The Georgia Bulldogs ended their season with a 23-10 loss against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff in New Orleans, Louisiana.
This matchup was part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and it marked a notable upset as Notre Dame entered the game as the third seed against the second-seeded Bulldogs.
Riley Leonard, the quarterback for Notre Dame, had a strong performance, throwing for one touchdown.
There was a remarkable moment in the game when Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown, contributing significantly to the Irish’s scoring.
If you watch the Georgia Bulldogs, you’ll see a really good college football team.
| Date | Opponent | Time and Location | Ticket Info / Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024 | Clemson Tigers | 12 pm Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 34-3 |
| Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 | Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles | 1 pm Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 48-3 |
| Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 | Kentucky Wildcats | Kroger Field Parking Lot, Lexington, KY | W 13-12 |
| Saturday, Sept. 28 2024 | Alabama Crimson Tide | Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala. | L 34-41 |
| Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 | Auburn Tigers | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 31-13 |
| Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 | Mississippi State Bulldogs | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 41-31 |
| Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024 | Texas Longhorns | Texas Memorial Stadium; Austin, TX | W 30-15 |
| Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 | Florida Gators | 3:30 p.m., Everbank Stadium, Jacksonville, Fl | W 34-20 |
| Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 | Ole Miss Rebels | Vaught Hemingway Stadium; Oxford, MS | L 10-28 |
| Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 | Tennessee Volunteers | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 31-17 |
| Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 | UMass Minutemen | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 59-21 |
| Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 | Georgia Tech Yellowjackets | Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga. | W 44-42 OT |
| Dec 7, 2024 | Texas | Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA. | W 22-19 |
| Jan 3, 2025 | Notre Dame | Caesars Superdome, Ne Orleans, La. | L 23-10 |
How Did Georgia Win the SEC in 2024?
The Georgia Bulldogs football team won the Southeastern Conference (SEC) title in 2024 through an impressive season marked by a combination of strong performances, strategic gameplay, and a talented roster. Here are the key points that contributed to their success: 1. **Outstanding Regular Season Performance**: Georgia finished the regular season with a remarkable record, showcasing their dominance in the SEC.
Strong Defense
Georgia is known for having a robust defensive unit, and the 2024 season was no different. The defense was effective at stopping the run and pressuring opposing quarterbacks, leading to critical turnovers and limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities, especially in tight games against Kentucky, Texas and Georgia Tech.
Key Injuries and Depth
Aside from losing starting signal caller Carson Beck in the Texas game, Georgia had largely managed to avoid significant injuries to key players, and their depth allowed them to maintain a high level of performance even in challenging situations.
Coaching and Strategy
Georgia Coach Kirby Smart is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the SEC for several reasons:
The coaching staff’s strategy and in-game adjustments played a significant role in Georgia’s success. Effective game plans tailored to exploit opponents’ weaknesses contributed to their championship victory.
1. Championship Success
- National Championships: Kirby Smart led Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, breaking a 40-year title drought for the Bulldogs. Winning at the highest level solidifies his reputation as an elite coach.
- SEC Championships: Under Smart’s leadership, Georgia has won multiple SEC Championships, most recently in 2022. Competing at the top of one of the most challenging conferences in college football is a key indicator of his coaching prowess.
2. Recruiting Excellence
- Top Recruiting Classes: Smart has consistently brought in top-tier recruiting classes, often ranked among the best in the nation. This ability to attract and develop talent is a cornerstone of his success and shows his strong recruiting network and skills.
- Player Development: Many of Smart’s recruits have gone on to become high NFL draft picks, demonstrating his effectiveness in developing talent at the college level.
3. Defensive Mastermind
- Defensive Expertise: Before becoming a head coach, Smart was a defensive coordinator under Nick Saban at Alabama, where he established himself as a defensive mastermind. His defenses at Georgia have been some of the best in the country, known for their toughness and discipline.
- Consistent Performance: Georgia’s defense under Smart has consistently ranked among the top in various defensive statistics, which is a testament to his ability to coach and prepare his teams.
4. Program Building
- Culture and Identity: Smart has successfully built a winning culture at Georgia, emphasizing discipline, resilience, and teamwork. His leadership has transformed Georgia into a perennial national contender.
- Sustained Success: Since taking over in 2016, Smart has led Georgia to consistent top-tier performances, including multiple College Football Playoff appearances and SEC East titles, establishing Georgia as a powerhouse in college football.
5. Coaching Tree
- Influence and Mentorship: Smart’s coaching tree is beginning to grow, with several of his former assistants moving on to head coaching positions. This spread of his coaching philosophy throughout college football further enhances his reputation.
Kirby Smart’s combination of championship success, elite recruiting, defensive acumen, and ability to build and sustain a top-tier program has earned him widespread respect and recognition as one of the best coaches in the SEC and in college football as a whole.
Georgia 2024 Season Recap
Game 1: Georgia 34, Clemson 3
Georgia had too much power on both offense and defense as the Bulldogs ran through the Tigers in the first game of the season. Georgia signal caller Carson Beck threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and No. 1 Georgia whipped 14th-ranked Clemson on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.
Week 2: Georgia 48, Tennessee Tech 3
UGA ran over the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 48-3 on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 behind a strong game from quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 242 yards and five touchdowns. See the highlights below.
Week 3: Georgia 13, Kentucky 12
Georgia edged Kentucky in a tough environment in Lexington on a cool Saturday night on Sept. 14. In the last 5 seasons, Georgia has been held below 20 points on the road 3 times: – 16 points at Kentucky in 2022 – 14 points at Kentucky in 2020 – 13 points at Kentucky tonight Georgia is 3-0 in those games.
Week 5: UGA 34, Alabama 41
Georgia got behind 28-0 before rallying to take the lead with under 3 minutes left against the Alabama Crimson Tide, but a late touchdown was too much to overcome.
Week 6: Georgia 31, Auburn 13
Georgia and Auburn were close until the Bulldogs pulled away in the second half.
Week 7: UGA 41, Mississippi State 31
Dawgs quarterback Carson Beck threw for a career-high 459 yards and three touchdowns, helping Georgia hold off Mississippi State’s second-half comeback for a 41-31 victory on Saturday.
“He’s experienced,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart of the senior quarterback. “When the game gets tight, he stays cool and doesn’t panic.”
Georgia (5-1, 3-1 Southeastern Conference) occasionally played as if it were looking ahead to next week’s matchup against No. 1 Texas, but still had enough offensive firepower to secure its 28th consecutive home win.
The Bulldogs led 34-10 early in the second half, but freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr., in just his second start, rallied Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3) with two quick touchdowns. His strong showing helped the Bulldogs finish the game on a 21-7 run, though it wasn’t enough to avoid their fifth straight loss.
Week 8: UGA 30, Texas 15
On Saturday, Oct. 19 has been marked on SEC calendars for months now, and it did not disappoint. No. 5 Georgia has knocked off No. 1 Texas, 30-15, leaving the SEC with no undefeated teams.
The first half was chaotic, featuring five turnovers between the two teams. Georgia’s offense took advantage, jumping out to a commanding 23-0 lead by halftime.
Texas quickly got on the board to start the second half, narrowing the gap to two scores. After a controversial sequence involving the referees, the Longhorns capitalized on an interception to cut the deficit to eight.
Trevor Etienne secured his third rushing touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter, sealing the victory for Georgia. Although Texas managed to reach scoring distance multiple times, they struggled, finishing the game just 1-5 on fourth down.
Week 9: Georgia 36, Florida 20
The Georgia Bulldogs blew the game out in the second half against the Florida Gators, scoring 28 points in the second half on the way to a 34-20 victory in Gainesville on Nov 2.
Georgia 10, Ole Miss 28
Georgia has no answer for Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and his scrambling ability.
Georgia 31, Tennessee 17
The Bulldogs got back into the winning column with a convincing win against the Tennessee Volunteers.
UGA 59, UMass 21
Georgia hosted the U-Mass Minutemen for homecoming, spanking them 59-21 on Nov. 23 in Athens.
Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 42 (OT)
In a thrilling game between state rivals, Georgia Bulldogs defeated he Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 44-42, in eight overtimes. 8 OTs are the second-most since rules were changed in 2021. Georgia also won their 31st-straight home game, tied for most in SEC history.
SEC Championship: Georgia 22, Texas 19
Texas’ first foray into the SEC pitted them against Georgia twice. This time, on Dec. 7, 2024 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta, it was for all the marbles.
The No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs upset the No. 2 Texas Longhorns, 22-19, in the first overtime game in SEC Championship history. UGA won it off a game-winning TD from star running back Trevor Etienne.
Georgia 10, Notre Dame 23
The Notre Dame defense played exceptionally well, holding Georgia to only 10 points and securing the victory. The game was tightly contested early on, tied at 3-3, before Notre Dame exploded for 17 points in a remarkable span of just 54 seconds.
This victory propelled Notre Dame into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff, marking an important milestone as it was their first win against Georgia in their football history.
Final Word
Georgia faces a pumped-up SEC, with the addition of Texas to the schedule. National championship implications are nearly in play every week. Will you say it with me? GO DAWGS!