ESPN’s “College GameDay” will attend two different campuses for the first round of the College Football Playoff
ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be attending two first-round games of the College Football Playoff. GameDay plans to attend the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Fighting Irish game on Friday, Dec. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The crew will be another show from the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio State Buckeyes game on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 9 a.m. ET.
This weekend will be a treat for college football games. Friday and Saturday have four first-round playoff games that will all be hosted from college campuses.
The first of the four first-round games is Notre Dame versus Indiana at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 20. Next will be a trio of games of on Saturday starting with SMU at Penn State at noon, then Clemson at Texas at 4:00 p.m. ET and finally Tennessee at Ohio State at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Oregon, Georgia, Boise State and Arizona State all have byes in the first round of the playoff after winning their respective conferences.
GameDay most recently attended the SEC championship between Georgia and Texas in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia won in the SEC championship’s first ever overtime game with a walk-off touchdown.
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GameDay will begin coverage from South Bend, Indiana, at 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday and at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday from Columbus, Ohio (ESPN). Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit, Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee all serve as college football analysts for GameDay.
Former Georgia LB, two-time national champion declares for the 2025 NFL draft and says Georgia “will always be home”
Former Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who played his senior season with the Kentucky Wildcats, has declared for the 2025 NFL draft via social media.
Dumas-Johnson is not ranked among the top seven linebackers in the draft. He is expected to be a mid- or late-round pick in the draft.
“Some team going to be very lucky to have a special person and player on their team soon!!” Georgia co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said after Dumas-Johnson’s decision.
Dumas-Johnson played at Georgia from 2021-2023. He won national titles with Georgia in 2021 and 2022. Dumas-Johnson started for Georgia in 2022 and 2023 before he suffered a season-ending forearm injury against Missouri.
Dumas-Johnson still has a soft spot in his heart for Georgia, which signed him as a four-star recruit out of high school.
“Thank you for letting me know what it feels like to win and become a two-time national champion. This will always be home,” said Dumas-Johnson in a statement via social media.
Kentucky Wildcats linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson was Kentucky’s leading tackler in 2024. Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Dumas-Johnson, who transferred to Kentucky ahead of the 2024 college football season, had a memorable pick six of Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers. The 6-foot-1, 245-pound linebacker recorded 67 total tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble returns, one interception and one touchdown with Kentucky this season.
Three Georgia Bulldogs players who will benefit from three weeks of postseason practice
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart’s approach to this extended period of time off was very clear after the SEC championship win.
“You know, we commit 75, 80% to ourselves and growth and development and trying to get our team ready and backups ready,” Smart on what Georgia will be doing until the Sugar Bowl.
With school over and all attention on football, postseason practices function like a mini fall camp for Georgia players. It provides a chance to spend extensive time with teammates and coaches while focusing solely on development. This period presents a key opportunity for players across Georgia’s roster to grow and improve.
What three Georgia Bulldogs have the most to gain from bowl practices?
Running Back Trevor Etienne
Trevor Etienne has been dealing with injuries all season, but when he is 100% or close to it, then he is the focal point of the UGA offense. In the SEC championship game, Etienne’s status was uncertain due to a rib injury, but he decided to give it a go. He gained 122 total yards and two touchdowns to help secure the SEC title over Texas.
Now with three weeks of rest, we can finally see Etienne return to the most healthy version of himself. Etienne’s workload will be even larger with Gunner Stockton at quarterback. Etienne is playing for a lot this postseason with a chance to win a national championship and boost his NFL draft status.
Defensive Back Daniel Harris
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Georgia’s second cornerback position opposite Daylen Everette has been a revolving door this season. Julian Humphrey appeared to secure the role midway through the season. However, Harris regained momentum following a standout stretch of practices, particularly during the bye week, as noted by Smart.
Harris officially took over the spot after starting against UMass, a move that came after Humphrey was pulled during the opening drive against Tennessee due to a costly pass interference penalty. Humphrey did not see the field against Georgia Tech and has committed to transferring. The upcoming preparation for the College Football Playoff will provide Daniel Harris valuable time to further develop and solidify his understanding of the role.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton
Online Athens
We saw a glimpse of what the Georgia offense is capable of with Stockton at quarterback in the SEC championship game. The redshirt sophomore, who guided Georgia on its first touchdown drive of the game, and finished 12-for-16 for 71 yards and one interception. UGA will use Stockton’s mobility as much as it can.
Three weeks will help prepare Stockton for his first career Georgia start. Georgia will have to play complementary football and can’t rely on miracle comebacks like it did at times under Carson Beck.
Georgia is among the contenders for USC Trojans transfer wide receiver Zachariah Branch
USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch has entered the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Trojans. Branch, who is an explosive playmaker, is a former five-star recruit.
Branch played high school football for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. The elusive receiver is the third-best player and second-best receiver in the transfer portal according to 247Sports.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver was named as a freshman All-American in 2023. Branch will likely be a package deal with his brother, Zion Branch. Safety Zion Branch recorded 19 tackles and three pass deflections during his sophomore season with USC.
Zachariah Branch’s top contenders are expected to be Louisville, Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Oklahoma and Miami. Branch entered the transfer portal with a destination already in mind as he has a do not contact tag on his entry into the portal.
The elite transfer posted 47 receptions for 503 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore with USC in 2024. Branch has immense potential as a Percy Harvin-type player. Branch returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown during the 2023 college football season.
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver, who most recently played for the New York Giants, finds a new NFL home
Former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie signed with the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad. McKenzie began the 2024 NFL season with the New York Giants before the Giants waived him after reaching an injury settlement.
McKenzie, who is healthier now, is in his eighth season in the NFL. McKenzie was a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and played with the Indianapolis Colts a year ago.
In 2023, the former Georgia standout recorded 11 catches for 82 receiving yards and three carries for 14 rushing yards with Indianapolis. McKenzie has also played for the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos in his NFL career.
The Dolphins are signing McKenzie to provide depth at wide receiver and as a return specialist. McKenzie finished the 2023 season with 23 punt returns for 204 yards and six kickoff returns for 152 return yards. McKenzie has one career NFL punt return touchdown.
Miami lost wide receiver Grant DuBose for the season last week. Dolphins wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Dee Eskridge are both also dealing with injuries.
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Isaiah McKenzie had a career-best 42 catches for 423 yards and four touchdowns with Buffalo in 2022.
Five receivers the Georgia Bulldogs are targeting in the transfer portal including stars from LSU, Kentucky, Idaho and more
The Georgia Bulldogs have holes to fill at wide receiver with Arian Smith, Dominic Lovett and Colbie Young all likely departing after the 2024 college football season. Georgia added several talented wide receivers via traditional recruiting, but the Bulldogs want more experience and depth at the position.
Fve wide receiver Georgia football has targeted in the transfer portal:
Eric Singleton, Georgia Tech
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Singleton, considered the top wide receiver transfer this year, is someone Georgia knows well. With the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Singleton totaled 104 receptions for 1,468 yards and nine touchdowns in two seasons.
Dane Key is another receiver Georgia coaches should know well from playing against him. With the Kentucky Wildcats, he’s had a total of 125 receptions, 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns in three seasons. Key shows a deep understanding of defensive leverages, good body control and reliable hands despite a lack of blazing speed.
Sturdivant transferred from Cal to UCLA in 2023, so he knows how to adjust to a new playbook quickly. In three years with Cal and UCLA, Sturdivant totaled 123 receptions, 1,667 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Georgia scheduled him to visit this week. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver has drawn some NFL interest.
CJ Daniels, LSU
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CJ Daniels is another SEC wide receiver the Bulldogs have their eyes set on. Daniels started his career as a reliable target at Liberty, totaling 106 receptions, 1,959 yards and 21 touchdowns in 42 games. Then, in 2024, he transferred to LSU, where he totaled 480 yards on 42 catches.
Daniels has reliable hands and a high football IQ and is good at finding weak zones within the defense. He could help a developing quarterback if Georgia gets a transfer or sticks with one of the underclassmen the Bulldogs already have.
Jordan Dwyer, Idaho
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Jordan Dwyer is the last, but certainly not the least productive, name to look out for in this list. Dwyer leaves the Idaho Vandals with an impressive track record, garnering 109 catches, 1,651 yards and 18 touchdowns in three seasons.
Last year was his most productive year by far: 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns on 78 receptions. He transferred from Idaho after coach Jason Eck was named the new coach of the New Mexico Lobos.
Dwyer is one of the emerging wide receivers on the transfer portal, but Georgia has already gotten in contact with him.
Cleveland signs former UGA, FSU tight end to their practice squad
The Cleveland Browns have signed former Georgia Bulldogs tight end Tre’ McKitty to their practice squad. McKitty is in his fourth season in the NFL.
McKitty played college football at Georgia in 2020 and at Florida State from 2017-2019. He accumulated 56 receptions for 628 yards and three touchdowns in his college career.
The Los Angeles Chargers drafted McKitty with the No. 97 pick (third-round) in the 2021 NFL draft. McKitty played with the Chargers from 2021 to 2023 before they released him in Oct. 2023. McKitty posted 16 receptions for 117 yards during his time with the Chargers, but he is still looking for his first career NFL touchdown.
McKitty signed with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad in Nov. 2023. McKitty stayed with the Bills until they released him in Aug. 2024. Now, McKitty gets another NFL opportunity with the Browns. Cleveland starting tight end David Njoku is dealing with a hamstring injury and was unable to play last week in Cleveland’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tre’ McKitty of the Buffalo Bills makes a catch for a two point conversion during the 2024 NFL preseason. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Former Georgia Bulldogs, Syracuse offensive lineman Joshua Miller is back in the transfer portal for a second time
Former Georgia Bulldogs offensive guard Joshua Miller is back in the transfer portal. Miller redshirted during the 2023 season with Georgia. He followed former Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown to the Syracuse Orange, but appeared in just one game for the Orange in 2024.
Miller is a former three-star recruit from Life Christian Academy in Chesterfield, Virginia. The talented offensive guard stands 6 feet, 5 inches and weighs 305 pounds. He is likely looking to transfer to a new school where he can get more playing time.
Miller noted his versatility and ability to play any offensive line position after entering the portal. He thanked Syracuse via social media.
“I’m forever grateful for the memories made with my brothers. Thank you to the coaches who’ve helped me grow & thank you to the fans for your support. I will be entering the transfer portal with 3 years of eligibility remaining,” said Miller via social media after entering the transfer portal.
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Miller was one of three UGA players to transfer to Syracuse last offseason (wide receivers Jackson Meeks and Zeed Haynes).
10 Georgia Bulldogs have entered the transfer portal this winter
Several Georgia Bulldogs have already entered the NCAA transfer portal following its opening on Monday, Dec. 9. Over the coming weeks, the Georgia program will focus on identifying potential transfer targets, managing outgoing players and assessing player availability for the Sugar Bowl.
During last year’s transfer cycle, Georgia had 24 players enter the portal while bringing in 11.
During the current cycle, 10 Bulldogs have entered the transfer portal. The majority of Georgia’s portal entries are players who have been passed by younger players.
Georgia’s transfer portal window (when players are allowed to enter the portal) will close five days after Georgia’s season ends.
Two Yahoo Sports writers predict Georgia football to go far in the CFP.
There have been a lot of predictions on Georgia’s outcome in the 2024 College Football Playoff. The writing staff at Yahoo Sports wrote their predictions on the CFP. Dan Wetzel and Caroline Fenton predicted Georgia to advance to the national championship to play Oregon. Both predicted Oregon to win the game, though.
“Oregon is the nation’s most complete team and Dillon Gabriel may be the best quarterback in the College Football Playoff,” wrote Wetzel, “That will show throughout the bracket, and the Ducks should edge out a very talented Georgia team in the national championship game.”
Some of the optimism around Georgia has to do with their easier path to the championship than a team like the Oregon Ducks. Oregon has to deal with either Ohio State or Tennessee in the quarterfinals, then Texas, Clemson, or Arizona State in the CFP semifinal.
Meanwhile, Georgia would play either Notre Dame or Indiana in the second round and play either Penn State, SMU, or Boise State in the semifinal. David Pollack highlighted the advantages of UGA’s path in his analysis of the bracket.
