UGA Football: Everything You Need to Know About the Historic Georgia vs Tennessee Matchup

Game & Broadcast Info
  • Kickoff: Saturday, November 5 – 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Location: Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium | Athens, Ga.
  • 2022 Records: Georgia 8-0 (5-0 SEC), Tennessee 8-0 (4-0 SEC)
  • History: Georgia vs. Tennessee All-Time Series Results: UGA 26-23-2
  • 2022 Rankings: Georgia #1/1, Tennessee #2/3
  • TV: CBS – Brad Nessler, Play-by-Play; Gary Danielson, Analyst; Jenny Dell, Sideline Reporter
  • Video Stream: CBSSports.com
  • Radio: WSB AM 750 – Bulldog Network | Affiliates | Scott Howard (PxP), Eric Zeier (Color), DJ Shockley (sideline)
  • Audio Stream: georgiadogs.com
  • Satellite: 81/81
  • Web Stats: statbroadcast.com
  • Twitter: #TENNvsUGA
  • SECN ReBroadcast:11/9-11:30am, 11/10-8pm, 11/11-5am ET
STAT COMPARISONS
Georgia 2022 Averages Tennessee
41.8 (6th) Points/Game 49.4 (1st)
10.5 (2nd) Points Allowed/Game 21.0 (–)
202.0 (23rd) Rush Yards/Game 199.6 (25th)
328.1 (8th) Pass Yards/Game 353.4 (2nd)
530.1 (2nd) Total Offense/Game 553.0 (1st)
262.5 (4th) Total Defense/Game 393.6 (–)429.3 (–)
(top 25 NCAA rankings)
A HISTORIC MEETING IN THE UT SERIES

Saturday’s game with Tennessee will mark the first 1-2 matchup in Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium history and just the third top five matchup. In 1983, No. 3 Auburn edged No. 4 Georgia 13-7 while in 1942, No. 5 Georgia blanked No. 2 Ga. Tech 34-0.

Georgia leads the all-time series with Tennessee 26-23-2 including winning the past five meetings. The Bulldogs are 5-1 against the Vols under Kirby Smart, the lone defeat coming in 2016 on a Hail-Mary by Josh Dobbs in Athens. He completed a 43-yard pass to Jauan Jennings as time expired to lift No. 11 Tennessee past No. 25 Georgia 34-31. Last year in Knoxville, top-ranked Georgia posted a 41-17 win.

Along with CBS broadcasting the game, ESPN College GameDay and SEC Nation will be in Athens. This marks the eighth time GameDay comes to Athens.

A 1-2 AP MATCHUP

Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) remained in the top spot in the latest Associated Press (AP) poll while Tennessee (8-0, 4-0 SEC) moved into a tie with Ohio State (8-0) for No. 2. This Saturday in Athens will be the 25th regular-season game where the top two teams in the AP poll square off, and the first such meeting between the Bulldogs and Volunteers. The Bulldogs have been No. 1 now for the past four weeks. The last time the Vols were as high as No. 2 came in 2001, and that year they would finish fourth.

The Georgia-Tennessee game will mark the 53rd all-time meeting (including postseason games) between the AP’s No. 1 and No. 2 squads since the poll began in 1936. The last 1-2 regular season games both involved Alabama and LSU. In 2019, the No. 1 Tigers beat No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa and went on to win the SEC and national title. In 2011, top-ranked LSU outlasted No. 2 Alabama in overtime. However, the two would meet again for the BCS national championship, and the Crimson Tide won the rematch.

The first College Football Playoff rankings of the season will be released Tuesday night. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the first five CFP rankings last year and earned a spot in the playoff as the No. 3 seed with a 12-1 mark. Georgia would beat No. 2 seed Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl semifinal in Miami and then top seed Alabama 33-18 in the National Championship game in Indianapolis, Ind.

FLASHBACK: TOP-RANKED DOGS DOWN VOLS 41-17

The Bulldogs outgained Tennessee by 100 yards (487-387) and forced the game’s only two turnovers that UGA turned into 14 points to help give Georgia a 10-0 start. Current Buffalo Bill James Cook set the tone during the rout last year in Knoxville by carrying the ball 10 times for 104 yards and two touchdowns. However, it was the Vols who struck first with a 77-yard scoring drive in the opening frame. The score was knotted at 7-7 and then 10-10 during the second quarter before the Bulldogs pulled away. Stetson Bennett finished 17-for-29 for 213 yards and touchdown pass to Cook while also rushing for a score. Current Miami Dolphin Channing Tindall had eight tackles, including a career high three sacks. He forced a fumble on one of his sacks that the top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Travon Walker, recovered at Georgia’s 27 yard line.

THE KIRBY SMART RECORD
Year W L Pct. SEC Bowl
2016 8 5 .615 4-4 Liberty
2017 13 2 .867 8-2* CFP Rose/NCG
2018 11 3 .786 7-2* Sugar
2019 12 2 .857 7-2* Sugar
2020 8 2 .800 7-2 Chick-Fil-A
2021 14 1 .933 9-1* CFP Orange/NCG
2022 8 0 1.000 5-0
Total 74 15 .830 *47-13

*2-4 (includes 2017-19, ’21 SECCGs, 2018 & 2022 CFPNC)

QUICK FACTS
• Seventh season as Georgia coach • 74-15 Career Record • 2021 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS • 2017 CFP national runner-up • 2017 SEC Champions • SEC Eastern Division Champs 2017-19-21 • 2017 George Munger award (National Coach of the Year by Maxwell Club) • SEC Coach of the Year, 2017 & 2021 • Bulldogs have won two Butkus Awards • One Outland Trophy • One Chuck Bednarik Award • One Thorpe Award • One Lou Groza Award • THIRTEEN 1st-team All-Americans • ELEVEN 1st Round NFL Draft picks • FORTY-FIVE NFL Draft Picks overall • A total of 168 players on SEC Academic Honor Rolls, including a high of 35 on the 2021 national championship team
NINE 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 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

%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 (9/3/16)
Rushing TDs: 3, Sony Michel UK (11/18/17); vs. #2 Oklahoma (1/1/18); Daijun Edwards AU (10/8/22)
Longest Rush: 83-TD, D’Andre Swift @ #9 UK (11/3/18)
Passing Yards: 401, JT Daniels MSU (11/21/20)
Passing TDs: 5, Stetson Bennett UAB (9/11/21)
Receiving Yards: 197 (8 rec.), Jermaine Burton MSU (11/21/20)
Receiving TDs: 2, by 7 different Bulldogs multiple times
Longest Pass/TD Pass: 89-TD, S. Bennett to Brock Bowers UAB (9/11/21)
Tackles: 15, Nakobe Dean vs. #8 UF (11/7/20)
Sacks: 3, Trenton Thompson vs. TCU (12/30/16); Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT (11/13/21)
TFL: 3, Azeez Ojulari #7 AU (10/3/20); Thompson vs. Nicholls (9/10/16); 3, Azeez Ojulari vs. #8 UC (1/1/21); Channing Tindall @ UT(11/13/21)

26 DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS SCORES

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia has registered 26 scores on defense and special teams. The Dogs are 23-1 (loss came versus #8 UF in 2020) when they register a non-offensive score under Smart.

This year, the Bulldogs have had a safety versus Kent State. In 2021, Georgia had six of these scores: Chris Smith’s 74-yd INT return (#3 CU); Jamon Dumas-Johnson’s 20-yd INT return (UAB); Safety (SC); Zamir White 0-yd return of blocked punt (#8 ARK); Nakobe Dean’s 50-yd INT return (UF); Safety (UM); Kelee Ringo’s 79-yd INT return (UA-2).

HEAD COACHES AT THEIR ALMA MATER

Kirby Smart is one of 11 Power 5 head coaches who are leading their alma maters.

Head Coach Alma Mater
Tom Allen Indiana (7th Season)
Paul Chryst Wisconsin (8th Season)
Mario Cristobal Miami (Fla.) (1st Season)
Pat Fitzgerald Northwestern (17th Season)
Scott Frost Nebraska (5th Season)
Mike Gundy Oklahoma State (18th Season)
Jim Harbaugh Michigan (8th Season)
Clark Lea Vanderbilt (2nd Season)
David Shaw Stanford (12th Season)
Kirby Smart Georgia (7th Season)
Jonathan Smith Oregon State (5th Season)
2022 ASSISTANT COACHES

Offensive Coordinator – Quarterbacks Coach – Todd Monken
Fain & Billy Slaughter Co-Defensive Coordinator – Inside Linebackers – Glenn Schumann
Co-Defensive Coordinator – Will Muschamp
Passing Game Coordinator – Wide Receivers – Bryan McClendon
Run Game Coordinator – Running Backs – Dell McGee
Defensive Backs Coach – Fran Brown
Assistant Coach – Tight Ends – Todd Hartley
Offensive Line Coach – Stacy Searels
Assistant Coach – Defensive Line – Tray Scott
Assistant Coach – Outside Linebackers – Chidera Uzo-Diribe

NEW FACES ON THE SIDELINES

The Bulldogs will feature four new on the field coaches. Bryan McClendon, who won an SEC title with Georgia as a receiver in 2005, returns as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. He most recently held the same spot for Oregon from 2020-21. McClendon was a graduate assistant at UGA in 2007-08 and was the running backs coach from 2009-15. Stacy Searels will be Georgia’s new offensive line coach after serving in the same role for the Bulldogs from 2007-10. He has most recently been North Carolina’s OL coach for the last three years. Another pair of coaches will join UGA for the first time in their careers. Fran Brown was named the defensive backs coach after serving as the secondary coach at Rutgers. Chidera Uzo-Diribe is the Bulldogs’ new outside linebackers coach following a stint in the same position at Texas Christian University.

DEFENSIVE SCORING IN THE SMART ERA

{100 Points on 15 TDs, 5 Safeties}
2016: 14 points in three different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret., Safety)
2017: 6 points in one game (Fumble Ret.)
2018: 12 points in two different games (Pick-Six, Fumble Ret.)
2019: 18 points in three different games (2 Fumble Ret., 1 Fumble Rec.)
2020: 22 points in four different games (2 Pick-Sixes 1 Fumble Ret., 2 Safeties)
2021: 28 points in six different games (4 Pick-Sixes, 2 Safeties)
2022: none
Longest Pick-Six: 79 yards by Kelee Ringo vs. #1 Alabama, 2022 CFP National Championship
Longest Fumble Ret. For a TD: 64 yards by Tyson Campbell @ Missouri, 2018

RUSHING TO A CONCLUSION

The Bulldogs ran for a season-high 292 yards and six touchdowns in their win over Auburn. The Bulldogs averaged 7.5 yards/carry against the Tigers. Georgia’s rushing tally versus Auburn was the most since 2020 against Missouri (316). The six rushing scores were the most for Georgia since the 2018 contest versus UMass. The Bulldogs are the national leaders with 28 rushing touchdowns.

Georgia’s offensive line returns three of five starters. C Sedrick Van Pran (23 consecutive starts), RT Warren Mc- Clendon (team high 32 consecutive starts) and RG Tate Ratledge (eight consecutive starts) all got the nod in the first eight games along with LT Broderick Jones (eight consecutive starts) and LG Xavier Truss (eight consecutive starts). Recently, the unit was named to the Joe Moore Midseason Honor Roll as one of the country’s top offensive lines.

Warren Ericson relieved an injured Ratledge for the final 14 games of 2021. Amarius Mims is also back and is lining up at either tackle position while Devin Willock has earned a spot in the regular rotation as well at OG. They have helped Georgia pile up 41.8 points/game and 530.1 yards/game thus far.

PODLESNY RANKS AMONG NATIONAL LEADERS

Senior PK Jack Podlesny is ranked second in the SEC and seventh nationally in Scoring (83, 10.4 points/game). Podlesny has made 49 of 59 field goal attempts in his career (83.1 percent) and drilled 150 of 151 PATs. This season, he is 14-of-16 on field goals and a perfect 41-for-41 on PATs. Podlesny’s 297 points ranks sixth best in school history.

During the 33-0 win over Samford, he scored a career-high 15 points, which was the most for a Bulldog since All-American Rodrigo Blankenship scored 17 against Missouri in 2017. Podlesny was 4-of-5 on field goals versus Samford and hit all three of his PATs. He is also handling kickoffs and has 40 touchbacks out of his 58 kickoffs. Podlesny was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3-for-3 on FGs and hitting all four of his PATs versus KSU and repeated with the honor a week later at Missouri.

Freshman Brett Thorson, a native of Australia, had a season-long punt of 56 yards at USC. In the win over Auburn, he punted five times for a 41.4 avg. and all five were inside the 20. He has averaged 41.9 this season. The Bulldogs did not punt versus KSU, and that was the first time since the 2018 UMass game. Georgia is tied for the fourth fewest punts nationally with 18. The Georgia snappers return in senior Payne Walker (FGs/PATs) and junior William Mote (punts).

Career Placekicking Statistics For Podlesny
Year PAT Pct. FG Pct. LG Pts
2020 38×38 100.0 13×16 81.3 53 77
2021 71×72 98.6 22×27 81.5 49 137
2022 41×41 100.0 14×16 87.5 42 83
Total 150×151 99.3 49×59 83.0 53 297
Field Goal Breakdown
Year 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-99 Long
2020 0-0 2-2 6-7 2-4 3-3 53 UC
2021 0-0 10-10 7-9 5-8 0-0 49 UA
2022 7-7 5-5 2-3 0-1 42 SC
Total 0-0 19-19 18-21 9-15 3-4 53 UC
Kickoff History For Podlesny
Year No. Yds. TB OB
2020 21 1,340 12 1
2021 4 234 2 0
2022 58 3,561 40 2
Total 83 5,135 54 3
Podlesny Has Averaged 61.9 Yards On 83 Kickoffs With 54 Touchbacks And Three Out Of Bounds.
Bennett 22-3 As A Starter at Georgia

Senior Stetson Bennett, a native of Blackshear, Ga., began his career with the Bulldogs as a walk-on in 2017 when he was redshirted. Bennett transferred to Jones College (Miss.) where he started in 2018 and then returned to the Bulldogs on scholarship in 2019. He saw action that season in five games including throwing passes in four of them. In 2020, he started five games and then got the nod in the final 11 contests of the 2021 national championship season.

In his Bulldog career, Bennett is 22-3 and has completed 64.1 percent of his passes (472-for-736, 6,650 yards, 48 TDs, 17 INTs).

Currently ranks third nationally among active players in Total Offense Yards Per Play for a career at 8.36, which is on pace for a school record (7.69 by Aaron Murray). Current active national leader is C.J. Stroud (9.55, Ohio State) followed by Grayson McCall (8.57, Coastal Carolina).

Bennett took off for a career-long 64-yard touchdown run during the win over Auburn, giving the Bulldogs a 28-3 edge at the start of the fourth quarter. His scoring scamper was the longest for a Georgia QB since 1976 when Ray Goff flew 73 yards for paydirt in a 41-0 win at Clemson.

On the road against South Carolina, Bennett connected on 16 of 23 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns to go along with a rushing touchdown and 36 yards on the ground.

Bennett joined Tim Tebow (four) as the only two SEC players since 2004 to have at least four consecutive games with 250 passing yards and one rushing score. Aaron Murray is the only other Bulldog quarterback to have at least 250 passing yards and at least one rushing score in four games overall during a season (2013).

Bennett earned Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week and Manning Award National QB of the Week honors while leading No. 3 Georgia to a 49-3 rout of No. 11 Oregon in this season’s opener. He directed the Bulldogs to seven touchdowns on their first seven drives and finished 25 of 31 for a career-high 368 yards and two touchdowns. Bennett also had a 1-yard rushing score against the Ducks. Bennett’s 368 passing yards in the win was the most in a season opener by a Bulldog since 1994 when Eric Zeier tallied 485 yards in a road win over South Carolina.

He ranked fourth nationally in Passing Efficiency (176.7) last year, which broke the school record in that category previously belonging to Aaron Murray (174.8, 2012).

Bennett helped Georgia complete a historic 8-0 SEC regular season and its first undefeated regular season since 1982.

During the CFP National Championship Game versus No. 1 Alabama, Bennett finished 17-for-26 passing with 224 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. Trailing 18-13 with 10:14 left in the game, Bennett directed a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive that gave the Bulldogs a one-point lead at the 8:09 mark (a two-point conversion failed). Georgia never relinquished its lead to collect its first national championship in 41 years. Bennett was named the game’s Offensive MVP as was the case in the CFP Semifinal Orange Bowl victory over Michigan.

2019 Att Cmp TD Int Yds Sk Eff.
MSU 13 9 2 1 124 0 184.7
ASU 10 9 0 0 109 0 181.6
GT 3 2 0 0 27 0 142.3
#2 LSU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
2019 TOTAL 27 20 2 1 260 0 172.0
2020 Att Cmp TD Int Yds Sk Eff.
@ ARK 29 20 2 0 211 1 152.8
#7 AU (W) 28 17 1 0 240 1 144.5
#14 UT (W) 27 16 2 0 238 1 157.8
@ #2 UA (L) 40 18 2 3 269 2 103.0
@UK (W) 13 9 0 2 131 0 123.1
Vs. #8 UF (L) 16 5 1 1 78 0 80.3
@ MU 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
Vs. #8 UC 1 1 0 0 12 0 200.8
2020 TOTAL 155 86 8 6 1,179 5 128.7
2021 Att Cmp TD Int Yds Sk Eff.
UAB (W) 12 10 *5 0 288 0 422.4
SC 3 1 0 1 4 0 -22.1
VU 15 11 1 1 151 0 166.6
#8 ARK (W) 11 7 0 0 72 0 118.6
@ #18 AU (W) 21 14 2 0 231 1 190.5
#11 UK (W) 20 14 3 0 250 1 224.5
UF (W) 19 10 1 2 161 1 120.1
UM (W) 19 13 2 0 255 0 215.9
@ UT (W) 29 17 1 0 213 2 131.7
CSU (W) 14 8 2 1 105 0 153.0
GT (W) 20 14 4 0 255 1 243.1
#4 UA (L) 48 29 3 2 340 3 132.2
#2 UM (W) 30 20 3 0 313 0 183.7
#1 UA (W) 26 17 2 0 224 5 163.1
2021 TOTAL 287 185 29 7 2,862 14 176.7
2022 Att Cmp TD Int Yds Sk Eff.
#11 UO (W) 31 25 2 0 368 0 201.7
SAM (W) 34 24 1 0 300 1 154.4
KSU (W) 36 27 0 1 272 1 132.9
@ MU (W) 43 24 0 0 312 2 116.8
AU (W) 32 22 0 0 208 1 123.3
VU (W) 30 24 2 0 289 2 182.9
UF (W) 38 19 2 2 316 0 126.7
2022 TOTAL 267 181 9 3 2,349 7 150.6
CAREER TOTAL 736 472 48 17 6,650 26 156.9

*Ties school record

Stetson Bennett Rushing (UGA Career – 32 games)

Year Att. Yards Per/Att. Per/Gm. TD LG
2019 4 12 3.0 2.4 1 14
2020 24 54 2.3 6.8 2 12
2021 56 259 3.9 18.5 1 30
2022 28 117 4.2 14.6 5 64TD
TOTAL 112 442 3.9 12.6 9 64TD
Piling Up The Points

Georgia is averaging 41.8 points/game, which ranks sixth nationally.

The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 334-84 this season, including 184-35 in the opening half.

The Bulldogs are 46 of 47 in the Red Zone (a national leading 98 percent) this year with 33 touchdowns and 13 field goals.

Georgia’s offense generated 49 points against No. 11 Oregon in the 2022 season opener. The Bulldogs tallied 571 yards of offense on only 62 plays and scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions of the game.

Georgia’s leading receiver against the Ducks was Kenny McIntosh (9-117-0). Also of note, WR Ladd McConkey scored receiving and rushing touchdowns in the same game for the second time in his career (@ Vanderbilt, 2021) versus Oregon as WR AD Mitchell also snagged a touchdown catch.

McConkey has a team high 31 catches for 413 yards (12.5 avg.) and two scores. He is also the primary punt returner with 14 for 144 yards.

Talented Tight Ends

Georgia’s tight end room features All-American and 2021 Freshman of the Year Brock Bowers, junior Darnell Washington, redshirt sophomore Arik Gilbert and freshman Oscar Delp.

Bowers leads the group this year with 31 catches for a team high 547 yards and three TDs while Washington has 19 for 332 yards. Bowers highlighted a career high 154 yards on five catches in the win over Florida and had a 73-yard scoring grab.

Bowers is the only player in the country this season with a rushing TD of at least 75 yards and a receiving TD of at least 75 yards.

Twice in his career Bowers has had two receiving scores and a rushing score in the same game. He did it during the road win at South Carolina and also at Vanderbilt last year. He finished with five catches for 121 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown against the Gamecocks.

Bowers has had six 100-yard receiving games in his career; three of his career TD catches have covered 75+ yards; his first career TD catch covered 89 yards against UAB.

Washington has started 11 consecutive games and has been a team captain twice in 2022. He had a career high four catches for 78 yards in the rout versus Vanderbilt.

Delp’s first career catch was also the first touchdown of his career on a 28-yard strike from Carson Beck against USC. Before Delp, the last Bulldog to score on his first career catch was Arian Smith at USC in 2020. For the year, Delp has five catches for 61 yards.

Gilbert scored his first touchdown as a Bulldog on a 4-yard pass from Beck versus VU.

Running Back Corps

Georgia’s veterans in the backfield are senior Kenny McIntosh and juniors Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards.

Edwards is the leading rusher with 440 yards on 71 carries (6.2 avg.) and seven touchdowns. During the win over Auburn, he became the first Bulldog RB since Sony Michel in the 2018 Rose Bowl Game to have three rushing TDs in a game.

Edwards provided the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter of the 26-22 win at Missouri on a one-yard rush. Milton also had a touchdown in the last period against the Tigers to help lock down the victory. Milton left the Auburn game with a groin injury and missed the Vanderbilt and Florida games.

McIntosh scored a touchdown both rushing and receiving for the first time in his career against Vanderbilt. He had nine catches for 117 yards (both career highs) to go along with five carries for 18 yards and a touchdown during the rout of No. 11 Oregon. McIntosh has run the ball 69 times for 332 yards and six touchdowns.

Milton scored both a rushing and a receiving touchdown against No. 11 Oregon for the first time in his career. For the year, he has 284 rushing yards and four TDs.

Did You Know?

In the season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon, Kenny McIntosh led the Bulldogs with 117 receiving yards on nine catches. It was the most yards by a Bulldog running back since 1995 when fullback Larry Bowie tallied 156 yards on 10 catches against Virginia in the Peach Bowl.

McIntosh’s nine catches were the most since 2013 when Todd Gurley had 10 (for 77 yards) against #7 Auburn.

For the year, McIntosh has a team high 26 receptions for 250 yards (9.6 avg.). He has 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Defense Setting The Tone

In 2021, Georgia featured the nation’s top Scoring Defense allowing just 10.2 points/ game. In six games last year, Georgia did not allow an offensive TD and that led the FBS.

This season, the Bulldogs lead the SEC and rank second nationally in Scoring Defense, giving up just 10.5 points per contest. The defense has posted 18 scoreless quarters in 2022.

Florida was held to 100 yards rushing on 34 attempts (2.9 yards per carry). The Gators entered the game with an FBS best 6.4 ypc.

Georgia posted its second shutout of the year with a 55-0 win over Vanderbilt. This marked the 10th shutout in the Kirby Smart era (since 2016), the most in the FBS during that span.

Georgia is allowing teams to convert on third downs 29 percent of the time (32 of 111) and that ranks 10th nationally.

The 2022 Bulldog defense kept No. 3 Oregon to only a field goal in the season opener. This marked the first time Oregon had failed to score a touchdown in a game since 2017. Late in the fourth quarter, Georgia had an impressive goal line stand late that ended at the two yard line following a 19-play, 87-yard drive that lasted 8:47.

Georgia’s first touchdown allowed this year came at South Carolina in game three with 53 seconds remaining in the game.

The Bulldogs have only allowed two rushing TDs this season (Gm 4 KSU, Gm 8 vs. UF).

Tackles And Turnovers

Jamon Dumas-Johnson is leading the team with 40 tackles, including five tackles for loss and two sacks. He equaled his sack total from 2021 against Kent State with a pair of sacks and also added another tackle for loss.

Georgia has six picks on the year and has recovered three fumbles and currently sits even in turnover margin. The Bulldogs forced three interceptions during the victory at South Carolina. Freshman Malaki Starks had his team-leading second pick, one that he returned 42 yards, while S Dan Jackson and ILB Trezmen Marshall each had their first INT. Jackson missed the Florida game with a foot injury.

Georgia’s leading tacklers in the win over No. 11 Oregon were senior Chris Smith (six) and Starks (eight). Both Bulldogs also registered interceptions that eventually turned into 14 points and helped Georgia build a 21-0 lead.

This marked Smith’s fourth career pick and his second in a row in a season-opening game after returning his interception for the game’s only touchdown against No. 3 Clemson in 2021. Smith shared SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors following his performance against Oregon. He snagged his second pick of 2022 during the win over Kent State. Recently, Smith was named a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist.

Most Wins By Current Senior Classes (Since 2019)

1. Alabama, 44-5
2. GEORGIA, 42-5
2. Clemson, 42-6
4. Cincinnati, 39-7
5. Louisiana, 38-10

Thirty-Four Points On Special Teams In The Smart Era

2016: 12 points in two games (KOR, PR)
2017: none
2018: 12 points in two games (PR, Blocked Punt Ret.)
2019: none
2020: none
2021: 8 points in two games (Blocked Punt Ret.; Safety/Blocked Punt);
2022: 2 points in one game (Safety/Blocked Punt)

Longest PR For a TD: 82 yards by Isaiah McKenzie vs. Louisiana, 2016
Longest Blocked PR For a TD: 8 yards by Eric Stokes @ Missouri, 2018
Longest KOR For a TD: 43 yards by Terry Godwin @ South Carolina, 2016

Block That Kick

Currently, there are four Bulldogs who have blocked a kick/punt in their Georgia career. This season, freshman OLB Jalon Walker blocked a punt that resulted in a safety versus Kent State.

Jalen Carter’s blocked field goal against Alabama in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game changed the momentum in the third quarter and ignited the Bulldog offense. The Bulldogs would outscore Alabama 20-9 in the final quarter.

Overall, Georgia blocked five kicks last year including punts against No. 8 Arkansas (Dan Jackson) and Missouri (Nolan Smith), a field goal by Kentucky (Devonte Wyatt, 1st round pick Green Bay) and a PAT (Carter versus Kentucky

Bulldog 2022 Accolades

Stetson Bennett: Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week, Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, Davey O’Brien Great 8 (vs. #11 UO); Manning Award Stars of the Week, Davey O’Brien Great 8 (@ SC); Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Top 10 QB

Chris Smith: SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week (vs. #11 UO); AP/CBS/ Sporting News Midseason All-America Team; Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist

Jack Podlesny: Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week (SAM); SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (KSU); Campbell Trophy semifinalist; SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, Lou Groza Award Stars of the Week (MU)

Kearis Jackson: Allstate AFCA Good Works Team member (Georgia leads the nation with 22 selections since award’s inception in 1992)

Brock Bowers: SEC Offensive Player of the Week, John Mackey Award TE of the Week, Maxwell Award Weekly Honor Roll (@ SC); Maxwell Award Weekly Honor Roll (KSU); CBS/Sporting News Midseason All-America Team

Branson Robinson: SEC Freshman of the Week (AU)

Offensive Line: Joe Moore Award Midseason Honor Roll

Malaki Starks: The Athletic/Yahoo/On3 Midseason Freshman All-America Team

Jalen Carter: Sporting News Midseason All-America Team

Hall of Fame Bulldogs

This past summer, former Georgia defensive lineman Richard Seymour became the latest Bulldog elected to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played for New England from 2001-08 after being drafted sixth overall. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots and appeared in a fourth Super Bowl. Seymour, a native of Gadsden, S.C., was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time All-Pro pick. He played for Oakland from 2009-12 and then retired. Seymour finished his career with 496 tackles and 57.5 sacks. At Georgia, Seymour was an All-American in 2000 and a two-time All-SEC selection.

Seymour joined Charley Trippi, Fran Tarkenton, Terrell Davis and Champ Bailey as Bulldogs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

On a related note, Bailey is set for induction to the College Football Hall of Fame in December in Las Vegas. He was one of the most versatile players in Georgia history including logging more than 1,000 snaps on offense, defense and special teams during the 1998 Bulldog campaign when he earned First Team All-America honors. A Folkston native and also a record-setting track and field athlete during his UGA career, he will be the 16th Georgia player to join the College Football Hall of Fame. He was the seventh overall pick by Washington in the 1999 NFL Draft and played 15 seasons for Washington (199-2003) and Denver (2004-13). He was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and was inducted in the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Most Wins In FBS History (Min. 800)
Most Wins In FBS History (Min. 800)
Rk Wins Team Years
1. 984 Michigan 142
2. 951 Ohio State 132
3. 949 Alabama 127
4. 934 Notre Dame 131
5. 933 Texas 129
933 Oklahoma 127
7. 915 Penn State 135
8. 911 Nebraska 132
9 864 Tennessee 125
10. 863 USC 128
11. 861 Georgia 129
Jackson Named To Allstate AFCA Good Works Team

Senior receiver/returner Kearis Jackson was recently named to the 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. Jackson is one of 11 players from the NCAA FBS selected based on their commitment to community service.

Georgia leads the nation in Allstate AFCA Good Works Team honorees with 22 since the award’s inception in 1992, including 17 since 2000.

Jackson, a native of Fort Valley, Ga., is one of only two players from the Southeastern Conference on the FBS 2022 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The SEC leads all conferences with 82 all-time selections.

FIRST TIME STARTERS

The Bulldogs had six first-time starters on defense in their opener versus No. 11 Oregon: So. ILB Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Fr. DE Mykel Williams, So. ILB Smael Mondon, So. DB Javon Bullard, So. DB Kamari Lassiter, Jr. N Nazir Stackhouse. Williams became just the ninth true freshman starter to make his debut in a season opener in the Kirby Smart era.

Samford: Fr. S Malaki Starks
South Carolina: Fr. WR Dillon Bell, Jr. DL Zion Logue, Sr. DL Tramel Walthour
Missouri: Jr. DB Tykee Smith (first start of his Bulldog career, 18th start of his career after transferring from West Virginia)
Auburn: Junior ILB Rian Davis

THE TRUE FRESHMAN EXPERIENCE

Georgia featured 12 true freshmen in its 2022 opener against No. 11 Oregon after having an NCAA record 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. A total of 21 true freshmen have played during the 2022 campaign.

During the 2021 season opener, six true freshmen saw action against No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte at Bank of America Stadium. In 2021, a total of 24 true freshmen played for the Bulldogs.

BULLDOG CAPTAINS

#11 Oregon:Nolan SmithKenny McIntoshChristopher SmithSedrick Van Pran
Samford:Zion LogueWarren EricsonMarcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
S. Carolina:Jamon Dumas-JohnsonKearis JacksonWarren McClendon
Kent State:Nolan SmithSedrick Van PranDarnell Washington, Chris Smith
Missouri:Brock Bowers, J. Dumas-Johnson, M. Rosemy-Jacksaint, Dan Jackson
Auburn: J. Dumas-Johnson, K. McIntosh, D. Washington, N. Smith
Vanderbilt: B. Bowers, Z. Logue, W. McClendon, J. Podlesny
Florida:Stetson Bennett, J. Dumas-Johnson, N. Smith, K. McIntosh
Tennessee:
Miss. State:
Kentucky:
Georgia Tech:

BIG PLAYS (25 or more yds)

GAME ONE:
UGA: 7 (Longest: 38-yd pass, Bennett to McIntosh)
#11 ORE: 0

GAME TWO:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 37-yd pass, Bennett to McConkey)
SAM: 1 (36-yd pass, Crittendon to King)

GAME THREE:
UGA: #1 UGA: 4 (Longest: 78-yd TD pass, Bennett to Bowers)
USC: 3 (Longest: 46-yd pass, Rattler to Bell)

GAME FOUR:
UGA: 3 (Longest: 75-yd TD run, Bowers)
KENT ST.: 3 (Longest: 56-yd TD pass, Schlee to Walker)

GAME FIVE:
UGA: 6 (Longest: 35-yd rush, Milton)
MIZ: 5 (Longest: 63-yd rush, Schrader)

GAME SIX:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 64-yd TD rush, Bennett)
AUB: 1 (62-yd TD pass, Ashford to Hunter

GAME SEVEN:
UGA: 6 (Longest: 36-yd TD rush, Jones)
VAN: none

GAME EIGHT:
UGA: 4 (Longest: 73-yd TD pass, Bennett to Bowers)
UF: 5 (Longest: 78-yd TD pass, Richardson to Henderson)

GAME NINE:
UGA:
TENN:

GAME 10:
UGA:
MSU:

GAME 11:
UGA:
UK:

GAME 12:
UGA:
GT:

POINTS OFF TURNOVERS

Georgia is even in turnover margin. The Bulldogs have 38 points off nine turnovers. Opponents have 26 points off nine turnovers.

#11 Oregon: UGA got 14 pts. off 2 TOs; UGA did not have any TOs.
Samford: UGA got 3 pts. off 1 TO; UGA did not have any TOs.
S. Carolina: UGA got 14 pts. off 3 TOs; UGA did not have any TOs.
Kent State: UGA got no pts. off 1 TO; KSU got 3 pts. off 3 TOs.

Missouri: UGA did not force any TOs; MU got 3 pts. off 2 TOs.
Auburn: UGA got no pts. off 1 TO; AU got 3 pts. off 1 TO.
Vanderbilt: GA got 7 off 1 TO; UGA no TOs.
Florida: UGA got no TOs; UF got 10 pts. on 3 TOs
Tennessee:
Miss. State:
Kentucky:
Georgia Tech: