ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart insisted Wednesday there was no political motivation behind the decision for his national championship football team to decline an invitation to visit the White House in June.
Georgia’s Smart insists he has not lost control of program
March 15, 2023 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart insists he has not lost control of a program that has produced back-to-back national championships but has been rocked by offseason arrests and a car crash that claimed the lives of a player and a recruiting staffer.
NCAA’s proposed rule changes a good start, Kirby Smart says
March 3, 2023 GMTGeorgia coach Kirby Smart says proposed changes to clock operating rules shouldn't significantly impact college football games next season, but he called them a good first step to reducing the number of plays in the name of player health and safety.
Georgia celebrates back-to-back titles with another parade
January 14, 2023 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart had a good-natured complaint to fans when celebrating the Bulldogs' back-to-back national championships with a parade and ceremony for the second straight year on Saturday.
Dawgs for 3?: Georgia has chance to make football history
January 10, 2023 GMTKirby Smart has spent the past 16 years coaching at the top two powerhouses of this era in college football, so he already knew the question on everybody's mind the morning after his Georgia Bulldogs won their second straight College Football Playoff championship game.
Georgia’s Bennett an underdog again in NFL’s QB draft class
January 10, 2023 GMTStetson Bennett has a new world of doubters to disprove.
After winning a second consecutive national championship at Georgia, the 25-year-old quarterback is now facing questions about his NFL draft qualifications.
No. 1 Georgia bullies TCU 65-7 to win 2nd consecutive title
January 10, 2023 GMTINGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stetson Bennett flashed a wry grin as he walked off the field, stopping to hug coach Kirby Smart as the crowd roared.
It was all standing ovations and sideline snacks in the fourth quarter of the most lopsided bowl season game in college football history.
Dykes, Smart stump for changes to recruiting calendar
January 8, 2023 GMTEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — The College Football Playoff championship on Monday night is the biggest game of TCU coach Sonny Dykes’ career. But it didn’t have his full attention this week.
“Look, we were preparing this week for a national championship game and we had six transfers on campus on an official visit.
No. 1 Georgia tries to launch dynasty against emboldened TCU
January 8, 2023 GMTEL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart was part of college football's greatest dynasty as an assistant for Nick Saban at Alabama and now is on the verge of launching his own.
After going through the Crimson Tide last season to win Georgia's first national title in 41 years, Smart's top-ranked Bulldogs are back in the College Football Playoff championship game Monday night against No.
Georgia coach Smart’s father unable to attend CFP title game
January 8, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said his father, former high school football coach Sonny Smart, won’t be at the College Football Playoff national title game because of health issues.
“It hurts me that he and my mom won’t be here,” Kirby Smart said Saturday, during CFP media day.
CFP Notebook: Hamlin’s collapse resonates with TCU, Georgia
January 8, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a game on Monday night, Georgia safety Javon Bullard was terrified by the sight of an NFL player having to be resuscitated.
Get Smart: Kirby’s carves his own path to dynasty at Georgia
January 5, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Kirby Smart landed his first coaching job because the price was right.
Simple as that.
“We had only $8,000 to pay a guy,” remembered Chris Hatcher, the coach who gave Smart his break at Division II Valdosta State more than two decades ago.
Expanded CFP will mean even longer seasons for title teams
January 4, 2023 GMTWith the 12-team playoff expansion approved for 2024, teams that make it to the national championship game will be facing even longer seasons.
Georgia’s 2-TE set uncertain for national title game vs. TCU
January 3, 2023 GMTATLANTA (AP) — A big part of Georgia's offense — big in every way — could be hampered in the national championship game against TCU.
Georgia's two-tight end formation is uncertain due to an ankle injury suffered by Darnell Washington in Saturday night's College Football Playoff semifinal win over Ohio State.
QB Bennett: Georgia must fix mistakes to win another title
January 2, 2023 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — No. 1 Georgia is far from satisfied, despite being unbeaten and one win away from back-to-back national championships,
Coach Kirby Smart and quarterback Stetson Bennett said Saturday night's 42-41 College Football Playoff semifinal win over Ohio State showed flaws the Bulldogs must fix in practice this week.
Defending champion Georgia vs. Cinderella TCU for CFP title
January 1, 2023 GMTAfter the best semifinal day in the nine-year history of the College Football Playoff, the title game will match the defending national champion against the closest thing the sport has had in years to a Cinderella team.
Georgia built RB depth as plan for run at repeat CFP title
December 27, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart's plan for a deep running back corps was based on more than making it through a 12-game regular season.
Smart wanted his backs to be fresh for the College Football Playoff.
No. 1 Georgia faces No. 4 Ohio State in Peach Bowl semifinal
December 4, 2022 GMTPEACH BOWL
No. 1 Georgia (13-0, No. 1 College Football Playoff) vs. No. 4 Ohio State (11-1, No. 4 CFP), 8 p.m. EST, ESPN
No. 1 Georgia looks to add SEC title to trophy case vs LSU
December 1, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs have their eyes on the biggest prize of all.
Yet there's a gnawing desire to add another Southeastern Conference title to the trophy case.
Georgia’s surging running game to test LSU in SEC title game
November 29, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A healthy Kenny McIntosh and strong play from the offensive line have No. 1 Georgia’s running game peaking just in time for the postseason.
The Bulldogs ran for more than 200 yards in each of their last two regular-season games, providing valuable momentum for Saturday's Southeastern Conference championship game against No.
No. 1 Georgia motivated to end SEC championship game drought
November 28, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's recent frustrations in the Southeastern Conference championship game are providing extra motivation for the Bulldogs to remain focused this week.
Saturday's matchup against No.
Georgia Tech’s Key adds vigor to rivalry with No. 1 Georgia
November 23, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart sees a change in Georgia Tech's play and players under interim coach Brent Key.
“You can see that the kids are playing with a lot more passion and energy,” Smart said.
No. 1 Georgia tops Kentucky, goes unbeaten in SEC again
November 20, 2022 GMTLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Between Kenny McIntosh and Jack Podlesny, top-ranked Georgia got all the important points it needed on a day where style points weren't possible.
Top-ranked Georgia cruises to 45-19 win at Mississippi State
November 13, 2022 GMTSTARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — No. 1 Georgia is going to the SEC championship game.
Stetson Bennett and company just keep rolling along.
Bennett threw for three touchdowns, and undefeated Georgia beat Mississippi State 45-19 on Saturday night.
No. 1 Georgia seeks strong SEC follow-up at Miss State
November 10, 2022 GMTNeither top-ranked Georgia nor coach Kirby Smart buy the notion that their toughest test is behind them.
The challenges never really stop for Smart's Bulldogs (9-0, 6-0 Southeastern Conference) — the target is always there as defending national champions and being No.
No. 1 Georgia boasts more balance thanks to offensive surge
November 6, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kirby Smart was obviously in a hurry to get through his postgame news conference and join his recruits after Saturday's win over Tennessee.
At one point, the Georgia coach asked longtime sports information director Claude Felton if he was trying “to set some kind of record” for the longest news conference after a game.
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Georgia now college football’s standard
November 6, 2022 GMTGeorgia has aspired to be Alabama.
Not just a national champion. The Bulldogs did that last year, going through the Crimson Tide to snap a 41-year title drought.
Georgia wants to set the standard in college football, the program that contends for national titles every season and wins them routinely.
No. 1 Georgia shuts down QB Hooker, No. 2 Tennessee, 27-13
November 6, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — In the biggest games, Stetson Bennett seems to rise to the occasion and above his often more heralded counterparts.
Bennett threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score as No.
No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Tennessee put title hopes on the line
November 3, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart just smiled and shook his head when asked if he has stressed conditioning in preparation for Saturday's visit from Tennessee and its fast-paced offense.
SEC schools aim to make conference, CFP cases in November
November 2, 2022 GMTNovember is when statements for the league championship and beyond are made, and several Southeastern Conference teams are part of the discussion.
Fittingly, the season’s final month commences this weekend with a pair of consequential matchups that could determine participants in next month’s SEC title game in Atlanta and how many represent the league in the four-team College Football Playoff.
No. 1 Georgia won’t have safety Dan Jackson against Florida
October 26, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia safety Dan Jackson is facing foot surgery that could end his season.
Coach Kirby Smart said Tuesday night that Jackson, tied for sixth on the team in tackles, won't be available for No.
Smart has recruiting concerns in Georgia-Florida site debate
October 24, 2022 GMTAs the home team in Saturday's neutral site game against Florida, No. 1 Georgia can leave tickets at the gate for recruits.
For Georgia coach Kirby Smart, that's not nearly enough to make up for his defending national championship team's inability to host recruits as he would in a true home game.
Georgia back atop rankings with lowly Vandy coming to town
October 13, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia Bulldogs are back atop the rankings, even though their style points are a bit lacking.
No. 2 Georgia’s defense looking to reclaim championship form
October 3, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Back-to-back unimpressive wins over Kent State and Missouri did more than knock Georgia from the top spot in the AP Top 25.
No. 1 Georgia rallies from 10 down to beat Missouri 26-22
October 2, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The two most important characteristics that Georgia coach Kirby Smart seeks in his team are composure and resiliency, and the top-ranked Bulldogs needed to rely on both to rally past Missouri on Saturday night.
No. 1 Georgia will try to get ground game going at Missouri
September 29, 2022 GMTKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Georgia has one of college football's prolific offenses, triggered by one of its best quarterbacks, so of course the topic of conversation around Athens as the top-ranked Bulldogs head to Missouri on Saturday would be their run game.
Georgia DB Bullard’s status uncertain following DUI arrest
September 26, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Defensive back Javon Bullard's status for No. 1 Georgia's Southeastern Conference game at Missouri on Saturday is uncertain after he was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol.
No. 1 Georgia goes for another blowout vs visiting Kent St
September 22, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — No. 1 Georgia' was all about defense a season ago.
Now, the reigning national champions are packing quite an offensive punch.
Bennett, No. 1 Georgia’s D steamrolls South Carolina 48-7
September 17, 2022 GMTCOLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart and his No. 1 Bulldogs are sending messages to anyone who thought they were going to drop off after a national championship.
Defending champ Georgia downplays return to No. 1 in Top 25
September 12, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Defending national champion Georgia needed only two games to convince voters it should return to the top of the AP Top 25.
No. 2 Georgia’s defense dominates in shutout of Samford
September 11, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A shutout win wasn't enough for a No. 2 Georgia coming off its impressive opener when it scored touchdowns on its first seven offensive possessions.
The reigning national champions fell short of that lofty standard against FCS Samford.
No. 2 Georgia’s Smart to face ex-boss in Samford’s Hatcher
September 8, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Chris Hatcher has good reason to feel proud of Kirby Smart's success in bringing a national championship to Georgia.
After all, Hatcher gave Smart his first coaching job.
AP Top 25 Takeaways: Georgia underrated? Pac-12 dumped again
September 4, 2022 GMTMaybe Georgia was underrated.
The defending national champions came into the season ranked No. 3 in the country and hardly overlooked behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Ohio State.
But after losing 15 players to the NFL draft, including nearly half a defense in the first round, it seemed fair to bake in a little bit of regression.
Bennett, Georgia D lead No. 3 Dawgs to 49-3 rout of Oregon
September 4, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Stetson Bennett and the Georgia defense picked up where they left off in last year’s national championship game, even with a bunch of their former teammates now playing in the NFL.
Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, a revamped defense didn't miss a beat, and the No.
Week 1 preview: Irish-Buckeyes matchup tops juicy slate
September 1, 2022 GMTThe first big weekend of college football is bursting with storylines and intrigue.
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia tops week in Pac-12 football
September 1, 2022 GMTHere are some things to watch this week in the Pac-12 Conference:
GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia on Saturday in Atlanta. As nonconference games go, it doesn't get much bigger in the Pac-12 than one of the conference's best teams facing the reigning national champions.
UGa’s Smart faces former assistant Lanning in season opener
August 30, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — When you build a powerhouse program, it's inevitable that others will try to copy your success.
That means hiring people who work for you.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart will see another familiar face on the opposing sideline Saturday when the reigning national champion Bulldogs open the season against No.
SEC: Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M in hunt for national title
August 24, 2022 GMTThe rest of the Southeastern Conference isn't about to throw a pity party for Alabama and Georgia, no matter how many stars they lost to the NFL.
Alabama gives Saban new 8-year, $93.6 million deal
August 23, 2022 GMTTUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban is getting a new eight-year contract worth at least $93.6 million, eclipsing the recent megadeal of Southeastern Conference rival Kirby Smart.
The University of Alabama trustees compensation committee on Tuesday approved a one-year extension through Feb.
Georgia begins national title defense with sweet fade
August 4, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia Bulldogs aren’t resting on their laurels — or their locks — as they begin defense of college football’s national championship.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett and several of his teammates chopped off a significant chunk of hair before the start of preseason practice Thursday.
Georgia’s Smart gets 10-year extension, raise to $10.25M
July 21, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season, a 10-year agreement worth more than $110 million that makes him the latest coach to land the type of megadeal that is becoming increasingly common in college football.
Kiffin describes opening query about Saban as ‘pretty usual’
July 18, 2022 GMTATLANTA (AP) — Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin provided a strong hint he and other SEC coaches who were former assistants on Alabama coach Nick Saban’s staff, including Georgia coach Kirby Smart, may grow tired of questions about their former boss.
Georgia enjoys school-record turnout from NFL for Pro Day
March 16, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia's impressive class of NFL draft candidates commanded an unusually large audience at the school's Pro Day on Wednesday.
After Georgia sent 14 players to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis earlier this month, the most of any school, the talent was again on display on campus.
Georgia facing tough task of replacing NFL-bound D-linemen
March 15, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The trio of Georgia defensive linemen projected as first-round selections in next month's NFL draft have highlighted the talent that enabled the Bulldogs to win the national championship.
National champ Georgia hires Searels to coach offensive line
March 2, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — National champion Georgia added another familiar face to its football coaching staff with the hiring of Stacy Searels to oversee the offensive line.
Searels is a 30-year coaching veteran who spent the last three seasons as North Carolina's offensive line assistant.
UGa assistant Luke steps down to spend more time with family
February 21, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Matt Luke resigned Monday as Georgia's associate head coach and offensive line assistant, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
The 45-year-old Luke is a former head coach at Mississippi.
Georgia’s Smart hires Fran Brown from Rutgers to coach DBs
February 18, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has hired former Rutgers assistant Fran Brown to coach the Bulldogs' defensive backs.
Brown was secondary coach at Rutgers. He replaces Jahmile Addae, who left Georgia for a similar position at Miami.
Georgia hires assistant McClendon away from Cristobal, Miami
January 31, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Georgia has hired assistant coach Bryan McClendon to return to his alma mater less than a month after he took a job with Miami.
McClendon had been on new Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal's staff at Oregon, and he followed Cristobal to Miami, taking a job early this month as receivers coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Mike Bobo returns to Georgia as offensive analyst
January 28, 2022 GMTATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Mike Bobo has returned to Georgia.
The national champion Bulldogs announced Friday that Bobo, a former quarterback and offensive coordinator at the school, was joining coach Kirby Smart's staff as an offensive analyst.
Georgia celebrates title at stadium, Smart plans repeat
January 15, 2022 GMTGeorgia coach Kirby Smart told a near-capacity crowd at Sanford Stadium on Saturday the Bulldogs don't plan to wait another 41 years for their next national championship.
“It’s moments and events like this that allow us to look back and allow us to look forward,” Smart said.