Georgia Opens SEC Play At Arkansas

Saturday, September 19

Fayetteville, Ark.

12:00 p.m.

University of Georgia

Arkansas

Buy tickets

September 14, 2026 | Football

Complete Game Notes Game Notes Index Gameday Central

Game & Broadcast Info

Kickoff: Saturday, September 19 - 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,212) | Fayetteville, Ark.
2026 Records: Georgia (2-0, 0-0), Arkansas (1-1, 0-0)
2026 Rankings: Georgia #2, Arkansas NR
TV: ABC: Dave Pasch (PxP), Dusty Dvoracek (Analyst), Taylor McGregor (Sideline)
Video Stream: ESPN+
Radio: 95.5 FM WSB - Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Georgia Bulldog Sports Network (Learfield): Jeff Dantzler (PxP), Jon Stinchcomb (Analyst), D.J. Shockley (Sideline)
Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
Satellite: SiriusXM-81-176/229 and the app
Web Stats: georgiadogs.com
Twitter: #UGAvsARK
SECN ReBroadcast: 9/20 4-7 a.m., 9/20 4-7 p.m.
GameCenter: View
History: Georgia vs. Arkansas All-Time Series Results: UGA 12-4
Last Meeting: Georgia won 37-0 in Athens, Ga., 10/2/2021
Tickets: SeatGeek

Georgia-Arkansas Quick Comparison

	Georgia	Arkansas
Scoring Offense/Game:	66.5	20.5
Rushing Offense/Game:	253.0	104.5
Passing Offense/Game:	323.5	255.5
Total Offense/Game:	576.5	360.0
Scoring Defense/Game:	11.5	28.5
Rushing Defense/Game:	60.0	90.5
Passing Defense/Game:	107.0	207.0
Turnover Margin:	+2	-2

Storylines On The 2026 Bulldogs

Look Who Is Back: Georgia (2-0, 0-0 SEC) remains at No. 2 in the AP and Coaches poll this week. The Bulldogs feature seven returning starters on offense including fifth-year All-SEC quarterback Gunner Stockton and All-SEC junior tailbacks Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens. Eight starters return on defense including All-American juniors KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV and veteran starters in seniors Raylen Wilson, Jordan Hall and Gabe Harris Jr., plus junior Quintavius Johnson. Also, the special teams unit is headlined by senior All-SEC placekicker Peyton Woodring. In 2025, the Bulldogs were one of the youngest teams in the country with 54 percent of the roster consisting of players in their first or second season in Athens. In 2026, the Bulldogs brought in only nine scholarship transfers, the fewest in the SEC.

The SEC Gauntlet Begins: The two-time defending SEC champion Bulldogs open league play at Arkansas this Saturday, Sept. 19. Arkansas (1-1) lost 43-10 at No. 17 Utah last week. Georgia's SEC home opener will be Sept. 26 with the first-ever visit by No. 24 Oklahoma (1-1).

The Bulldogs are 10-0 in their first SEC road game each year of the Kirby Smart era, winning at Tennessee (twice), South Carolina (twice), Vanderbilt (twice), Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky and Missouri. In the 2025 SEC opener in Knoxville, No. 6 Georgia outlasted No. 15 Tennessee 44-41 in overtime.

Georgia has three other true SEC roadtrips, traveling to Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina while the Florida game will be held in Atlanta on Oct. 31 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Georgia is the home team against the Gators. This marks the first time since 1995 that the Bulldogs and Gators square off somewhere other than Jacksonville, Fla. Everbank Stadium is being renovated for the next two seasons. The 2027 Georgia-Florida game will be in Tampa, Fla.

Georgia is 40-3 in its last 43 SEC regular season games with losses to Alabama (@ UA in '24, in Athens in '25) and one at Ole Miss in '24.

Series History With Arkansas: Georgia leads 12-4 and has won the last three meetings. Last Time Out: #2 Georgia defeated #8 UA 37-0 in '21 in Athens Last Visit To Fayeteville: #4 Georgia posted a 37-10 win in '20. Did You Know? The first four clashes in the UGA-UA series came in bowl games starting with the 1969 Sugar Bowl, a 16-2 Arkansas win in New Orleans. The Razorbacks won the 1976 Cotton Bowl 31-10 over the Bulldogs in Dallas. Georgia claimed the 1987 Liberty Bowl Trophy in Memphis after a 20-17 win and then beat the Razorbacks 24-15 in the 1991 Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La. Also, the teams met for the 2002 SEC Championship in Atlanta. The Bulldogs posted a 30-3 victory over the Razorbacks for their first league title since 1982.

Easing Into 2026: Georgia opened the season with a 63-3 home victory over Tennessee State, tallying 660 yards of total offense on 60 plays while the FCS opponent managed just 99 yards on 58 plays. It marked the most points in an opener by Georgia since 1941 (81-0 over Mercer in Macon). In week two in Athens against Western Kentucky, the Bulldogs raced out to a 49-6 lead by halftime and went on to post a 70-20 victory. It was the most points by the Bulldogs since 1994 when it defeated Northeast Louisiana 70-6 in Sanford Stadium. For the first time since 1915, Georgia has had back-to-back games with at least 60 points. Back then, Georgia opened the campaign with a 79-0 win over Newberry and then blanked Dahlonega 64-0.

Fast Starts and Fluffy Stats: Georgia is outscoring its opponents 49-0 in the first quarter and 84-9 in the first half. For the season, the Bulldogs have outscored their two opponents (Tennessee State and Western Kentucky) 133-23. Against TSU, Georgia scored a touchdown on its first five posssessions before a bothched hold on a field goal attempt forced a turnover on downs. In the rout of WKU, the Bulldogs registered a touchdown on their first seven possessions before losing a fumble at their own 15 which led to the Hilltoppers first score. Opponents are 4-for-4 in the Red Zone this season with three touchdowns and a field goal. Georgia is 12-for-13 with 12 TDs.

Selflessness: In the offseason, the Bulldogs studied the 2025 NBA Champion OKC Thunder and noted how they led the league in eight major defensive and team statistical categories and most importantly, "seflessness," according to Smart. He aims for the 2026 Bulldogs to showcase that trait.

Playing To Our Standard

Georgia's 2026 Senior Class owns a record of 38-6 with back-to-back SEC titles. The 2025 Senior Class went 51-6 with a national title (2022) and three SEC crowns in their career. They were the third straight class to register 50 wins, joining the 2023 group (50-4) and the record-setting 2024 class (53-5).

Georgia owns the nation's longest active bowl streak at 29 seasons but has dropped its last two CFP quarterfinal matchups at the Sugar Bowl. Prior to these losses to Notre Dame and Ole Miss, Georgia had won seven straight CFP/bowl games. Overall, the Bulldogs have made 64 appearances in a bowl/CFP game with a 38-23-3 mark. The appearances and wins rank second in FBS.

Georgia has a current winning streak over every SEC team except Ole Miss that equals 77 games. The streaks range from one game up to 16 straight.

Simply The Best (Since 2021)

Georgia owns the best record in the FBS since 2021 at 67-7. 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 60-11.

Georgia and Ohio State are the only FBS schools to win 11+ games every season since 2021.

Bulldogs Scoring With Stockton's Arm and Legs

Fifth-year Gunner Stockton is a 6-1, 215-pound native of Tiger, Ga.

14-3 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).

Tied school record with 5 TD passes, all in the first half, in a 70-20 rout of WKU. Went 13-for-16 for 234 yards playing only the first five possessions.

2025 Finalist for Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, semifinalist for Maxwell, Davey O'Brien and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards.

Started 2026 opener versus TSU and built 35-0 lead, going 15-for-16 for 202 yards and 3 TDs in first five possessions before giving way to backups.

5-2 against ranked teams in 2025 including a 83.7 Completion Percentage in the 4th quarter of those games (36-for-43, 383 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INT)

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.

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.

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	5 (WKU '26)
Longest Pass Play	70 vs. WKU '26
Longest TD Pass	70 vs. WKU '26
Long Rush	73/10 vs. MU '25
Interceptions	1 (7x, last @ #23 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	14/14	269	386	69.7	2,894	5	24	150.6	64 MSU (TD)
2026	2/2	28	32	87.5	436	0	8	284.5	70WKU(TD)
Total	25/17	354	501	70.6	3,918	7	35	156.6	70WKU(TD)

Stockton's Career Game-By-Game

Game	Cmp.	Att.	Pct.	Yds.	INT	TD	SK	EFF	LG
2023
UT Martin	3	5	60.0	29	0	0	0	108.7	20
Ball State	1	1	100.0	4	0	0	1	133.6	4
UAB	2	3	66.7	19	1	0	0	53.2	15
#4 FSU (Orange)	6	10	60.0	96	0	2	0	206.6	31
2024
#14 Clemson	0	0	00.0	0	0	0	0	-	-
Tenn. Tech	10	12	83.3	90	0	0	1	146.3	21
UMass	3	4	75.0	45	0	0	0	169.5	23
#2 Texas (SEC)	12	16	75.0	71	1	0	2	99.8	18
#5 ND(CFP Qtr.) (L)	20	32	62.5	234	0	1	4	134.2	67
2025
Marshall (W)	14	24	58.3	190	0	2	0	152.3	47TD
Austin Peay (W)	26	34	76.5	227	0	0	0	132.6	19
@ #15 UT (W)	23	31	74.2	304	0	2	3	177.9	45
#17 Alabama (L)	13	20	65.0	130	0	1	1	136.1	38TD
Kentucky (W)	15	23	65.2	196	1	1	0	142.5	36
@ AU (W)	24	37	64.9	217	0	0	2	141.4	30
#5 OM (W)	26	31	83.9	289	0	4	0	204.8	36
vs. UF (W)	20	29	69.0	223	1	2	2	149.4	42
@ MSU (W)	18	29	62.1	264	0	3	0	172.7	64TD
#10 Texas (W)	24	29	82.8	229	1	4	2	187.7	30TD
Charlotte (W)	17	21	81.0	196	1	0	1	149.8	38
@ #23 GT (W)	11	21	52.4	70	1	0	2	86.6	24
#9 UA{SECCG} (W)	20	26	76.9	156	0	3	1	165.4	19
#6 OM {CFP/Sug} (L)	18	31	58.1	203	0	1	2	123.7	31
2026
TSU (W)	15	16	93.8	202	0	3	0	261.7	25
WKU (W)	13	16	81.3	234	0	5	0	307.2	70TD

Behind Stockton, Georgia's QB room with game experience includes a trio of Bulldogs. Junior Ryan Puglisi (nine career games) has the been the first one off the bench in 2026 followed by sophomores Ryan Montgomery (three games), and Hezekiah Millender (two games). Puglisi showed off some spspeed in the win over WKU, racing 70 yards for a TD. It was the longest TDrun by a Bulldog since 2022 when wideout Ladd McConkey went 70 yards for a score against Miss. State. Montgomery made his debut against Charlotte in 2025 and went 1-for-1 for 12 yards, and then in the 2026 opener against TSU, he connected with Jeremy Bell for a team-long 54-yard TD. He finished 2-for-2 for 60 yards. Millender made his debut in 2026 against TSU, going 1-for-1 for 17 yards plus two rushes for 22 yards.

Puglisi's Career Passing Statistics

Year	G/GS	Cmp.	Att.	Pct.	Yds.	INT	TD	Eff.	LG
2025	7/0	16	27	59.3	161	2	1	106.8	27 UK
2026	2/0	9	18	50.0	128	0	1	128.1	27 TSU
Total	9/0	25	45	55.6	289	2	2	115.3	27 (2x)

Puglisi posted a career-high 7-of-13 for 109 yards and 1 TD (16-yarder to freshman TE Kaiden Prothro) in the 63-3 win over TSU in 2026

Made his collegiate debut in a 45-7 win over Marshall in 2025, directing four possessions in the second half with one TD drive covering 80 yards in eight plays and finished the game 5-for-8 for 59 yards and one TD, a 23-yard strike to then freshman TE Elyiss Williams.

Georgia added one more QB this season in 6-2, 200-pound freshman Bryson Beaver, a native of Murrieta, Calif. He originally signed with Oregon but entered the portal after Ducks starting QB Dante Moore opted to return.

Puglisi's Career Highs

Completions: 7, 2x last TSU '26	Attempts: 13 vs. TSU '26
TD Passes: 1, 2x last TSU '26	Passing Yards: 109 vs. TSU '26
Longest Pass 27, 2x last TSU '26	Longest TD Pass: 23 vs. MAR '25
Rush Yards: 79 vs. WKU '26	INTs: 1 (2x, last vs. UK '25)

Georgia's Explosive Plays In 2025 (12-yd Rush, 16-yd Comp.)

Game	Georgia	Opp.	Final (AP rank then CFP)
TSU	19 (8R, 11P)	1 (0R, 1P)	#3 Georgia, 63-3
WKU	8 (3R, 5P)	3 (3R, 0P)	#2 Georgia 70-20

Longest Rush by Georgia: 70-yd TD by Ryan Puglisi (WKU)
Longest Rush by Opp.: 19-yd by Le'Kamren Meadows (WKU)
Longest Completion by Georgia: 70-yd TD (Stockton to White-Helton (WKU)
Longest Completion by Opp.: 17-yd (McNair to Gaston, TSU)

Frazier & Bowens Headline Ground Attack

Through two games, Georgia is averaging 253.0 rushing yards a contest including 8.2 yards a rush. Fifteen Bulldogs have had at least one carry. The Bulldogs have seven rushing TDs on the year.

Junior Nate Frazier leads the team with four rushing TDs in only 10 attempts. In 2025, Georgia averaged 182.1 rushing yards/game with 31 TDs.

Frazier started against TSU and tied his career high with three TDs in only four carries! His first touch resulted in a 48-yard TD, his second was a 14-yard TD and his final carry was a three-yarder for a score. His final line of the day was 72 yards on four carries (18.0 avg) and three TDs. Last year, he led the team with 947 yards and six TDs in 10 games.

Junior Chauncey Bowens had four carries for 24 yards against TSU and added two catches for 32 yards. He only had one carry for four yards against WKU and flashed as a receiver with two catches for 45 yards including a 21-yarder for a TD when he hurdled the final defender near the goal line.

Georgia also welcomes back Dwight Phillips Jr., Bo Walker and freshman Jae Lamar and Nick Peal. UK senior transfer Dante Dowdell is out due to an injury. Against TSU, Walker had a team-high five carries for 35 yards. Lamar scored the game's final TD, an 11-yarder as he finished with 15 yards.

Spreading It Around

Georgia is averaging 323.5 passing yards a game and spreading the wealth in the first two blowouts. Four quarterbacks saw action in the rout of TSU to open the 2026 season, and they combined to complete 25 passes to 15 different Bulldogs for 388 yards and five TDs. Then, three QBs played in the win over WKU as 12 different Bulldogs caught a pass with five TDs.

The featured receivers in the early going include junior Sacovie White-Helton (4-for-104 yards overall including a 70-yard TD against WKU), sophomore Talyn Taylor (5-for-59 yards, 2 TD plus a 31-yard rush) and freshman Craig Dandridge Jr. (4-for-92 yards). White-Helton and Dandridge have contributed on special teams too.

In 2025, the Bulldogs averaged 220.2 receiving yards/game with 25 TDs. The Bulldogs will have to lean on a new cast with six of the top seven pass catchers off to the NFL or have graduated. The departed group includes junior Zachariah Branch (81-for-811 yards, 6 TDs), now with the Atlanta Falcons. He led the SEC in receptions with a Bulldog record 81 catches last year.

Senior London Humphreys (18-for-276 yards, 3 TDs in 2025) is the top returning receivier. He had THE catch of the 2025 season. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 Tennessee, it was 4th-and-6 when he hauled in a 28-yard touchdown strike from Gunner Stockton. This year, he has two catches for 11 yards and a score.

Bulldog junior transfer Isiah Canion has thre catches for 28 yards.

The following Bulldogs will be looking for an increased role: Jeremy Bell, CJ Wiley, Thomas Blackshear, Landon Roldan and Tyler J. Wiliams. Bell caught a 54-yard TD strike from Ryan Montgomery against TSU while Williams made a nifty 27-yard catch in traffic.

Paving The Way

Georgia's offensive line has featured the same starting five through the first two games of 2026, and that's a welcome sight after last year. The Bulldog front had an eventful season in 2025 due to injuries. Georgia used a different starting OL unit in its first six games, 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. C Malachi Toliver started three of the final four games for him. Micah Morris (LG) was the only linemen to start every game in his final year. The Bulldogs 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. He was a first round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers.

In 2026, Bobo, a 2nd Team Coaches All-SEC pick, and Greene III are the veteran leaders of the unit. They are joined by sophomores Dontrell Glover (LG) and Juan Gaston Jr. (RT) plus freshman Zykie Helton (RG) to round out the starters.

Greene III now has a team-best 34 career starts. Last year, Gaston Jr. started at RG and RT while Glover, who earned FWAA Freshman All-America honors, started the last 10 games at RG.

Helton became just the third true freshman offensive lineman to start an opener in the Kirby Smart era. The others were Andrew Thomas (2017-RT) and Gaston (2025-RG). Overall, 14 true freshmen have started an opener under Smart.

Georgia returns Jahzare Jackson, Toliver and Michael Uini who made spot starts last year. Along with Helton, a freshman to watch is Ekene Ogboko. Ekene is the younger brother of Bulldog DL Nnamdi Ogboko.

Tight Ends Always In The Game Plan

Tight ends have been a staple of the Bulldog offense and the player development is notable. Five former Bulldogs are in the NFL in 2026, most notably two-time John Mackey Award winner Brock Bowers (Las Vegas). The Bulldogs aim to continue that trend with a stocked room in 2026 as only Oscar Delp graduated from the group. He is now with the New Orleans Saints.

In 2025, Lawson Luckie and Delp led the room. Jaden Reddell appeared in every game while Elyiss Williams played in 13 games as a rookie and Colton Heinrich saw action in four games. Last year, Ethan Barbour went down with a leg injury in game two (Austin Peay) and eventually returned for the CFP.

Georgia's 2026 additions to this room include freshmen Kaiden Prothro, Brayden Fogle and Lincoln Keyes.

In the win over TSU, Georgia's tight ends combined for 100 receiving yards on six catches including three touchdowns. Reddell (2-38, 1 TD plus a 29-yard rush), Williams (2-26, 1 TD), Prothro (1-16, 1 TD) and Barbour (1-10). It was the first career TDs for Reddell and Prothro.

In the win over WKU, the tight ends had three catches for 25 yards and one TD. Williams made his first career start while Barbour notched his first TD.

The '26 Defense And A Final Look At 2025

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.

Through two games, Georgia is allowing 11.5 points a game including none in the first and third quarters.

In 2026, Georgia opened with a 63-3 rout of FCS-member Tennessee State. The Tigers field goal came in the second quarter. WKU managed 20 points including 14 in the 4th quarter with Georgia up 63-6. Two of the Hilltopper scoring drives covered just 15 and 23 yards following Bulldog turnovers.

The 2025 Bulldogs allowed 10 points or fewer in each of their final four games before the CFP, the longest streak in a season since an eight-game stretch during the 1971 season, according to ESPN Research. However, No. 6 Ole Miss scored 20 points in the 4th quarter to win the CFP quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl 39- 34. Overall, opponents scored 246 points in 2025 (17.6 ppg/10th nationally).

Stopping The Run Starts Up Front

In 2026, Georgia's opponents are averaging 60.0 rushing yards per game. In the season opener against TSU, the Tigers managed 10 yards on 32 attempts as the Bulldogs collected three sacks. Then, WKU tallied 110 yards on 37 attempts (3.0 average) as Georgia notched two sacks. In 2025, Georgia ranked fourth nationally by allowing only 81.5 rushing yards a game.

Senior Jordan Hall and senior Gabe Harris Jr., and sophomore Elijah Grifin have been the starters up front this season. For Griffin, a FWAA Freshman All-American last year, these have been the first two starts of his career.

Returnees on the line include Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, Justin Greene, Nnamdi Ogboko, Josh Horton, JJ Hanne, Isaiah Gibson, Nasir Johnson and London Seymour.

Newcomers to watch here include freshmen Preston Carey, Carter Luckie (younger brother of Bulldog senior Lawson Luckie), Valdin Sone, Anthony Lonon Jr.. Junior transfer Amaris Williams (Auburn) is out with a knee injury.

Harris Jr. and Lonon Jr. each had a sack against WKU.

Linebackers Making An Impact

With the lopsided scores in the first two games this season, the Bulldogs have been able to get a look at their depth on both sides of the football. For the linebackers, the good news is two-thirds of the 2025 starting trio return in Raylen Wilson and Quintavius Johnson while All-American and tackle leader CJ Allen is off to the NFL as a member of the Buffalo Bills.

Wilson finished third on the team with 74 tackles plus had 6.5 TFL and 2.5 Sacks. Johnson tallied 35 tackles on the year. The next wave who flashed in 2025 and look to make a bigger impact includes Chris Cole, Justin Williams and Zayden Walker. Cole has drawn the starting assignment this season.

Wilson, Cole, Williams and Walker were among the seven Bulldogs who tied for the team-high in tackles (three) against TSU. Cole had a 0.5 sacks too.

Also, Georgia's depth here includes Terrell Foster, Isaiah Gibson, Darren Ikinnagbon, Anthony Kruah and Chase Linton plus freshmen PJ Dean, Nick Abrams II, Khamari Brooks, Elijah Littlejohn and Terrence Penick. Linton has missed the first two games of 2026 due to injury.

In the season opener against TSU, Dean made an immediate impact with a team-high 1.5 sacks for a loss of 20 yards plus two tackles.

Littlejohn made three solo stops and his first career sack against TSU while Brooks ranked among the tackle leaders too with three stops.

Against WKU, Kruah led the team with five tackles and had a forced fumble while Brooks picked up his first sack

A Passing Grade In The Secondary

Through two games, Georgia's opponents are averaging 107 yards through the air while the secondary has a pair of interceptions.

In the season opener, TSU finished 15-for-26 for 99 yards and no TDs while WKU tallied 115 passing yards, going 18-for-37 with 2 INTs.

The starting unit featured preseason All-Americans KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV plus Demello Jones, Kyron Jones and local product and Clemson transfer Khalil Barnes.

Kyron Jones started the first six games of 2025 before missing the rest of the season due to a foot injury while Demello Jones (no relation) appeared in 12 games last year before making his first start against TSU in the 2026 opener.

Demello Jones had a 41-yard INT return against WKU plus a fumble recovery.

The Bulldogs made four portal additions in the secondary: Along with Barnes, Georgia's depth in the secondary includes fifth-year Gentry Williams (Oklahoma), junior Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU) and junior Braylon Conley (USC). The Bulldogs return Jontae Gilbert, Jaylan Morgan and Todd Robinson. From the high school ranks, Georgia added Justice Fitzpatrick, Zech Fort, Tyriq Green, Caden Harris, Jordan Smith and Blake Stewart.

Green is getting a look as a a kickoff returner too as he had one for 25 yards against TSU and then raced 91 yards for a TD against WKU. Also, he scored on a fumble recovery in the endzone after an INT by Stewart versus WKU.

We're Going For It!

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down Conversion attempts (96-for-150) with 17 TDs.

In 2026, Georgia is 0-for-1 on 4th Down, however it came on a botched hold during a field goal attempt in the season opener and led to an incomplete pass.

In 2025, Georgia ranked second nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 75% (15-for-20) with 3 TDs. Some of the more memorable ones from last year included a 4th-and-3 at the Auburn 40 with 5:14 left in the contest. It was part of the clinching go-ahead TD drive that lasted a school record-tying eight minutes and 45 seconds. Down 38-30 with 2:38 remaining in the game at No. 15 Tennessee, Georgia converted a 4th-and-6 at the UT 28 for a TD (Stockton pass-to-Humphreys).

Did You Know? Prior to the UT game last year, the only other fourth quarter 4th down conversion featuring a TD pass when Georgia was behind under Smart came in 2016 at Missouri. The Bulldogs trailed 27-21 with 1:31 left in the game and faced a 4th-and-10. Jacob Eason hit Isaiah McKenzie for a 20- yard TD in a 28-27 win.

Geaux Dawgs

Senior All-SEC specialist Peyton Woodring, a native of Lafayette, La., is a three-time Lou Groza Award semifinalist.

Woodring's Career FG% of 88.06% (59-of-67) 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 is 190-for-190 in Career PATs including tying a school record with 10 PATs in the 70-20 rout of Western Kentucky this season. He became the third Bulldog to make 10 PATs in a game, joining Kanon Parkman (1994 vs. Northeast Louisiana) and George Jernigan (1946 vs. Furman).

Also, Geogia has freshman PK Harran Zureikat. He took care of the final two PATs and last two kickoffs in the 63-3 season-opening win over Tennessee State. He handled the final two kickoffs against Western Kentucky.

Kickoff returns under Woodring have been rare but look for Kyron Jones, Raylen Wilson, Justin Williams, Chris Cole and Will Taylor to be among those with special teams tackles.

In 2026, Woodring has 17 kickoffs with 13 touchbacks. Zureikat has four kickoffs with three touchbacks. Georgia allowed one KOR for 18 yards against WKU.

Did You Know? After missing three of his first seven field goal attempts as a freshman in 2023, Woodring has been good on 55 of his past 60 FG (4 of those misses were from 50+ yards while one was from 45 yards).

Single Game Career Highs For Woodring

Points: 15 (UK23);
PATs: 10 (vs. WKU '26-ties school record.)
FGA: 3 (11x, last vs. #6 Ole Miss in CFP Qtrfinal at Sugar Bowl '26)
FGM: 3 (8x, last @ #23 Ga. Tech in MBS '25)
LG: 55 (vs. Clemson '24 in MBS, Atlanta)

Did You Know? Georgia's last game-winning field goal with two minutes or less to play came in the 2021 Peach Bowl against undefeated and No. 8 Cincinnati. Jack Podlesny hit a 53 yarder with three seconds left for a 22-21 lead. The Bulldogs would register a safety on the last play for a 24-21 final.

It's Miller Time

With elite distance, hang time, placement and a strong coverage unit, All-America punter Brett Thorson captured the 2025 Ray Guy Award to cap his Bulldog career. The Bulldogs ranked fourth nationally in Net Punting at 43.5. Thorson missed the 2025 opener while still recovering from offseason knee surgery and Drew Miller served as the punter.

A native of Mediapolis, Iowa, Miller, now a junior, handles the punting duties in 2026. For the year, Miller is averaging 49.8 yards on five punts with three covering 50+ yards.

Against TSU in the season opener, he had just one, and it covered a career-long 65 yards with a touchback for a net of 45 yards. He punted four times in the second half against WKU and posted a 46.7 average.

Miller actually got his first taste of action in the 2025 CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl after Thorson was injured in the 2024 SEC Championship Game.

Senior Will Snellings serves as the snapper.

The returning gunners include KJ Bolden, London Humphreys, Jeremy Bell and Talyn Taylor.

Single Game Career Highs For Miller

Punts: 6 (MU25)
Long: 65 (TSU '26))
Avg. (Min 2 punts): 48.0 on six (MU25) with 14 PR yards

Back Deep For The Bulldogs In The Return Game

Junior Sacovie White-Helton is averaging 13.7 yards per punt return, tallying six for 82 yards. He had four PR for 59 yards including a 35-yarder in the season opener against TSU. Also, he had one KOR for 18 yards.

Freshman Tyriq Green has a team-best 35.8 average on four KOR. He had one KOR against TSU for 25 yards while freshman Craig Dandridge Jr., had one PR for nine yards. Green ignited the crowd against WKU with a 91-yard KOR for a TD. It marked the first KOR for a TD by a Bulldog since 2016 (Terry Godwin, 43-yarder at South Carolina).

Sophomore Landon Roldan is another option as a PR plus he is on the kickoff coverage team and has served as a holder on PATs. He muffed a punt return against WKU but also recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff. Both plays led to eventual TDs.

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 2026 (Tyriq Green vs. Western Kentucky, 91 yards)

It's Blocked

Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have blocked nine punts and eight field goals. There's one player on the current squad with a block for Georgia.

In the 2025 opener against Marshall, KJ Bolden blocked a punt that led to an eventual TD after a 20-yard drive.

Did You Know? Georgia's last blocked field goal came in 2024 by Dan Jackson against Auburn. He is now with the Detroit Lions.

Series History With 2026 Opponents

Tenn. State: Georgia now leads 1-0
'26 Result: #3 Georgia 63-3
W. Kentucky: Georgia leads 2-0
'26 Result: Georgia 70-20
Arkansas: Georgia leads 12-4
Oklahoma: Georgia leads 1-0
Vanderbilt: Georgia leads 61-20-2
@ Alabama: UA leads 45-27-4
Auburn: Georgia leads 66-56-8
vs. Florida: Georgia leads 58-44-2
@ Ole Miss: Georgia leads 35-14-1
Missouri: Georgia leads 12-1
@ S.C.: Georgia leads 55-19-2
Ga. Tech: Georgia leads 73-39-5

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.

"Hard To Kill" In 2025

In 2025, Georgia went 7-1 in the SEC gauntlet, 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.

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.

The Bulldogs dominated No. 9 UA in the SEC Championship Game becoming the first team to shut out their opponent for the first three quarters of the title game.

Big Plays (25+ yards) In 2026

Georgia has 13 big plays. Opponents have none.

G1: 6 (54-yd. TD pass Montgomery-Bell);
G2: 7 (91-yd KOR by T. Green); WKU: 0

Points Off Turnovers In 2026

Georgia is +2 in Turnover Margin.

Georgia has 28 points off four turnovers.

Opponents have 13 points off two turnovers.

TSU: No TO forced by either team.
WKU: Georgia got 28 pts off 4 TO; WKU got 13 off 2

Bulldog Career INTs & Pick-Six

Georgia has 2 INTs in 2026: Blake Stewart-1 (WKU), Demello Jones-1 (WKU);

Opp. have 0 INTs.

Bulldog	INT	TD	Last INT
Ellis Robinson IV, DB	4	0	@GT25
KJ Bolden, S	3	0	#10TX25
Demello Jones, DB	1	0	WKU26
Kyron Jones, Star	1	1	UTM23
Daniel Okonkwo	1	0	CHAR25
!Khalil Barnes (CLEM)	7	0	vs. SMU24
!Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU)	6	^1	FAU25
!Gentry Williams (OU)	4	0	@Texas23

Note: ! INTs at previous school; ^ 55-yd-Temple24

Bulldog Career Fumble Recoveries

Georgia had 2 FR in 2026; Opp. have 2 FR.

Bulldog	FR	Last FR
Chris Cole, LB	2	UMass24
Khamari Brooks, OLB	1	WKU26
Landon Roldan, WR	1	WKU26
KJ Bolden, S	1	@ MSU25
Kyron Jones, S	1	@ AU25
Raylen Wilson, LB	1	UMass24
!Khalil Barnes (CLEM)	^1	@ SC23
!Ja'Marley Riddle (ECU)	1	FAU25
!Gentry Williams (OU)	1	@Texas23

Note: ! FR at previous school; ^ 42-yd TD

Bulldog Career Sacks

Georgia has 5 sacks in 2026; Opponents have none.

Bulldog	'26	'25	'24	'23	Total
Chris Cole, LB	0.5	4.5	0	n/a	5.0
Raylen Wilson, LB	0.0	2.5	1.5	0.5	4.5
Gabe Harris Jr., LB	0.0	1	2	0	4
Quintavius Johnson, LB	0.0	2	0	n/a	2
Zayden Walker, LB	0.0	2	n/a	n/a	2
PJ Dean, DL	1.5	n/a	n/a	n/a	1.5
Anthony Lonon Jr., DL	1	n/a	n/a	n/a	1
Elijah Littlejohn, LB	1.0	n/a	n/a	n/a	1
KJ Bolden, S	0.0	0	1	n/a	1
Elijah Griffin, DL	0.0	1	n/a	n/a	1
Nnamdi Ogboko, DL	0.0	1	0	n/a	1
Jordan Thomas, DL	0.0	0	1	n/a	1
!Khalil Barnes, S (CLEM)	0.0	0	0	1	1
!Zion Branch, CB(USC)	0.0	0	1	0	1
!Amaris Williams, LB(AU) inj.	0.0	2	0.5	n/a	2.5

Note: ! Sacks at previous school

Four First-Time Starters In 2026

TSU (4): E. Griffin (DL), Z. Helton (RG), D. Jones (DB), T. Taylor (WR)
WKU (1): E. Williams (TE); A

True Freshmen Getting A Taste

The Bulldogs had 26 true freshmen make their debut in the 2026 season-opening win over TSU. Last year, 22 Bulldogs saw action in the opener against Marshall.

The Bulldog Captains In 2026

TSU: Drew Bobo, Chris Cole, Jordan Hall, Peyton Woodring
WKU: KJ Bolden, Terrell Foster, Nate Frazier, London Humphreys

HEAD COACH KIRBY SMART QUICK FACTS

Career Record: 119-21 (.850), 11th year at Georgia
2021 & 2022 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2017 CFP national runner-up
One of just two active coaches with multiple national titles (Dabo Swinney-Clemson, '16 & '18)
Most wins (117) in NCAA FBS history in the modern era (last 100 years) for a coach in his first 10 seasons.
T5th fastest coach in NCAA FBS history to win 100 games, doing it in 117; Fastest to do it in SEC history
Best record & winning percentage (85-15, .850) after his first 100 games of any coach in SEC history
2017, 2022, 2024 & 2025 SEC Champions
Georgia has been ranked in the top five nationally in Scoring Defense five times including leading the nation in 2019 & 2021; Been ranked in the top 10 in Scoring Offense three times (2021-23)
2017 George Munger award (National Coach of the Year by Maxwell Club); 2025 Eddie Robinson Finalist
Three-Time SEC Coach of the Year, 2017, 2021-22
Bulldogs have won three Butkus Awards and two Mackey Awards, one Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, Thorpe Award, Groza Award, Mannelly Award, Manning Award, Ray Guy Award & Burlsworth Trophy, two NFF Scholar-Athlete Awards & one Heisman Trophy finalist
28 1st-team All-Americans
21 First Round NFL Draft picks, 84 total draft picks
354 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls

THE KIRBY SMART RECORD

Year	W	L	Pct.	SEC	Bowl	AP Rank
2016	8	5	.615	4-4	Liberty	NR
2017	13	2	.867	8-2#	CFP Rose/NCG	2nd
2018	11	3	.786	7-2#	Sugar	T7th
2019	12	2	.857	7-2#	Sugar	4th
2020	8	2	.800	7-2	Chick-fil-A	7th
2021	14	1	.933	9-1#	CFP Orange/NCG	1st
2022	15	0	1.000	9-0#	CFP Peach/NCG	1st
2023	13	1	.929	8-0	Orange	4th
2024	11	3	.786	7-2 *	CFP Sugar (Qtr.)	6th
2025	12	2	.857	8-2	CFP Sugar (Qtr.)	6th
2026	2	0	1.000	0-0	--	--
Total	119	21	.850	*74-18

#5-6 (includes 2017-19, '21-'25 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC, 2026 CFP Quarterfinal at Sugar Bowl)

19 VICTORIES WHEN TIED OR TRAILING LATE

SEASON	OPPONENT	START OF 4TH QUARTER OR DEFICIT	FINAL
2016	% #22 UNC	Trailed 24-23	33-24
2016	@ Missouri	Trailed 27-21	28-27
2016	@ Kentucky	Trailed 21-16	27-24
2016	#8 Auburn	Tied 7-7	13-7
2016	^TCU	Trailed Trailed 23-21	31-23
2017	@ #24 Notre Dame	Trailed 17-16, trailed 19-17 with 10:21 left	20-19
2017	$ #2 Oklahoma	Tied 31-31, trailed 45-38 with 0:55 left	54-48 2ot
2020	~ #8 Cincinnati	Trailed 21-10, trailed 21-19 with :03 left	24-21
2022	! #1 Alabama	Trailed 18-13 with 10:14 left	33-18
2022	@ Missouri	Trailed 19-12, trailed 22-12 with 14:09 left	26-22
2022	~ #4 Ohio State (CFP Semi)	Trailed 38-24, trailed 41-35 with 2:43 left	42-41
2023	@ Auburn	Tied 17-17, tied 20-20 with 6:21 left	27-20
2024	@ Kentucky	Trailed 9-6	13-12
2024	@ Kentucky	Trailed 9-6	13-12
2024	vs. Florida in Jax.	Tied 20-20 with 7:29 left	34-20
2024	Ga. Tech	Trailed 17-6; then 27-13 with 5:37 left; 40-34 in 2nd OT	44-42 (8-OT)
2024	#2 Texas (SECCG)	Trailed 19-16 in OT	22-19
2025	@ #15 Tennessee	Trailed 28-27; then 38-30 with 6:40 left; 41-38 in OT	44-41 (OT)
2025	#5 Ole Miss	Trailed 35-26 and outscored Rebels 17-0 to end the game	43-35
2025	vs. Florida	Tied 17-17; Trailed 20-17 with 14:52 left	24-20

%Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic; ^Liberty Bowl; $Rose Bowl Game; ~Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl; !CFP National Championship

TOP IND. SINGLE GAME PERFORMANCES UNDER SMART

Rushing Yards: 222, Nick Chubb vs. #22 UNC in Atlanta (9/3/16);
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel vs. UK
(11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma in CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl (1/1/18); Daijun Edwards vs. AU (10/8/22); Trevor Etienne @ #1 Texas (10/19/24); Nate Frazier vs. UMass (11/23/24) & TSU (9/5/26); Bo Walker vs. CHAR (11/22/25);
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D'Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 459, Carson Beck vs. MSU (10/13/24);
Passing TDs: 5, G. Stockton (WKU-9/12/26), C. Beck (TT-9/7/24, GT-11/29/24), S. Bennett (UAB-9/11/21);
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton vs. MSU (11/21/20);
Receiving TDs: 3, Lawson Luckie vs. #5 OM (10/18/25);
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to Brock Bowers vs. UAB (9/11/21);
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF in Jacksonville (11/7/20);
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16);
Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24);
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #7 AU (10/3/20), vs. #8 UC in Peach Bowl (1/1/21); Trenton Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21); Jalon Walker @ #1 Texas (10/19/24) & #2 Texas in SECCG (12/7/24);

34 DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES UNDER SMART

The Bulldogs are 29-2 (losses versus #8 UF in 2020 & #6 OM In 2026 Sugar Bowl) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart. This season against WKU, Tyriq Green recovered a fumble in the endzone for a score and had a 91-yard kickoff return for a TD. In the 2026 Sugar Bowl, Daylen Everette returned a fumble 47 yards for a TD. In 2024, Chris Cole returned a fumble 28 yards for a TD; In 2023, Kyron Jones returned an INT versus UT Martin 26 yards for a score; Mekhi Mews took a punt return 69 yards for a TD against Ball State; and Joenel Aguero blocked a punt for a safety versus Florida.

DEFENSIVE SCORING IN THE SMART ERA

126 Points: 19 TDs, 6 Safeties

2016: 14 points in 3 different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret., Safety);
2017: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.);
2018: 12 points in 2 different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret.);
2019: 18 points in 3 different games (2 Fumble Ret., 1 Fumble Rec.);
2020: 22 points in 4 different games (2 Pick-Sixes 1 Fumble Ret., 2 Safeties);
2021: 28 points in 6 different games (4 Pick-Sixes, 2 Safeties);
2022: none
2023: 8 points in two games (Pick-Six, Safety)
2024: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)
2025: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)
2026: 6 points in 1 game (KOR)

54 POINTS ON BIG SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS SINCE 2016

2016: 12 points in 2 games (KOR, PR);
2017: none;
2018: 12 points in 2 games (PR, Blocked Punt Ret.);
2019: none;
2020: none;
2021: 8 points in 2 games (Blocked Punt Ret.; Safety/Blocked Punt);
2022: 8 points in 2 games (Safety/Blocked Punt; Blocked FG Ret.).
2023: 8 points in 2 games (PR, Safety)
2024: none;
2025: none;
2026: 6 points in 1 game (KOR)

MOST GAMES COACHING AP NO. 1 TEAM

Rank	Coach (School, Seasons at No. 1)	Games	Rec.	Pct.
1.	Nick Saban (UA, 2008-2022)	98	88-10	89.8
T2.	Woody Hayes (Ohio St.. 1954-75)	45	40-4-1	90.0
T2.	Bobby Bowden (FSU, 1988-2000)	45	40-5	88.9
4.	Kirby Smart (Georgia, 2021-24)	*35	33-2	94.3

In school history, Georgia has played 45 games as the No. 1 ranked team and has a record of 41-4 in those contests (91.1%). Prio to Smart, these games were in 1942 (2-1), 1980 (3-0), 1982 (2-1) and 2008 (1-0).