With the 2024 college football season just around the corner, we're previewing each team in the SEC. We last looked at the Florida Gators, and now, we breakdown their SEC rivals, the Georgia Bulldogs.
A SEC title loss to Alabama last season was the lone thing keeping Georgia from winning a third-straight national title, and the Dawgs are set up to lead the title discussion once again.
Examining the Georgia Bulldogs' offense
Georgia turned the reigns over to QB Carson Beck in 2023, and the Dawgs didn't miss a beat, averaging 40 points and 497 yards per game. Beck was prolific through the air and enters 2024 as one of the nation's best QBs. He does lose some big weapons in the receiving corps however with TE Brock Bowers and WR Ladd McConkey gone.
But he does get back WR Dominic Lovett, who had a productive 2023, and Miami-transfer Colbie Young enters the fold. TE Oscar Delp looks poised to be the next great UGA TE. Former Florida RB Trevor Etienne transfers in to lead the way in the backfield. Up front, UGA is loaded with a veteran and highly-talented OL, led by guard Tate Ratledge.
Examining the Georgia Bulldogs' defense
Georgia has developed the same defensive reputation under Kirby Smart that Alabama had under Nick Saban. They will annually be an elite unit, loaded with future pros, regardless of what they return from the previous season. That's almost certainly the case yet again.
The Dawgs weren't quite as dominant up front in '23, at least by their standards, but with a ton of experience back, they should go back to totally obliterating opposing offensive lines. Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse are an elite combo along the DL. Smael Mondon, Jr. and Jalon Walker should be a dominant LB duo.
The secondary does take some big losses after being absolutely dominant in 2023. CB Kamari Lassiter, NB Tykee Smith, and SS Javon Bullard all depart. But they do get back elite FS Malaki Starks and a strong CB in Daylen Everette. If some younger players step up (as you'd expect with a Smart defense), pass defense will remain elite.
Thoughts on the Georgia Bulldogs entering 2024
There's not much to say here. Georgia looks like the Georgia you'd expect at this point. They have an elite QB, elite talent along both lines of scrimmage, and elite skill talent across the board. The have arguably the best top-to-bottom roster in the country. The expectation is a third national title in the last four years.
They won't be without challenges however. UGA travels to Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss in '24, the consensus best teams in the SEC after the Dawgs. It'll be hard to go undefeated in that stretch. Even two losses wouldn't be a total shock. But with a 12-team playoff, you can just about lock UGA into the the Dance, and once there, good luck beating them.