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UGA Football History

UGA Football History

“Be worthy as you run upon this hallowed sod, For you have dared to tread where champions have trod.”

The University of Georgia began their football history 123 years ago in 1892. Since that time, the Bulldogs have played 1,335 games and have compiled an overall record of 881-429-54 (as of Jan. 17, 2024).

Dr. Charles Herty was the first UGA football coach and he led the Bulldogs to a 1-1 record in 1892. In their first game, Georgia defeated Mercer 50-0 in Athens. Georgia met Auburn at Piedmont Park in Atlanta for their second and final game of 1892. Auburn defeated Georgia 10-0 and the “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry” was started.

In 1942, Wally Butts led the Bulldogs to an 11-1 overall record and a Rose Bowl win over the UCLA Bruins, 9-0. This was Georgia’s first claimed national championship after at least half of the recognized polls listed them number one.

Vince Dooley, Georgia’s winningest coach, led the Bulldogs to the 1980 National Championship and six SEC Championships. Dooley coached the Dawgs from 1964 to 1988 and his overall record was 201-77-10.

In 2001, Mark Richt took over the head coaching position at the University of Georgia and returned the Bulldogs to national prominence. In his 15 seasons as head coach, Mark Richt led the Dawgs to a 145-51 record (83-37 SEC), the 2002 and 2005 SEC Championships and nine bowl wins.

Alabama defensive coordinator and UGA alum Kirby Smart was named the new head football coach on Dec. 6, 2015.

In his second season in Athens, Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs won the 2017 SEC Championship Game 28-7 over Auburn and won the College Football Semifinal at the Rose Bowl 54-48 in double-overtime over Oklahoma. Georgia advanced to the College Football National Championship, but fell to Alabama 26-23 in overtime.

In 2021, Smart guided the Bulldogs to their first undefeated regular-season since 1980 at 12-0. Georgia fell to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, but were named the third-seed in the College Football Playoff.

The Bulldogs defeated the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, 34-11. Georgia then defeated Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, 33-18, for their third national title.

Georgia finished the 2022 season undefeated at 13-0 with an SEC Championship victory over LSU. In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Georgia defeated Ohio State 42-41. The Bulldogs went on to dominate TCU in the College Football Playoff National Championship, 65-7, to claim their first back-to-back titles and fourth national championship overall.

UGA Football History

Records, Schedules & Signees

Consensus National Champions

  • 2022 (15-0) – Kirby Smart coached the Bulldogs to a 13-0 season and an SEC Championship win over LSU. Georgia went on to defeat Ohio State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, 42-41, and TCU in the College Football Playoff National Championship, 65-7.
  • 2021 (14-1) – Kirby Smart led the Bulldogs to a perfect 12-0 regular-season, their first since 1980. Georgia went on to defeat Michigan in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, 34-11, and Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, 33-18.
  • 1980 (12-0-0) – Vince Dooley coached the Bulldogs to a perfect 12-0 season, including a 17-10 victory over Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to win the National Championship. Georgia finished as the only team with no losses and no ties and was declared No. 1 by almost every poll.
  • 1942 (11-1-0) – Berryman; DeVold; Houlgate System; Litkenhous; Poling System; Williamson System.

Unclaimed National Championships

  • 1920 (8-0-1) – Berryman
  • 1927 (9-1-0) – Berryman, Boand, Poling
  • 1946 (11-0-0) – Williamson
  • 1968 (8-1-2) – Litkenhous

Conference Championships

  • 2023 – SEC East Champions
  • 2022 – SEC Champions
  • 2021 – SEC East Champions
  • 2019 – SEC East Champions
  • 2018 – SEC East Champions
  • 2017 – SEC Champions
  • 2005 – SEC Champions
  • 2002 – SEC Champions
  • 1982 – SEC Champions
  • 1981 – SEC Co-Champions
  • 1980 – SEC Champions
  • 1976 – SEC Co-Champions
  • 1968 – SEC Champions
  • 1966 – SEC Co-Champions
  • 1959 – SEC Champions
  • 1948 – SEC Champions
  • 1946 – SEC Co-Champions
  • 1942 – SEC Champions
  • 1920 – SIAC Co-Champions
  • 1896 – SIAC Co-Champions

Heisman Trophy Winners

  • Herschel Walker (1982) – Walker won the Heisman Trophy after his Junior season at Georgia. He rushed 335 times for 1,752 yards and 17 touchdowns.
  • Frank Sinkwich (1942) – Sinkwich won the Heisman Trophy after his Senior season at Georgia. He rushed 175 times for 795 yards and 30 touchdowns. Sinkwich also completed 84 of 166 passes for 1392 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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