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Georgia won its season opener at Arkansas 37-10. We breakdown what went wrong and what went right here.
After an abysmal first half where Georgia found itself down 7-2 at one point, the Bulldogs were able to find some rhythm and came back to beat Arkansas 37-10.
The resurgence was due, in part, to junior quarterback Stetson Bennett, who got the call when redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis was pulled after just five drives.
Hear what former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray had to say about the Dawgs’ quarterback play here:
Let’s break down the good versus the bad from UGA’s win in Fayetteville.
Here’s the recap of Georgia’s win over Arkansas. We talk about the UGA quarterbacks and list some key stats of the game too!
Georgia recovers from an early deficit and beats Arkansas in Fayetteville 37-10.
Redshirt freshman quarterback D’Wan Mathis started out the game at quarterback but struggled, prompting Georgia to turn to junior Stetson Bennett with USC transfer J.T. Daniels in question with a knee injury.
Bennett showed poise and led Georgia back from a five-point deficit, creating his own buzz in the Bulldog quarterback competition.
As far as the revamped offensive line, the Bulldogs’ front recovered from a slow start and began to push their way around the field.
Defensively, Georgia had a field-day. The Bulldogs racked up three interceptions, two by preseason All-American safety Richard LeCounte and stifled the Razorbacks’ ground game, allowing 77 rushing yards.
Here are the key stat lines from Georgia’s opener:
QB D’Wan Mathis : 8-17, 55 yards, 1 INT
Watch RB Zamir White scores his first touchdown of the 2020 season here!
This Georgia offense has finally come to life. The Bulldogs now lead 34-10 over Arkansas due to this run by redshirt freshman phenom Zamir White.
Watch it here:
TOUCHDOWN!!! ZEUS!!!!@zeus1_34 pic.twitter.com/ySDx8d8rmC
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Those cuts made by White are reminiscent of a D’Andre Swift or Todd Gurley.
So glad to see him healthy and running with conviction after fighting back from multiple knee injuries in his young career.
Let’s hope to see more runs like this moving forward, this offensive line is really getting some push now.
Watch this clutch Georgia run that set up the first UGA touchdown of 2020!
After an awful start, the Georgia offense is finally on the board against Arkansas due to a great throw and catch between junior quarterback Stetson Bennett and star receiver George Pickens.
They can thank this run by redshirt freshman phenom Zamir White:
ZEEEEUUUUSSSS!!!@zeus1_34 pic.twitter.com/NCAzKY6H04
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
We are finally seeing the Bulldog offensive line create space for White and sophomore James Cook.
Let’s hope Bennett continues to show the poise he has and maybe hand a few more off like this to Zeus!
Georgia has scored its first points of the 2020 season but not by a Zamir White run or George Pickens catch. UGA’s defense came through with a safety early in the second quarter to cut the Arkansas lead to 5. Watch it here: …
Georgia has scored its first points of the 2020 season but not by a Zamir White run or George Pickens catch.
UGA’s defense came through with a safety early in the second quarter to cut the Arkansas lead to 5.
Watch it here:
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis has had a rough time so far and running back Zamir White only had two touches in the first quarter – we are going to need a lot more of this Bulldog offense to compete for the College Football Playoff.
Watch new UGA quarterback D’Wan Mathis connect to star receiver George Pickens for a big first-down conversion here!
Georgia has a starting quarterback.
Coach Kirby Smart and staff elected to start redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis over USC transfer J.T. Daniels and he has shown some ability early on in the first half.
This particular throw to George Pickens may be a foreshadowing of things to come for the Bulldog offense :
D’Wan Mathis @DwanM3 to George Pickens @geo_Thagoat pic.twitter.com/UZ4UoO5JPk
— GEORGIA HEROES (@GeorgiaHeroes) September 26, 2020
Love how Mathis stood tall and got it to Pickens with not much room to work with; hopefully we get to see more of this moving forward!
Check back here for more highlights and analysis during the game.
Former Georgia running back D’Andre Swift gives his thoughts on the UGA quarterback situation. Details and analysis here!
Georgia is set to kick off its 2020 season versus Arkansas at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network and currently has not named a starting quarterback.
The Bulldogs were hit with adversity early this September when Wake Forest transfer quarterback Jamie Newman decided to opt-out of the 2020 season citing, concerns surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.
This left Georgia with redshirt sophomore USC transfer J.T. Daniels and redshirt freshman D’Wan Mathis as potential signal callers.
We have received news today that Daniels has still yet to be cleared for gameplay from his ACL tear last year, which means we will most likely see Mathis make his college football deput in Fayetteville.
Lions running back, former Georgia football star D’Andre Swift gave his thoughts on the Georgia quarterback situation recently in an interview with Campus Lore.
“I know Coach Smart is going to make the best decision for the team,” Swift said. “But, me personally, I would like to see D’Wan Mathis out there. I think he will bring a different style of play. I have been reading up on him and he has looked great in camp. He is ready and looked real mature. I want to see him out there. I definitely want to see him out there.”
There may not be as much of a battle as reported, if Daniels’ can’t get cleared from his knee injury that occured last October.
It should free Mathis up to run things without the thought of Daniels’ over his shoulder every play, but against teams like Auburn and Alabama, the Bulldogs may need all hands on deck to get the offense going.
Read how to tune in to UGA vs Arkansas for the Georgia football 2020 season opener here!
We have football! The Southeastern Conference kicks off its 10-game schedule today.
No. 4 Georgia travels to Arkansas to face former offensive line coach Sam Pittman and former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks.
Georgia vs. Arkansas
Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Stream: Watch ESPN
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium – Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Satellite Radio: XM 191
Georgia Radio: Athens 960 AM/106.1 FM; Atlanta 750 AM/95.5 FM; Macon 106.3 FM; Augusta 580 AM/95.1 FM; Savannah 1400 AM/104.3 FM; Columbus 1460 AM/100.1 FM; Valdosta 105.9 FM; Rome 107.1 FM (IMG Radio-Scott Howard, Eric Zeier, Chuck Dowdle)
Line: Georgia -28
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Over/under: 52
Matchup predictor: Georgia has a 91.1% chance to win, according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.
Series history: Currently, Georgia leads the series 10-4. UGA won the last matchup in 2014.
Prediction: Georgia wins 38-13
Captains: Senior DL Malik Herring, senior DB Richard LeCounte, junior tackle Jamaree Salyer.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
See what the Arkansas media is saying about Georgia ahead of Saturday’s matchup. Details and analysis here!
It’s finally here. No. 4 Georgia is set to kickoff its 2020 season at Arkansas on Saturday at 4 p.m. on the SEC Network.
UGA coach Kirby Smart matched up against former offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who left the Bulldogs last year to take the head coach position in Fayetteville.
Georgia has not yet named a starting quarterback and Smart hinted to the possibility of UGA keeping that under wraps anyway, but we know that former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks will be at signal caller for the Razorbacks.
Here is what the Arkansas football media is saying about the Bulldogs:
- Bob Holt – Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
“Maybe Smart mentioning Mathis last means he’s going to start. Several Georgia media members have speculated Mathis will start Saturday.”
- Otis Kirk – Pig Trail Nation.
“Georgia’s expected starter Jamie Newman who transferred in as a grad transfer from Wake Forest was generally considered the most likely quarterback, but he opted out of the season. That left USC transfer JT Daniels and D’Wan Mathis as the likely candidates. A reporter speculated to Pittman that Mathis seemed to be the likely starter.
- Trey Biddy – Hawg Sports
“Georgia did not rack up a bunch of sacks last season either, finishing 46th nationally with 31 total, nor did the Bulldogs did not make a lot of TFL (60th with 76). Given those numbers, the fact that UGA was second nationally in allowing just 2.6 yards per rush without a lot of those negative yardage plays is even more impressive. They also led the nation with only two rushing touchdowns allowed.
- Nate Allen – Hootens
The Razorbacks, off consecutive 2-10 seasons, start last year’s true freshman starting guard at center and first-time starting redshirt freshmen guards. They’ll either start a third-year sophomore (injured last season) or last year’s incumbent at right tackle with the lone senior starter at left tackle.
Arkansas has more than a challenge Saturday. Georgia enters with the best defense in the nation and some serious talent on offense, featuring guys like George Pickens, Zamir White, James Cook, etc.
It will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs treat the quarterback position Saturday. Will we see one guy take over the game, or will we see each player get some reps, and who gets the starting nod and why?
Because of the questions surrounding J.T. Daniels’ knee, I suspect D’Wan Mathis will get the start and a majority of the reps, with Daniels and Stetson Bennett seeing a limited number of snaps. We may even see freshman Carson Beck get reps as well.
Georgia football has announced that the Bulldogs will wear the new 1980 National Championship throwback uniforms on Sept. 26 at Arkansas.
Yesterday, Georgia unveiled two new uniform combinations for the upcoming season.
One was a twist on the familiar favorite ‘blackout’ jerseys seen below, and the other is a great take on the Bulldogs’s 1980 National Championship uniforms, featuring red pants with white stripes and black numbering up top.
Back in Black 🔥#ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/eVaXRNc8NY
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 17, 2020
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Georgia’s second title.
Feels like 1980 🏆#ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/fRNXMPuFAT
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 17, 2020
The question is now, what games will we get so see the Bulldog’s wear the new threads in?
The 40th anniversary championship uniforms will be worn week-one versus Arkansas, per the Georgia football Twitter account.
With UGA wearing their new threads when they visit Arkansas on Sept. 26, it makes up for the fact that we won’t get to see the Bulldogs in a season opener in Athens for the second year in a row.
I really like Georgia’ new take on this combination. The pants are absolutely gorgeous.
If there was any way I could buy some, you could catch me in the press box on gameday proudly wearing them.
What do you think of the new look?
Run it Back — Week 1 Unis 🔥#ATD #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/iW2JTA1czi
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 18, 2020
