2023 Record: 13-1 (8-0)
AP Ranking: 1
Head Coach: Kirby Smart
Best team in the country. It’s not that close. Simmer down Ohio State, Texas and Oregon fans, my money is on the best coach in College Football. Kirby Smart enters his 9th season with the Bulldogs holding a 94-16 record. Carson Beck may go down as one of the best passers in Georgia football history and has no shortage of targets. For the first time in three seasons, the Bulldogs are not defending a title and it can be scary when there are no lofty expectations.
Trevor Etienne enters from Florida to help revive the one weakness Georgia’s offense saw last season. That will only make life easier for the passing game. Even without Rara Thomas, there are plenty of pass catchers Beck can spread the ball to – led by Dominic Lovett. The offensive line returns four starters and will move any defensive front they match up against.
Five starters return in the front seven, but they lose three in the Secondary. It hardly projects to be an issue, but some younger players and transfers will need to take over a couple roles. The defense ranked #1 in almost every category a season ago outside of pass rushing. Kirby Smart is the reason this group will repeat as a top defense in the county, but it does help when you have veterans like Nazir Stackhouse (DT) and Malaki Starks (S) who will be 1st Round picks next Spring.
Georgia will run the table this season and look near unbeatable at times. Somehow Kirby found a way for his squad to have a chip on their shoulder by missing the playoffs a season ago. Playing five Top 15 ranked opponents will ensure this squad is battle tested, but I do expect them to come out ahead in those matchups. They return the most production since 2017 and should be in the driver’s seat headed into the playoffs.
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