It has been a golden era of Georgia football. Going 42-2 over the past three season, the Bulldogs hadn't won a national title since 1980 before they won back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022.
UGA will open the 2024 season as the favorites to win yet another national title, and it's not difficult to understand why. Here's the rundown on the Georgia Bulldogs:
Georgia's biggest games in 2024
Nobody will say the Bulldogs got an easy draw on the 2024 schedule. Among the games that aren't picked for UGA's biggest this season are a season-opening tilt at Clemson, a trip to Kentucky on Sept. 14, and a home game against Tennessee in November. Any of them could be stumbling blocks for UGA.
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However, the biggest trio of games here are an unholy trinity of road match-ups with top-10 teams. With both teams coming off bye weeks, Georgia goes to Alabama on Sept. 28. The Tide have been responsible for both Georgia losses in the last three seasons, but UGA also bested Bama for the 2021 national title.
The other big road battles are a matchup at Texas on Oct. 19 and a road finale at Ole Miss on Nov. 9. Both teams figure to feature high-octane offenses, and both will look to make their cases for the College Football Playoff. A 12-0 season in 2024 might be UGA's most impressive accomplishment yet, if they reach it.
Key Georgia Players to Watch
Given the speed with which Georgia's players have been incorporated into the NFL, particularly on defense, today's UGA stars are tomorrow's first-round draft picks.
There's more of that this season, with UGA producing a roster as deep and talented as any in the nation, but here are a few key players to know.
#1 Carson Beck, QB
Georgia has tended a bit toward game managers in recent seasons under coach Kirby Smart, but Beck may have broken the mold. After sitting behind Stetson Bennett, Beck had a huge season in 2023, passing for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Beck is efficient as a passer (72% completion percentage) and doesn't make many mistakes (just six interceptions in 417 passes). But he has a bigger arm than many prior UGA passers and is a dangerous passer in play-action situations.
With UF transfer Trevor Etienne at running back, Beck can dink and dunk and go play action and take apart defenses over the top.
#2 Smael Mondon, LB
Georgia's defense is notoriously filthy. In this three year run, UGA has allowed 10.2, 14.3 and 15.6 points per game.
Mondon is a senior who has waited his turn and had an excellend 2023 campaign. He was second on Georgia's team with 68 tackles last year, including five tackles for loss.
At six-foot-three and 225 pounds, Mondon is a typical UGA 'backer. He's speedy enough to drop into coverage and handle receivers but physical and strong enough to punish opposing passers on the blitz. There's no reason to think Mondon isn't the next great Georgia defensive star.
#3 Malaki Starks, S
Starks is now a junior, but he was a first-day starter in the Georgia secondary, which is certainly not common.
Last season, he had 52 tackles, fourth on the team, and defended 10 passes, including three interceptions. A first-team All-American pick last season, Starks is both a big hitter and a solid player in coverage.
The rest of Georgia's secondary is relatively inexperienced, but Starks will help cover up some growing pains for less experienced players. He's a veteran defensive leader and also might be the most talented defensive back in the nation.
Georgia Predictions for 2024
At this point, it's pretty much national title or bust for Georgia. This is a brutal schedule with three road games against obvious top-10 opponents, and perhaps even top-five opponents. The good news for Georgia is: 10-2 will likely get them into the College Football Playoff.
That feels like the floor for this team. Even with a road loss and an upset or a pair or road losses, Georgia could still reach the Playoff. At that point, look out. The team will be battle tested and have the depth to compete with anyone. In year one of the expanded Playoff, predicting a champion is almost impossible, but Georgia's chances are as good as anyone's.
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