The 2024 Georgia Bulldogs football team represented the University of Georgia as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by ninth-year head coach Kirby Smart, who notched his 100th win as head coach during the season.
The Bulldogs went 11–3 and won the SEC Championship Game against Texas, 22–19 in overtime. After the end of the season with Georgia's 23–10 loss to eventual runners-up Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl, Smart called the season "the toughest year of my tenure. Easily the toughest of my tenure."
Offseason Entered NFL draft
Team departures Over the course of the offseason, Georgia lost 48 total players. Eleven players graduated, 12 players declared for the NFL Draft, while the other 22 players entered the transfer portal.
Transfer portal Twenty two Georgia Bulldogs players entered the NCAA transfer portal during or after the 2023 season. Over the offseason, Georgia added eleven players from the transfer portal. According to 247 Sports, Georgia had the No.15-ranked transfer class in the country. Departing transfers Name No. Pos. Height/weight Class Hometown New school Sources Nyland Green #1 CB 6'1"", 185 Sophomore Covington, GA Purdue Andrew Paul #3 RB 5'11", 200 Freshman Dallas, TX A. J. Harris #4 CB 6'1", 190 Freshman Phenix City, AL Penn State Marvin Jones Jr. #7 OLB 6'5", 250 Sophomore Sunrise, FL Florida State Jackson Meeks #9 WR 6'2", 205 Junior Phenix City, AL Syracuse Jamon Dumas-Johnson #10 LB 6'1", 245 Junior Hyattsville, MD Kentucky Tyler Williams #10 WR 6'2.5", 200 Freshman Lakeland, FL Brock Vandagriff #12 QB 6'3", 205 Sophomore Bogart, GA Kentucky Zeed Haynes #13 WR 6'1", 170 Freshman Philadelphia, PA Syracuse CJ Madden #16 DE 6'4", 230 Freshman Ellenwood, GA Purdue Xavian Sorey Jr. #18 LB 6'3", 220 Sophomore Campbellton, FL Arkansas C. J. Smith #18 WR 6'3", 190 Freshman Apopka, FL Purdue Darris Smith #19 OLB 6'5", 240 Sophomore Baxley, GA Missouri De'Nylon Morrissette #23 WR 6'1", 200 Sophomore Stone Mountain, GA Purdue EJ Lightsey #25 ILB 6'2", 223 Freshman Fitzgerald, GA Georgia Tech Austin Blaske #58 IOL 6'5", 310 Junior Faulkville, GA North Carolina Aliou Bah #66 OT 6'5", 320 Freshman Memphis, TN Maryland Joshua Miller #70 IOL 6'4", 315 Freshman Chesterfield, VA Syracuse Chad Lindberg #78 OT 6'6", 325 Senior League City, TX Rice Logan Johnson #82 WR 5'6", 155 Sophomore Bogart, GA Jonathan Jefferson #94 DL 6'3", 295 Sophomore Douglasville, GA SMU Jared Zirkel #99 PK 6'3", 185 Junior Kerrville, TX Texas A&M Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height/weight Year Hometown Prev. school Sources Colbie Young #4 WR 6'5", 215 Junior Binghamton, NY Miami (FL) Trevor Etienne #7 RB 5'9", 213 Sophomore Jennings, LA Florida Michael Jackson III #13 WR 6'0", 200 Junior Las Vegas, NV USC Jake Pope #21 CB 6'1", 192 Freshman Buford, GA Alabama Brandon Mathis #27 RB 6'0", 215 Freshman Fayetteville, GA West Georgia Patrick Hester #47 TE 6'5", 260 Freshman Johns Creek, GA Army Xzavier McLeod #64 DL 6'5", 284 Freshman Camden, SC South Carolina Kavon Townsend #80 WR 6'2", 195 Sophomore Conroe, TX El Camino College (JC) London Humphreys #83 WR 6'3", 186 Freshman Nashville, TN Vanderbilt Benjamin Yurosek #84 TE 6'4, 242 Senior Bakersfield, CA Stanford Note: Players with a dash in the new school column have not joined a new team for the 2024 season.
Recruiting class
*= 247Sports composite rating; ratings are out of 1.00. (five stars= 1.00–.98, four stars= .97–.90, three stars= .80–.89, two stars= .79–.70, no stars= <70) †= Despite being rated as a four and five star recruit by ESPN, On3.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, TBD received a four-, five-star 247Sports composite rating. Δ= Left the Georgia program following signing but prior to the 2024 season
2024 overall class rankings
Schedule
Game summaries vs. No. 14 Clemson (rivalry)
Statistics CLEM UGA First downs 13 19 Total yards 188 447 Rushing yards 46 169 Passing yards 142 278 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–29–1 23–33–0 Time of possession 27:18 32:42
Team Category Player StatisticsClemson Passing Cade Klubnik 18/29, 142 yards, 1 INT Rushing Phil Mafah 16 carries, 59 yards Receiving Antonio Williams 6 receptions, 76 yardsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 23/33, 278 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 11 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD Receiving London Humphreys 2 receptions, 63 yards, 1 TD
vs. Tennessee Tech (FCS)
Statistics TNTC UGA First downs 9 27 Total yards 134 498 Rushing yards 116 166 Passing yards 18 332 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 5–8–0 28–37–0 Time of possession 28:35 31:25
Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Tech Passing Jordyn Potts 5/8, 18 yards Rushing Aidan Littles 6 carries, 45 yards Receiving D.J. Linkins 1 reception, 12 yardsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 18/25, 242 yards, 5 TD Rushing Trevor Etienne 5 carries, 78 yards Receiving Arian Smith 4 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
at Kentucky
Statistics UGA UK First downs 12 23 Total yards 262 284 Rushing yards 102 170 Passing yards 160 114 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–0 14–28–0 Time of possession 24:58 35:02
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 15/24, 160 yards Rushing Trevor Etienne 19 carries, 79 yards Receiving Dominic Lovett 6 receptions, 89 yardsKentucky Passing Brock Vandagriff 14/27, 114 yards Rushing Demie Sumo-Karngbaye 22 carries, 98 yards Receiving Barion Brown 3 receptions, 34 yards
at No. 4 Alabama (rivalry)
Statistics UGA ALA First downs 27 21 Total yards 519 549 Rushing yards 80 175 Passing yards 439 374 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–50–3 27–33–1 Time of possession 27:47 32:53
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 27/50, 439 yards, 3 TDs, 3 INTs Rushing Trevor Etienne 12 carries, 55 yards, 1 TD Receiving Arian Smith 6 receptions, 132 yards, 1 TDAlabama Passing Jalen Milroe 27/33, 374 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Jalen Milroe 16 carries, 117 yards, 2 TDs Receiving Ryan Coleman-Williams 6 receptions, 177 yards, 1 TD
vs. Auburn (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry)
Statistics AUB UGA First downs 18 21 Total yards 58–337 66–381 Rushing yards 31–137 37–141 Passing yards 200 240 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–27–0 23–29–0 Time of possession 28:32 31:28
Team Category Player StatisticsAuburn Passing Payton Thorne 16/27, 200 yds Rushing Jarquez Hunter 13 rushes, 91 yds, TD Receiving KeAndre Lambert-Smith 7 receptions, 95 ydsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 23/29, 240 yds, 2 TD Rushing Trevor Etienne 16 rushes, 88 yds, 2 TD Receiving Colbie Young 3 receptions, 51 yds
vs. Mississippi State
Statistics MSST UGA First downs 17 28 Total yards 63–385 77–605 Rushing yards 26–79 29–146 Passing yards 306 459 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–37–1 36–48–2 Time of possession 26:22 33:38
Team Category Player StatisticsMississippi State Passing Michael Van Buren Jr. 20/37, 306 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Davon Booth 10 carries, 32 yards Receiving Kevin Coleman Jr. 8 receptions, 103 yardsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 36/48, 459 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Anthony Evans III 1 carry, 52 yards Receiving Arian Smith 5 receptions, 134 yards, TD
at No. 1 Texas
This game marked Kirby Smart's 100th career win as head coach with the Bulldogs' 30–15 victory against #1 Texas.
Statistics UGA TEX First downs 14 19 Total yards 74 76 Rushing yards 28–110 27–29 Passing yards 175 230 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–41–3 28–49–1 Time of possession 30:26 29:34
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 23/41, 175 yards, 3 INT Rushing Trevor Etienne 19 carries, 87 yards, 3 TD Receiving Oscar Delp 2 receptions, 45 yardsTexas Passing Quinn Ewers 25/43, 211 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT Rushing Quintrevion Wisner 15 carries, 52 yards Receiving Matthew Golden 3 receptions, 77 yards
vs. Florida (rivalry)
Statistics UF UGA First downs 13 26 Total yards 228 455 Rushing yards 115 146 Passing yards 113 309 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 9–30–1 25–40–3 Time of possession 26:25 33:30
Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida Passing Aidan Warner 7/22, 66 yards, INT Rushing Ja'Kobi Jackson 12 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Aidan Mizell 4 receptions, 66 yards, TDGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 25/40, 309 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Nate Frazier 19 carries, 82 yards, TD Receiving Arian Smith 2 receptions, 59 yards
at No. 16 Ole Miss
Statistics UGA MISS First downs 16 19 Total yards 245 395 Rushing yards 59 132 Passing yards 186 263 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–31–1 18–28–1 Time of possession 32:15 27:45
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 20/31, 186 yards, INT Rushing Nate Frazier 12 carries, 47 yards, TD Receiving Dominic Lovett 4 receptions, 41 yardsOle Miss Passing Jaxson Dart 13/22, 199 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jaxson Dart 8 carries, 50 yards Receiving Cayden Lee 4 receptions, 81 yards
vs. No. 7 Tennessee (rivalry)
Statistics TENN UGA First downs 20 25 Total yards 319 453 Rushing yards 152 106 Passing yards 167 347 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–33–0 25–40–0 Time of possession 29:31 30:29
Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Nico Iamaleava 20/33, 167 yards Rushing Dylan Sampson 19 carries, 101 yards, TD Receiving Miles Kitselman 4 receptions, 46 yardsGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 25/40, 347 yards, 2 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 19 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving London Humphreys 3 receptions, 63 yards
vs. UMass
Statistics MASS UGA First downs 14 34 Total yards 351 550 Rushing yards 226 208 Passing yards 125 342 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–17–0 23–35–0 Time of possession 30:04 29:56
Team Category Player StatisticsUMass Passing AJ Hairston 7/16, 121 yds, TD Rushing John Jalen 9 rushes, 107 yds, TD Receiving Jakobie Keeney-James 3 receptions, 101 yds, TDGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 20/31, 297 yds, 4 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 21 rushes, 136 yds, 3 TD Receiving Arian Smith 3 receptions, 110 yds, TD
vs. Georgia Tech (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate)
Georgia came back from a 17–0 halftime deficit at home to force overtime. The game was decided in 8OT, which is the second longest game in FBS history by total number of overtimes. This was the fourth time, and second since 2013, that the game was decided in overtime. The previous longest game between the two teams was 2OT.
Statistics GT UGA First downs 28 24 Total yards 563 405 Rushing yards 260 108 Passing yards 303 297 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 26–37–0 28–43–0 Time of possession 37:11 22:49
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Tech Passing Haynes King 26/36, 303 yards, 2 TD Rushing Haynes King 24 carries, 110 yards, 3 TD Receiving Eric Singleton Jr. 8 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TDGeorgia Passing Carson Beck 28/43, 297 yards, 5 TD Rushing Nate Frazier 11 carries, 50 yards, 1 TD Receiving Cash Jones 4 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD
at No. 2 Texas (SEC Championship Game)
The SEC Championship Game was broadcast on ABC for the first time since 2000, replacing CBS. Georgia defeated Texas 22–19 in overtime, earning an automatic bid in the 2024–25 College Football Playoff; it was the first time ever that the SEC championship game went to overtime.
After quarterback Carson Beck was injured in the first half, Gunner Stockton replaced him after halftime; Stockton threw for 71 yards and an interception.
Beck later underwent an MRI, revealing a UCL injury in his elbow. On December23, 2024, it was announced that Beck underwent surgery on his right elbow, performed by Neal ElAttrache, prematurely ending his season. On December28, Beck declared for the 2025 NFL draft before later withdrawing and transferring to Miami.
Statistics UGA TEX First downs 19 21 Total yards 277 389 Rushing yards 141 31 Passing yards 136 358 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–30–1 27–46–2 Time of possession 31:59 28:01
Team Category Player StatisticsGeorgia Passing Gunner Stockton 12/16, 71 yards, 1 INT Rushing Trevor Etienne 16 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD Receiving Arian Smith 5 receptions, 41 yardsTexas Passing Quinn Ewers 27/46, 358 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Quintrevion Wisner 19 carries, 51 yards Receiving Matthew Golden 8 receptions, 162 yards