It’s hard to believe that the college football season is halfway through. It’s even harder to believe some of the results. The once No. 3 Clemson fell early to Georgia, the once ranked Florida Gators fell to LSU, and the reigning champs, Alabama, lost their first regular season game since 2019 to the Aggies. The Georgia Bulldogs have soundly defeated every competitor this season with an astounding 38 points per game and only 6.6 points allowed per game.
In recent seasons, college football fans have gotten used to two unbeatable teams, Clemson and Alabama. Always dominant and always on another level, most people lost hope if their team was facing one of these two power houses. But this year there seems to be a new top dog (dare I say top dawg?) With four wins against ranked opponents and five conference wins, the undefeated Bulldogs (7-0) are feeling good going into their bye week. But what makes Georgia different from the rest? What sets them apart this year? In a word, defense.
The dominant defense has allowed a total of three offensive touchdowns all season (two in the last game vs. Kentucky). In a combination of two top ten matchups, Georgia only allowed three points. Not touchdowns. Points. The Bulldogs have scored 203 points against SEC teams while those same teams have only scored a combined 36 points against Georgia.
What makes UGA’s defense so elite this season? Kirby Smart (head coach), says it’s a mentality. The defensive coaches have been pressing their team to live up to the “Georgia-standard.” The six five-star starters for the defense and 6’ 6” 340 lb Jordan Davis (no. 99) help too. And while Georgia has had great defenses in the past, this is the best it’s been statistically since 1937. If they continue to be this dominant, the Bulldogs could overshadow the best defense of all time: 2011 ‘Bama.
Georgia still has some tough competition coming up. While they are expected to meet Alabama in the SEC championship, they still have to defeat their dreaded rival, Florida, as well as Missouri and Tennessee. Will UGA continue to demonstrate dominance on the field? Dawg fans are used to disappointment, but if there was ever a year to be hopeful, it’s this one. The saying “defense wins championships” hasn’t been true for years, but it may be making a comeback in red and black.