7.
Georgia enters the CFP on a nine-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are in their fifth CFP, all under Kirby Smart, with a 5-2 mark including winning back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022.
In its last four games including three of those against top 25 opponents, the Bulldog defense has allowed just two TDs, five field goals and forced 39 punts with five INTs and nine sacks.
Georgia owns the nation's longest active bowl streak now at 29 seasons. Since 2019, the Bulldogs are 7-1 in their past eight bowl/CFP matchups after a CFP quarterfinal loss to #5 Notre Dame in the 2025 Sugar Bowl. Georgia has made 63 appearances in a bowl/CFP game with a 38-22-3 mark. The appearances and wins rank second in FBS.
The Bulldogs won their 16th SEC title on Dec. 6 in Atlanta with a 28-7 rout of No. 9 Alabama. This is the first time Georgia has won two straight SEC titles since it claimed three in a row from 1980-82.
In rematches during a season under Smart, the Bulldogs are 4-0 (2017 AU regular season loss at AU/SEC CG win, 2021 UA SEC CG loss/CFP National Title win, 2024 Texas regular season win in Austin/SEC CG win, 2025 UA loss in Athens/SEC CG win).
On Oct. 18, 2025, No. 9 Georgia defeated No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 35-13-1 and have never played twice in the same season.
Georgia leads the Tulane series 14-10-1, but the programs haven't met since 1985 when the Bulldogs won 58-3 in Athens. They have faced each other 13 times in New Orleans with Georgia going 6-7, the last time in 1972, a 24-13 victory by the Green Wave. Tulane was one of the charter members of the SEC until leaving in 1965, and the Bulldogs went 9-4 against the Green Wave in SEC matchups.
"Hard to Kill"
Georgia went 7-1 in the SEC gauntlet this year, trailing early and/or late in seven of those contests. The Bulldogs rallied to beat No. 15 Tennessee and Auburn on the road for their ninth straight victory in those series. They outlasted No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 in Athens and never had to punt. Georgia won its fifth straight over Florida in Jacksonville. Georgia erased an early 7-0 deficit at MSU with 38 unanswered points and eventually recorded a 41-21 decision for the program's 900th all-time win. Georgia used a 21-point fourth quarter to defeat No. 10 Texas 35-10 to close out the SEC regular season.
Georgia blanked then No. 17 UA and AU in the second half while Kentucky's lone second half score came on a 23-yard drive with 1:51 left in the contest and the Bulldogs up 35-7. Trailing 35-26, Georgia outscored No. 5 OM 17-0 in the 4th quarter in that win. Against UF, Georgia fell behind 20-17 early in the 4th quarter, took the lead for good with 4:36 left and posted a pair of 4th-Down stops including one in the Red Zone as UF came in 22-for-23 there.
The only league contest in the regular season where Georgia led wire-to-wire was a 35-14 home win over UK while the only comeback that fell short came to then No. 17 UA 24-21 in Athens.
Georgia is 40-3 in its last 43 SEC regular season games with two losses to UA and one to Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs dominated No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game becoming the first team to shutout their opponent for the first three quarters of the title game and eventually won 28-7. UA was held to its second lowest rushing total in school history, finishing with minus three yards.
Playing with FPE (Fire, Passion, Energy)
One of Georgia's main themes in 2025 is to play with "FPE."
Fifty-four percent of Georgia's roster consists of players in their first or second season here.
Georgia's scoring defense this year has allowed 15.9 ppg and posted 24 scoreless quarters.
Junior ILB CJ Allen, a first team All-American and All-SEC selection, ranks third in the SEC in average tackles per game at 7.1. He was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award. He is a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Redshirt junior QB Gunner Stockton, a 3rd team All-SEC selection, is a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Manning Award. He finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Senior All-American Brett Thorson earned the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter. Senior All-American Beau Gardner won the Patrick Mannelly Award as the nation's best snapper. Junior 2nd team All-SEC PK Peyton Woodring has been a three-time semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
Due to injuries, Georgia started six different offensive line units in the first six games and eight total.
Bulldogs Scoring with Stockton's Arm and Legs
Redshirt junior Gunner Stockton is a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga.
12-2 Career Record as a starter, 3rd Team Coaches All-SEC selection and MVP of 2025 SEC Championship Game (20-for-26, 156 yards, 3 TDs).
Finalist for Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Semifinalist for Maxwell, Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp Player of the Year Awards.
5-1 against ranked teams in 2025 including a 90.6 Completion Percentage in the 4th quarter of those games (29-for-32, 319 yards, 6 TDs, 0 INT)
On pace to be only the second QB in school history to post a Completion Percentage above 70% for a Season (70.7); Carson Beck, record 72.4 in '23.
Accounted for 5 TDs in 35-10 win over No. 10 Texas, tying his career-high with four passing and one rushing, finishing 24-for-29 for 228 passing yards
Directed three 4th quarter comebacks in 2025 including over #5 Ole Miss, #15 Tennessee in Knoxville and versus Florida in Jacksonville.
Swept national weekly QB honors after Georgia's win over No. 5 Ole Miss (26-of-31, 289 yards, 4 TDs, 59 rushing yards including 22-yard TD).
Led Georgia to scoring drives on each of its first 8 drives in win over #5 Ole Miss, the first team to do that against an AP Top-10 team since 2016.
Directed 2nd half comeback against #5 Rebels, going 12-for-12, 135 yards, 3 TDs including erasing a 35-26 deficit in the 4th quarter.
According to ESPN Research, Stockton is the first QB to go 12-for-12 or better in a half against an AP top-five opponent since California's Aaron Rodgers did it versus then-No. 1 USC in 2004.
Won first SEC road start at No. 15 Tennessee in front of a crowd of 101,915.
Named Davey O'Brien National QB of the Week after 44-41 overtime win over #15 UT. Georgia trailed five times, including 21-7 after the 1st quarter, 38-30 with 6:40 left in regulation, and in OT.
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...First Georgia player to have two passing TDs and two rushing scores in a season opener in the past 80 years per ESPN Stats.
Stockton's Career Highs
| Passing Yards | 304 @ #15 UT, '25 |
| Completions | 26 (2x, last #5 OM'25 |
| Attempts | 37 @ AU, '25 |
| TD Passes | 4 (#5 OM & #10TX '25) |
| Passing Yards | 304 @ #15 UT '25 |
| Longest Pass Play | 67 vs. #5 ND, '25 |
| Longest TD Pass | 64 @ MSU '25 |
| Long Rush | 73 vs. MU '25 |
| Interceptions | 1 (7x, last @ GT '25) |
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 | 13/13 | 251 | 355 | 70.7 | 2,691 | 5 | 23 | 152.9 | 64 MSU (TD) |
| Total | 22/14 | 308 | 438 | 70.3 | 3,279 | 7 | 26 | 153.3 | 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.) (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 |
| #9 UA{SECCG} (W) | 20 | 26 | 76.9 | 156 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 165.4 | 19 |
| Career Total | 308 | 438 | 70.3 | 3,279 | 7 | 26 | 16 | 153.3 | 67 |
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 |
| Total | 7/0 | 16 | 27 | 59.3 | 161 | 2 | 1 | 106.8 | 27 UK |
Puglisi made his debut in a 45-7 win over Marshall, directing four possessions 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...Tried Hail Mary on final play of first half at No. 15 UT and resulted in INT...Played most of the second half in the win over Charlotte (7-for-11, 49 yards).
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 |
| @ #15 UT | 12 (4R, 8P) | 7 (1R, 6P) | #6 Georgia 44-41 (OT) |
| #17 UA | 10 (7R, 3P) | 8 (0R, 8P) | #17 UA 24-21 |
| UK | 11 (4R, 7P) | 4 (0R, 4P) | #12 Georgia 35-14 |
| @ AU | 5 (1R, 4P) | 5 (4R, 1P) | #10 Georgia 20-10 |
| #5 OM | 9 (4R, 5P) | 5 (2R, 3P) | #9 Georgia 43-35 |
| vs. UF | 8 (2R, 6P) | 5 (2R, 3P) | #5 Georgia 24-20 |
| @ MSU | 9 (4R, 5P) | 5 (3R, 2P) | #5 Georgia 41-21 |
| #10 Texas | 7 (2R, 5P) | 6 (1R, 5P) | #5 Georgia 35-10 |
| Charlotte | 6 (4R, 2P) | 3 (1R, 2P) | #4 Georgia 35-3 |
| @ #23 GT | 5 (3R, 2P) | 6 (2R, 4P) | #4 Georgia 16-9 |
| #9 UA(SECCG) | 6 (3R, 3P) | 4 (0R, 4P) | #3 Georgia 28-7 |
Longest Rush by Georgia: 59-yd TD by Nate Frazier (@ MSU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 27-yd by Star Thomas (#15UT), Jackson Arnold (AU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 64-yd TD (Stockton to Thomas @ MSU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 75-yd TD (Chambliss to Stribling, #5 OM)
Frazier & Bowens Headline Ground Attack
Georgia is averaging 186.6 rushing yards per game with 29 TDs.
Sophomore Nate Frazier (team-high 861 yards, 6 TDs), a 3rd Coaches All- SEC selection, has started nine games. He had a team-best 72 rushing yards plus a three-yard TD catch in the win over No. 5 OM. He went for a career-high 181 yards on just 12 carries (15.1 avg.) in a road win over MSU. It was the most yards by a Bulldog since 2018 when D'Andre Swift had 186 in a win at Auburn. Frazier's big day included a career-best 59-yard TD run. He followed that up with a team-best 72 yards against No. 10 Texas. He went for 108 yards in a win versus #23 Tech.
Chauncey Bowens (516 yards, 6 TDs), who earned Coaches Freshman All- SEC honors, made his first career start in the win over UK and provided 70 yards on a career-high 15 carries. Against No. 17 UA, he posted a career-best 119 yards on 12 carries (9.9 average). He had a 36-yard scamper for the go-ahead score in the 4th quarter in the win over UF. He missed the final two games of the regular season and saw limited action in the SECCG.
Senior Cash Jones, redshirt senior Josh McCray, sophomore Dwight Phillips Jr., and freshman Bo Walker provide various looks too. With Bowens out versus #23 Tech, McCray saw extensive action. He had 13 carries for 43 yards plus two catches for nine yards.
The Bulldogs had 55 rushes for 198 yard in the win at No. 15 UT. Frazier had a team-long 21-yard burst on the first play in overtime to set up the game-winning score by McCray who notched a pair of scores in the triumph.
Jones can break tackles, is a solid blocker and wideout. He had a 16-yard TD catch versus UK and recovered an onside kick versus No. 10 Texas.
Branch Setting the Tone for the Wideouts
The Bulldogs are averaging 220.3 receiving yards a game with 24 TDs.
Junior Zachariah Branch (73-for-744 yards, 5 TDs), the SEC leader in receptions who made 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC, ranks second in school history for most catches in a season behind Brice Hunter (76 in 1993).
With senior Colbie Young (23-for-336 yards, 1 TD) sidelined with a leg injury (happened in the win over No. 5 OM), Branch and seniors Noah Thomas (16- for-254 yards, 4 TDs), Dillon Bell (27-for-279 yards, 2 TDs) and junior London Humphreys (18-for-276 yards, 3 TDs) are the top targets.
Thomas has the longest catch of the season, a 64-yard TD against MSU. He got his first score as a Bulldog on a 22-yarder against UF for a 17-10 lead. With two TD catches against No. 10 Texas, he has four in the past four games.
Branch posted a career high 10 receptions for 112 yards in the neutral site victory over UF. He had a team-high eight catches for 71 yards in the win over No. 5 OM. Branch had five catches for 69 yards in the win at No. 15 UT, including a 36-yard TD and the game-tying 2-point conversion with 2:32 left.
Humphreys had THE catch of the season. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 UT, it was 4th-and-6. He hauled in a 28-yard touchdown strike from Gunner Stockton.
For Whom the Bell Totes
Senior Dillon Bell has shown he can catch it, run it and even throw it.
As a wideout this year, he has 27 catches for 279 yards and two TDs. In the win over No. 5 OM, he had two receptions for 57 yards. Bell has 11 career TD receptions. He had four catches for 43 yards and a TD in the win over UF.
Bell has flashed in the running game too with a 43-yard dash on a reverse against No. 17 UA. He had two scores in the win against UK. Against No. 5 OM, he had two rushes for 19 yards. For the year, he has 109 yards on 17 carries. Bell has five career rushing TDs in 51 attempts.
In the 2025 SEC Championship Game rout of No. 9 UA, he accounted for 69 yards (24 rushing, 45 receiving) and one TD.
In 2023, he threw an 18-yard TD in a road win over Tennessee.
Ready or Not, It's Go Time
Due to injuries, Georgia used a different starting OL unit in its first six games, then had the same unit for the next four contests before resting a pair (All-America C-Drew Bobo, RT-Earnest Greene III) in the win over Charlotte. Bobo left the game versus No. 23 Ga. Tech with a leg injury. Redshirt freshman C Malachi Toliver, who started versus Charlotte filled in for Bobo against Tech and started against No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game.
Redshirt senior Micah Morris (LG) is the only linemen to start every game.
The Bulldogs have employed three different starting RGs, two different LTs, two different Cs and four different RTs.
Junior LT Monroe Freeling, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC selection, had the longest the starting streak at 10 games, but he left the UK game in the first quarter with a leg injury. He didn't start at AU but did earn SEC OL of the Week honors and then again versus #10 Texas.
Bobo, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick, was named Outland Trophy National Player of the Week in leading the line in the road win over No. 15 UT.
Freshman Juan Gaston Jr. has started at RG and RT. Dontrell Glover, who earned Coaches Freshman All-SEC honors, has started the last nine games at RG. Bobo started the first 10 games.
Greene III, who has 31 career starts, has been hampered with a back issue during his career. He returned to his starting role in the win over No. 5 OM.
RS-freshmen Bo Hughley saw action at RT in the win at No. 15 UT, made his first career start there against No. 17 UA plus started at LT against AU.
The Bulldogs did not allow a sack in their first two games before the Vols collected four. Still, when the UT game was on the line, the offensive line came through. In overtime, it was three rushing plays for 25 yards that rallied the No. 6 Bulldogs to victory. Also of note, when Georgia trailed No. 15 UT 21-17 to start the 3rd quarter, the Bulldogs leaned on their running game, going 75 yards for a TD on 14 plays (13 rushes) to take their first lead.
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 in the Game Plan
Currently, six former Bulldog tight ends are in the NFL, most notably Brock Bowers (Las Vegas). The Bulldogs aim to continue that trend.
Junior Lawson Luckie (14 rec., 138 yards, 4 TDs) and senior Oscar Delp (19 rec., 245 yards, 1 TD) are playing the lead roles. Redshirt freshmen Jaden Reddell (1 rec., 9 yards) has appeared in every game this year while freshman Elyiss Williams (7 rec., 117 yards, 1 TD) has played in 12 games.
Against No. 5 OM, Luckie became the first Bulldog with three TD catches in a game since 2008 (Mohamed Massaquoi vs. Ga. Tech).
Williams' lone catch in the win at MSU was a big one, covering 24 yards on a 3rd-and-11 play. He had one catch for 14 yards in the win over UF.
Highly-touted freshmen Ethan Barbour went down with a leg injury in game two (Austin Peay) and has been out since September. He joined Delp in the starting lineup in the opener while Williams notched a 23-yard TD on his first career catch. Delp also did that in 2022 against South Carolina.
In the road win over No. 15 UT, Luckie had three catches for 25 yards while Delp had one for 18 yards. Georgia posted a season-high 502 yards of offense.
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.
Defense Steadily Improving
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.
Opponents have scored 207 points this year (15.9 ppg/11th nationally).
In 2025, opponents have scored 65 points in the 1st quarter (21 of those at #15 UT) and 47 in the 2nd quarter. However, in the 2nd half, the Bulldogs have allowed a total of 92 points (plus 3 points in OT).
In the SEC Championship Game, No. 9 UA was shut out for the first three quarters and finished with a season-low 7 points, marking just the third time it has been held to single digits since 2011. UA came in averaging 33.3 points.
No. 23 Ga. Tech averaged 35.3 points and were held to three field goals.
No. 10 Texas averaged 29.6 points and managed just 10 points.
No. 5 OM scored 14 in the 3rd quarter and then were shut out in the 4th quarter.
Shut out Auburn in the 2nd half after trailing 10-3 at the half in a 20-10 win.
Blanked No. 17 UA in the 2nd half after it scored 24 points in the first half.
UK had seven points in the 1st half, and it's final TD came courtesy of a 23-yard drive following a turnover with 1:51 left and Georgia up 35-7.
Georgia had a 38-7 lead at MSU before allowing 14 points in the 2nd half.
Stopping the Run Starts Up Front
Georgia ranks fourth nationally, allowing only 79.2 rushing yards a game.
In the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA, the Bulldogs limited the Crimson Tide to minus three yards rushing, their second lowest total ever.
Against No. 10 Texas, UT managed only 23 yards on 17 attempts. UT entered the game averaging 135.3 yards on the ground. Most recently versus No. 23 Ga. Tech who averaged 215 rushing yards, it finished with 69 on 23 attempts.
No. 15 Tennessee averaged 252.5 rushing yards and 605 yards of total offense/ game and Georgia limited them to 125 rushing yards (34 att.) and 496 yards of total offense. Also of note, No. 5 OM had just 88 rushing yards.
No. 17 UA was held to 117 yards (38 att.) for a 3.1 average while UK averaged 188 yards and finished with only 45 yards on 22 attempts.
Redshirt junior Christen Miller and juniors Jordan Hall and Gabe Harris Jr., are the veterans up front with redshirt sophomore Xzavier McLeod now stepping in for the injured Hall the past six games. McLeod made his first career start at MSU and tallied three tackles.
Miller had two tackles and three QB pressures versus No. 15 UT and five tackles, a half sack and three QB pressuers against MSU.
Harris Jr., had a career-high five stops at AU and made four in the win at MSU.
Redshirt freshmen Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Nnamdi Ogboko, redshirt sophomore Josh Horton (Miami) and freshmen Elijah Griffin and JJ Hanne are in the rotation. Griffin, who earned Coaches Freshman All-SEC honors, got his first career sack against Charlotte.
Jonah-Ajonye posted a career-high three stops versus Austin Peay. Griffin had two tackles each against UK and AU while Horton, who has shown an ability to win one-on-one battles, made three tackles against No. 17 UA. Ogboko got his first career sack versus UK.
Steady Linebacking Trio Sees Next Wave Emerging
Juniors CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson are the tackle leaders with sophomore Quintavius Johnson rounding out the trio that started the first 10 games until Allen missed the Charlotte contest due to injury. They combined for 2.5 of the team's three sacks in the road win over MSU while Johnson and freshman Zayden Walker each had a sack against No. 10 Texas. Allen returned against No. 23 Ga. Tech following knee surgery as Smart said "he's wired different."
The All-America Allen (85 tackles, 8 TFL, 3.5 Sacks) ranks third in the SEC averaging 7.3 tackles per game. He had a career-high 13 stops in the win over UF. He notched his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery in the win over UK and then forced a key fumble at the goal line at AU. He made a team-high 10 tackles, a sack, two TFL at AU and followed that with 10 stops versus No. 5 OM. He left the game versus No. 10 Texas in the first half due to a leg injury.
Allen was a finalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Butkus Award plus a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
Wilson (70 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2.5 Sacks) collected a career-best nine stops and three QB pressures in the road win over No. 15 UT and made six tackles plus 1.5 sacks and four QB pressures in the road victory over MSU.
Johnson made a career-best six tackles in the win over No. 23 Tech. He had five stops in the win over UK, forced a fumble at MSU and finished with five stops.
Sophomore Chris Cole, who has a team-high 4.5 sacks, saw extensive playing time against No. 10 Texas when Allen left in the first half with an injury. Cole set a career-high with a team-best seven stops in the win over the Longhorns. He made his first start against Charlotte and tallied four stops and a sack. He made six tackles with one sack and two QB pressures against No. 15 Tennessee.
Sophomore Justin Williams posted a career-high six stops versus UK, collected five tackles at MSU and made four stops against No. 10 Texas. He had a team best five tackles against Charlotte. he recovered a blocked punt against No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game.
Freshman Zayden Walker has come on of late. He made an impact at MSU, tallying a career-high three stops. Then, he picked up his first career sack in the win over No. 10 Texas plus forced a fumble. Walker had another sack in the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA.
A Passing Grade
Georgia's opponents are averaging 205.3 passing yards per game and have thrown for 12 TDs this season.
The Bulldog defense has nine interceptions and generated 20 sacks.
After No. 17 UA posted a 68% conversion rate (13-of-19) on 3rd Down in the regular season contest, Georgia limited UA to 3-of-14 conversions in the SEC title game as it finished 19-for-39 in the air.
In Atlanta, No. 23 Ga. Tech finished with 181 passing yards and no TDs with just two completions over 25 yards. Redshirt freshman Ellis Robinson IV notched his team-best fourth INT, which tied him for the SEC lead with Bray Hubbard (UA) and Ty Bryant (UK).
Georgia was tested often in SEC play. Against No. 10 Texas, the Longhorns had 251 yards on 43 attempts but only one catch was more than 25 yards. The Bulldogs had three sacks against UT who finished 2-for-12 on 3rd Downs and 2-for-3 on 4th Downs.
Georgia limited MSU to 173 passing yards and no TD catches. MSU was averaging 250.6 passing yards and posted just two explosive plays (20+ yards) with only one of those via the pass and that was late in the 4th quarter.
The top passing attack came at No. 15 Tennessee as the Vols were averaging 352 yards, and Joey Aguilar tallied 371 yards in a shootout. Coming in to that game, the Bulldogs had not allowed a passing TD, and the Vols collected four including three big ones that covered 32, 56 and 72 yards.
Junior Joenel Aguero, who made a career-best seven tackles versus the Vols, and sophomore KJ Bolden, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC selection, came up with interceptions in the road win. This duo was tested in the road win over MSU. Bolden made a career-high 10 stops and recovered a fumble while Aguero tied his career high with seven tackles.
Kentucky completed 25-of-41 passes for 225 yards and two scores. Robinson IV had an INT plus a career-high four tackles. Robinson had his team-high fourth INT in the win over No. 23 Tech.
In Georgia's win at Auburn, the Tigers were 19-for-31 for 137 yards and one sack. Their longest completions was 18 yards. No. 5 Ole Miss threw for 263 yards and one TD (a 75-yard strike to start the 2nd half for a 28-20 lead).
Senior Daylen Everette, the MVP of the 2024 SEC Championship Game, entered 2025 with a team-best 28 consecutive starts but that was snapped when he missed the opener due to an injury and returned for week two. He made six stops against No. 17 UA and five against AU to lead the secondary. Everette was a 3rd Team Coaches All-SEC selection this season.
Sophomore Kyron Jones, senior JaCorey Thomas, redshirt freshman Demello Jones and true freshman Rasean Dinkins have seen the most action. In fact, Dinkins made his first start in the SEC Championship Game.
Kyron Jones, who started the first six games and posted a career-high 10 stops at UT, injured his foot the week of the Ole Miss game and has been out. Thomas has started the past seven contests. He had one of his best games, tallying a career-high six tackles and his first career sack in the win over #9 UA.
Against UF, Zion Branch made six stops while Thomas had five. After missing the MSU game, Demello Jones returned and made four stops and a PBU versus No. 10 Texas.
We're Going For It!
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (94-for-146) with 17 TDs.
In 2025, Georgia leads the nation in 4th Down Conversions at 76% (13- for-17) with 3 TDs. One impressive conversion came against #5 Texas with Georgia leading 14-10 late in the 3rd quarter on a 4th-and-1 at the UGA 36. Gunner Stockton completed a 10-yard pass to Chauncey Bowens. The Bulldogs would later score on the drive and go on to win 35-10.
The Bulldogs were 2-for-3 on 4th Down in the win at Auburn including a 4th-and-1 at the AU 37 that helped set up the go-ahead 53-yard field goal in the 3rd quarter. Also, there was a 4th-and-3 at the AU 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 against No. 15 Tennesseee in Knoxville, Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the UT 28 for a TD (Stockton pass-to-Humphreys). Also that day, Georgia trailed 21-7 in the 1st quarter and converted a 4th-and-3 at the UGA 48.
Did You Know? 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.
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 Wins Ray Guy Award
With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, All-America senior punter Brett Thorson and the Bulldogs rank 8th nationally in Net Punting at 43.1. On Dec. 12, Thorson was named the winner of the Ray Guy Award, which goes to the nation's top punter. He was a finalist in 2024.
Boomed a season-long 66-yarder versus Florida in Jacksonville and 60-yarders versus UK, at AU, versus Charlotte and at No. 23 Tech to give him eight of those in his career. Four times in his career, Georgia hasn't had to punt in a game, the most recent time was in the win over No 5. Ole Miss this season.
Thorson's career average of 45.5 (6,921/152) is very close to the school record held by Jake Camarda (45.8 from 2018-21). Also, Camarda holds the school record for Career Net Average at 41.5, and Thorson could own that mark as he currently owns a 42.8 average.
In the SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 UA, Thorson was called on a career-high seven times and delivered a 45.3 average with a long of 59, five placed five inside the 20 and only one return for minus four yards.
Against No. 23 Tech in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Thorson posted a 51.2 average on four punts with a long of 61, no returns and one touchback.
In his first two games in 2025, Thorson was named to the "Ray's 8," the weekly Ray Guy Award group. At #15 Tennessee, he had three punts for a 47.7 average including a long of 52 with two placed inside the 20 and no return yards.
In the 2024 SEC Championship Game, Thorson's season ended due to a knee injury during a return after a punt. He missed the 2025 opener while still recovering with redshirt freshman Drew Miller serving as the punter. Thorson returned to his starting role in week two versus Austin Peay.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Thorson was a 2024 finalist for the Ray Guy Award (47.6 avg. on 42 punts, the second best mark in school history).
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 (14 games) and 36 punts in 2022 (15 games), the two lowest totals dating to at least 1948.
Along with Cole Speer, gunners in 2025 have included KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Jeremy Bell and Talyn Taylor.
Single Game Career Highs For Thorson
Punts: 7 (#9 UA @ 25SECCG)
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
Geaux Dawgs
Junior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., is a three-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist. This year, he was a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick and twice named SEC Specialist of the Week.
Woodring's Career FG% of 89.06% (57-of-64) is on track for a school record as the current mark belongs to Rodrigo Blankenship who posted an 82.47% from 2016-19, making 80-of-97 attempts. Blankenship holds the Georgia and SEC record for Career PATs, going 200-for-200. Woodring ranks second in school history as he's 169-for-169 in PATs.
In 2025, he has a team-high 95 points (15-16 on FGs, 50-for-50 on PATs, 77 Kickoffs, 56 Touchbacks, 4 Out of Bounds).
Scored 10 points (3 FGs, 1 PAT) in 16-9 win over No. 23 Ga. Tech
Successful onside kick against No. 10 Texas when No. 5 Georgia led 21-10 in the 4th quarter on its way to a 35-10 victory, first one recovered since 2013.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after Georgia's 41-21 rout of MSU in Starkville, scoring 11 points including a 46- and 49-yard field goals.
Scored 13 points in 43-35 win over #5 OM, hit a 51-yard FG on opening drive, a 35-yarder to end the first half to cut the deficit to one and nailed a 42-yarder to extend lead to eight with 2:06 left to play.
Tallied eight points and hit a season-long 53-yard FG in the 20-10 win at AU. Missed a 45-yarder which snapped a streak of 10 straight field goals made.
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in 44-41 OT win at #15 Tennessee with 12 points including a 48-yard FG plus eight kickoffs, all touchbacks.
Returns have been rare but Cash Jones, Kyron Jones, Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams and Chris Cole have made special teams tackles.
Did You Know?
After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, he's been good on 53 of his past 57 FG (3 of those misses were from 50+ yards while one was from 45 yards).
Single Game Career Highs For Woodring
Points: 15 (UK23)
PATs: 9 (vs. FSU23, Orange Bowl, Miami Gardens, Fla.)
FGA: 3 (10x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
FGM: 3 (8x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
LG: 55 (vs. 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.
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.
Snap Judgment: Gardner Named Nation's Top Snapper
In 2024, San Franicsco native Beau Gardner, a graduate transfer from UCLA, became Georgia's first finalist of the Patrick Mannelly Award (nation's best long snapper). On Dec. 13, 2025, he became the school's first winner, taking home the award during a banquet in Lake Bluff, Ill., north of Chicago. The other finalists hailed from Penn State and UNC.
Snapped on 65-of-66 PAT/Field Goal attempts plus 48 Punts in 2025.
Named 1st Team Coaches All-SEC
Back Deep for the Bulldogs
The experienced kickoff returners include 3rd Team All-SEC junior Zachariah Branch (Career: 39-for-752 yards, 1 TD including 10 for 205 yards for UGA) and graduate Cash Jones (4-for-58 yards in 2024; None in 2025). Branch had a season-high 134 all-purpose yards in the win over No. 10 Texas.
Branch was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll for his performance in the road win over No. 15 Tennessee. He had five catches for 69 yards including a 36-yard TD, caught the game-tying two-point conversion with 2:32 left in regulation, had one KOR for 28 yards and one rush for four yards.
At punt returner, Branch has done this as well during his career with the Trojans and Bulldogs (Career: 42-for-563 yards, 1 TD including 13 for 157 yards for UGA). In 2023, Branch won The Jet Award for the nation's top returner. Also, redshirt-freshman Sacovie White-Helton has five PR for 57 yards.
Against Marshall, the Bulldogs did not have any kick returns while Branch had three PR for 24 yards. KJ Bolden blocked a punt and got a two-yard return. In the 2025 SEC Championship Game, Cole Speer's blocked punt was scooped up by Justin Williams for a four-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 nine punts and eight field goals. There's three players on the current squad with a block for Georgia.
In the 2025 SEC Championship Game win over No. 9 Alabama, senior Cole Speer blocked a punt in the 1st quarter. It led to a 21-yard drive and a 7-0 lead.
In the 2025 opener against Marshall, sophomore KJ Bolden blocked a punt that led to an eventual TD after a 20-yard drive. Junior DB Joenel Aguero blocked a Florida punt that resulted in a safety in the 2023 game.
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.
Did You Know? Georgia's last blocked field goal came in 2024 by Dan Jackson against Auburn. He is now with the Detroit Lions on IR.
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.
Georgia Joins The 900-Win Club
In the 41-21 road win over Mississippi State on Nov. 8th, Georgia became just the ninth FBS team to reach 900 victories.
| Team | Record | Years |
| Michigan | 1,021-361-36 | 146 |
| Ohio State | 990-336-53 | 136 |
| Alabama | 984-344-43 | 131 |
| Notre Dame | 972-341-42 | 136 |
| Texas | 970-398-33 | 133 |
| Oklahoma | 960-350-53 | 131 |
| Penn State | 949-418-41 | 139 |
| Nebraska | 931-435-40 | 136 |
| GEORGIA | 904-433-54 | 133 |
Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium Quick Facts
Named for the late Dr. S. V. Sanford, former president of the University and Chancellor of the University system.
An overflow crowd of 30,000 saw the stadium's first game on October 12, 1929, when Yale University made its only trip South. Georgia won the now famous game when a young sophomore end from Macon, Vernon "Catfish" Smith, scored all 15 of the Bulldogs' points. Final score, Georgia 15, Yale 0.
Through the years, the stadium has experienced various projects including adding lights at fiel level, double-decking the stands, closing in the West End, building SkySuites on both sides, work to Reed Plaza and renovating the West End Zone.
Sanford Stadium played host to the medal round of the 1996 Olympic men's and women's soccer, watched y over 3 billion people around the world on television.
Prior to Georgia's 2019 home opener, the playing field at Sanford Stadium was formally renamed in honor of Vince Dooley, the Bulldogs' all-time winningest head coach. Dooley served as head football coach of the Bulldogs from 1964 through 1988 and director of athletics from 1979 to 2004. As head coach, he won 201 games, one national championship and six SEC championships. While Dooley was athletic director, UGA won 23 national championships and 78 SEC team championships.
The latest development was completed in 2024 that featured a new press box, additional premium seating, restrooms, concessions and expanded concourse on the 100-level south side. It raised capacity to 93,033.
HOME RECORD ON DOOLEY FIELD AT SANFORD STADIUM: 391-108-9
LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK: 33 (School Record, 10/19/2019-9/27/25)
BULLDOGS AT HOME UNDER KIRBY SMART: 56-5
CAPACITY SINCE 2024: 93,033
LARGEST HOME CROWD: 93,246 (Beat Notre Dame 23-17, 2019)
CONSECUTIVE SELLOUTS: 84 (School Record; 10/15/2012 vs. FAU-Current); The last non-sellout was versus Buffalo (9/1/2012, Attendance: 92,446)
FIRST GAME: 10/12/1929 - Ga. 15, Yale 0 (Att. 30,000+)
FIRST NIGHT GAME: 10/26/1940, Georgia 7, Kentucky 7
Mascot Facts and More About Uga XI, a.k.a "Boom"
Georgia's Uga has established himself as the nation's most well-known mascot. The line of pure white English bulldogs, which epitomizes everything Georgia, has been owned by the Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler family of Savannah, Ga., since Uga I first graced the campus in 1956. Currently, Uga XI, aka "Boom" is in his third season with a record of 36-5.
Boom is the 11th solid white English Bulldog to serve as Georgia's mascot since the line began in 1956 courtesy of the Seiler family of Savannah. In the offseason, Boom resides with his family in Savannah.
Through the years, Uga has been defined by his spiked collar, a symbol of the position which he holds. He was given his name, an abbreviation for the university, by William Young of Columbus, a law school classmate of Seiler. Each of the Uga mascots is awarded a varsity letter in the form of a plaque, identical to those presented to all Bulldog athletes who letter in their respective sports.
As determined and published by the Pitt Press, the University of Georgia is the only major college that actually buries its mascots within the confines of the stadium. Ugas I-IX are buried in marble vaults near the main gate in the embankment of the South stands. Epitaphs to the dogs are inscribed in bronze, and before each home game, flowers are placed on their graves.
For the past 20 years, Uga's jerseys have been custom-made each season from the same material used for the players' jerseys. Old jerseys are destroyed.
Uga's on-field home is a permanent air conditioned doghouse located next to the cheerleader's platform. The custom-made doghouse is a gift from the Bahamian Bulldog Club of Nassau, Bahamas, through the courtesy of Fred Hazlewood.
Big Plays (25+ yards) In 2025
Georgia has 22 big plays. Opponents have 19.
The longest each game is listed below.
G1: 3 (47-yd. TD pass Stockton-Branch);
MU: 2 (44-yd. pass, Turner-Bradshaw)
G2: None;
AP: 2 (34-yd. pass Parson-Robinson)
G3: 5 (45-yd. pass Stockton-Young);
UT: 5 (72-yd. TD pass Aguilar-Brazzell II)
G4: 4 (43-yd. rush by Bell & Bowens);
UA: 1 (27-yd. pass Simpson-Riley)
G5: 4 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Delp);
UK: 2 (38-yd. pass Boley-Law)
G6: 1 (30-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas);
AU: 1 (27-yd. rush by Arnold)
G7: 3 (36-yd. pass Stockton-Young; Stockton-Bell)
OM: 2 (75-yd. TD pass Chambliss-Stribling)
G8: 2 (42-yd. pass Stockton-Branch)
UF: 4 (40-yd. TD pass Lagway-Wilson III)
G9: 6 (64-yd. TD pass Stockton-Thomas)
MSU: 1 (57-yd. pass Taylor-Thompson)
G10: 4 (44-yd. KOR Branch)
UT: 1 (40-yd. pass Manning-Mosley V)
G11: 3 (38-yd. pass Stockton-Thomas)
CHAR: 2 (38-yd. pass Loftis-Mason)
G12: None
#23 GT: 2 (30-yd. pass King-Seither)
G13-SECCG: 1 (30-yd. INT return Everette)
#9 UA: 1 (27-yd. pass Simpson-Hill)
Points Off Turnovers In 2025
Georgia is -1 in Turnover Margin.
Georgia has 27 points off 10 turnovers.
Opponents have 29 points off 11 turnovers.
MU: No turnovers by either team
AP: No points off 1 TO; AP got 3 points off 2 TO
UT: 3 points off 2 TO; UT got 3 points off 2 TO
UA: No Turnovers; UA got 3 points 1 TO
UK: 7 points off 2 TO; UK got 7 points off 2 TO
@ AU: 3 points off 1 TO; AU did not force any TO
#5 OM: No TO by either team
vs. UF: No TO forced; UF got 3 points off 1 TO
@ MSU: 7 points off 1 TO; MSU no points off 1 TO
#10 UT: No points off 1 TO; TX got 7 points off 1 TO
CHAR: 7 points off 2 TO; CHAR 3 points off 1 TO
@ #23 GT: No points off 1 TO; GT 3 points off 1 TO
SECCG-#9 UA: 7 points off 1 TO; UA got none
Bulldog Career INTs & Pick-Six
Georgia has 9 INTs in 2025: Ellis Robinson IV-4 (AP, UK, CHAR, @GT), KJ Bolden-2 (UT, TX), Joenel Aguero-1 (UT), Daniel Okonkwo-1 (CHAR); Daylen Everette-1 (#9 UA)
Opp. have 7 INTs.
| Bulldog | INT | TD | Last INT |
| Ellis Robinson IV, DB | 4 | 0 | @GT25 |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 4 | 0 | #9UA-SECCG25 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 3 | 0 | #10TX25 |
| CJ Allen, LB | 1 | 0 | vs. UF24 |
| Joenel Aguero, S | 1 | 0 | @ #15 UT25 |
| Kyron Jones, Star | 1 | 1 | UTM23 |
| Daniel Okonkwo | 1 | 0 | CHAR25 |
Bulldog Career Fumble Recoveries
Georgia has 3 FR in 2025; Opp. have 4 FR
| Bulldog | FR | Last FR |
| Chris Cole, LB | 2 | UMass24 |
| CJ Allen, LB | 1 | UK25 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 1 | @ MSU25 |
| Kyron Jones, S | 1 | @ AU25 |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 1 | @ #1 TX24 |
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 1 | UMass24 |
| Cole Speer, WR | #1 | vs. #4 FSU23 |
#on Special Teams
Bulldog Career Sacks
Georgia has 20 sacks in 2025; Opponents have 18.
| Bulldog | '25 | '24 | '23 | '22 | Total |
| Chris Cole, LB | 4.5 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 4.5 |
| CJ Allen, LB | 3.5 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 4.5 |
| Raylen Wilson, LB | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | n/a | 4.5 |
| Christen Miller, DL | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Gabe Harris Jr., LB | 1 | 2 | 0 | n/a | 3 |
| Quintavius Johnson, LB | 2 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| Zayden Walker, LB | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 2 |
| KJ Bolden, S | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Daylen Everette, CB | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Elijah Griffin, DL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| Nnamdi Ogboko, DL | 1 | 0 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
| JaCorey Thomas, DB | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jordan Thomas, DL | 0 | 1 | n/a | n/a | 1 |
19 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); @ #15 UT (1): Dontrell Glover (RG);
#17 UA (1): BoHugley (RT);
UK (1): Chauncey Bowens (RB);
@AU (1): Noah Thomas (WR);
#5 OM (0): None;
UF: (0): None;
MSU (1): Xzavier McLeod (DL);
#10TX: (0): None
CHAR (3): Cash Jones (RB), Malachi Toliver (C), Chris Cole (ILB)
#23 GT: None; SECCG-#9 UA: L. Humphreys (WR), R. Dinkins (S)
Last year, there were 21 first-time starters during the season.
True Freshmen Getting A Taste
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 2025
MU: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Earnest Greene IIIAP: AP: Gunner Stockton, Colbie Young, KJ Bolden, Raylen Wilson
@ #15UT: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Oscar Delp
#17 UA: Zachariah Branch, Micah Morris, Jordan Hall, Gabe Harris Jr.
UK: Monroe Freeling, Lawson Luckie, Daylen Everette Quintavius Johnson
@ AU: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Drew Bobo, Colbie Young
#5 OM: Oscar Delp, London Humphreys, Daylen Everette, Quintavius Johnson
UF: Jordan Hall, Raylen Wilson, Dillon Bell, Gunner Stockton
@ MSU: CJ Allen, Daylen Everette, Zachriah Branch, Monroe Freeling
#10 UT: CJ Allen, Gabe Harris Jr., Dillon Bell, Drew Bobo
CHAR: Cash Jones, Micah Morris, KJ Bolden, Christen Miller
@ #23 GT: Quintavius Johnson, Raylen Wilson, Oscar Delp, Gunner Stockton
@ SECCG-#9 UA: CJ Allen, Christen Miller, Zachariah Branch, Earnest Greene III
HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART QUICK FACTS
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- 10th season as Georgia coach
- Career Record: 117-20 (.854)
- 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 | 12 | 1 | .923 | 8-1 * | ||
| Total | 117 | 20 | .854 | *74-17 |
#5-5 (includes 2017-19, '21-'25 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)
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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); Bo Walker vs. CHAR (11/22/25); 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, 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);
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.)
2025: none
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;
2025: 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: Pre-Sugar Bowl Press Conference - Zachariah Branch
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