KIRBY SMART

1 Georgia survived a sloppy performance and surprisingly gritty effort from Kent State, holding off the Golden Flashes 39-22 Saturday. Kent State had a chance to make it a one-score game with less than 13 minutes remaining after Marquez Cooper scored on a 1-yard run to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Georgia then finished off the Golden Flashes, driving 75 yards for Kendall Milton's 1-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal with 5 1/2 minutes to go. Georgia settled for three field goals by Jack Podlesny after driving inside Kent State's 20-yard line, which allowed the Golden Flashes to hang around. “I’m really pleased with the way that our kids fought,” Kent State coach Sean Lewis said.

Brock Bowers scored two more touchdowns and No. 1 Georgia survived a sloppy performance and surprisingly gritty effort from Kent State, holding off the Golden Flashes 39-22.

Kent State head coach Sean Lewis had high praise for the Georgia Bulldogs as his Golden Flashes prepare to take on the No. 1 team in the nation in Week 4.

Kent State coach Sean Lewis is in awe of the players Kirby Smart has recruited to and developed at Georgia. It’s not easy to disagree with Lewis after Georgia beat Alabama for the national title and the way it’s started the 2022 season. Georgia is a 46.5-point favorite over the Golden Flashes at BetMGM and is -10000 to win straight up. That means if you bet $10 on a Georgia win by any score, you would make a 10-cent profit on the bet if Georgia wins. Kent State, meanwhile, is +2500 on the money line and tied with Vanderbilt — who plays at No.

"I obviously did a horse-crap job of getting our team ready to play today regardless of how many guys we had out," said South Carolina coach Shane Beamer, who was missing six defensive players. Maybe I had a bad grape.”THE TAKEAWAYGeorgia: Struggles against teams like South Carolina used to define the Bulldogs. At one point when Steve Spurrier was Gamecocks coach in the early 2010s, South Carolina won four of five in the series. South Carolina: Beamer appears to be breathing life into a program that had lost 13 of its last 16 when he took over in 2021, but there is still a big gap to the best. South Carolina: The Gamecocks dip out of the SEC for a home game next Saturday against Charlotte.

Stetson Bennett went 16 for 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score to lead No. 1 Georgia to a 48-7 victory over South Carolina.

Stetson Bennett passed for 300 yards while throwing and running for touchdowns and No. 2 Georgia’s rebuilt defense delivered another dominant performance in the Bulldogs’ 33-0 win over Samford.

3 Georgia proved its offense is ready to lead. But a deep offense showed it can take some pressure off the defense during the transition. Georgia showed impressive depth at running back, wide receiver and tight end while quarterback Stetson Bennett accounted for three touchdowns. For one game, at least, Georgia was content to rely on its passing game. Georgia scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions and averaged 9.2 yards per play.

Third-ranked Georgia made a statement that its offense is ready to take the lead.

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. The Bulldogs crushed No. 11 Oregon with stunning ease, unleashing a more dynamic offense and a defense that was just as salty as last season's wrecking crew. Stetson Bennett passed for 368 yards without playing a down in the fourth quarter.

Stetson Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns and Georgia's revamped defense didn’t miss a beat.

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. Smart's former defensive coordinator, Dan Lanning, is now guiding the Ducks. My job, as well as the players' job, is to focus on the task at hand.”As Smart heads into his seventh season as the Bulldogs' boss, the list of assistants-turned-head coaches is growing. “I knew he was going to do a great job," Smart said. “Kirby Smart is not going to play a single snap on Saturday, and neither is Dan Lanning," the Oregon coach said.

When you build a powerhouse program, it’s inevitable that others will try to copy your success.

TUSCALOOSA, 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. Saban's deal averages out to $11.7 million per year, topping Smart's $11.25 million pay at defending national champion Georgia. The announcement comes a month after Smart agreed to a 10-year deal worth more than $110 million. His contract ensures his pay will remain at or near the top of the heap among college football coaches. ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college footballCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

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.

ATLANTA – Three years ago, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey began touting the book “The Club,” the origin story of soccer’s wildly successful Premier League. The 2022 iteration of SEC Media Days lacked the seismic upheaval of last year’s version, when news broke that Texas and Oklahoma would be coming to the SEC in the coming years. We are confident in our collective strength.”That collective strength is what should have every conference that’s not the Big Ten concerned. “I’m competing all across the SEC, who host recruits at their biggest game,” Smart said on "SEC Now." When LSU and Alabama play, that’s where the biggest recruits want to go.

Subscribe to The College Football EnquirerApple Podcasts • Stitcher • Google Podcasts • SpotifySEC Media Days wrapped up in Atlanta on Thursday afternoon and there was one common theme: the coaches don't like NIL. Kirby Smart (with a fresh 10-year, $112 million extension) worried that young athletes may be getting too much money, too fast. Overall it was more of the same posturing from superstar coaches, but the train on NIL has left the station. Dan Wetzel & SI's Pat Forde discuss the latest round of comments from these coaches, weak comments from ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, a new proposal on transfers & the end of the turnover chain in Miami. Stay up to date with the latest college football news and coverage from Yahoo Sports on Twitter @YahooSportsCFB.

NCAA Football: Georgia at Florida Oct 30, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs fans cheer in the second half against the Florida Gators at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports - 17061671Georgia head coach Kirby Smart re-upped his desire to move the annual Florida-Georgia game from Jacksonville to the school’s respective stadiums at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. “I’m competing all across the SEC, who host recruits at their biggest game,” Smart said on "SEC Now." They’d like to see Georgia play Florida, but they can’t do that. "I'd like to see that game in Jacksonville, experience that game before I have an opinion on that."

ATHENS, Ga. — (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season that strengthens his status as one of college football's highest-paid coaches. Under the deal announced Thursday, Smart will be paid $10.25 million this season in base salary and supplemental compensation. The extension comes after Smart led the Bulldogs to last season's national championship, the first for Georgia since 1980. Under Smart, Georgia has finished first in the SEC East four times and has won six bowl games. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

On the heels of winning a national championship, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has been rewarded with a new contract. Georgia announced Thursday that Smart has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season. From there, Smart’s salary increases annually, culminating at $12.25 million for the 2031 season. According to ESPN, Smart’s new contract is worth $112.5 million in all, a record for a college football coach. "I'm thankful to president Jere Morehead and Josh Brooks for their continued support of Georgia football.

Georgia's Kirby Smart has agreed to a contract extension through the 2031 season worth more than $110 million that strengthens his status as one of college football's highest-paid coaches.

Under Smart, Georgia has spent $175 million on football facilities, including a still-new $80 million facility that features a 24,000-square-foot weight room, the largest in the country. He already enjoyed buy-in from the university's administration and athletic department, and the first national championship has bought him years of goodwill. Georgia redeemed a humiliating loss to Alabama in the SEC championship. Staying on the mountaintop requires a whole different set of skills than getting there. "Our leaders have done a good job of transitioning from [the national championship]," Bennett said.

Alabama's 2021 season has been described as a disappointment even though the Crimson Tide won the SEC title and played in the national championship game. Georgia won its first national championship since 1980 by beating Alabama. Alabama, Ohio State and possibly others are more popular picks in early national championship projections. “I think that’s the biggest thing because everybody keeps bringing up you won a national championship, so do you worry about complacency. “The biggest goal of our team is always to win a national championship and we didn’t meet that goal last year,” Anderson said Tuesday.

Life at the top of the Southeastern Conference can be difficult, especially when anything short of a national championship in football is considered unsatisfactory.

Nick Saban tried to put an end to his feud with Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher at the Southeastern Conference meetings.

ABC has a doubleheader on Sept. 3 to kick off the college football season. New Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman makes his debut on the road against Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. Viewers complained about the decrease in coverage for this year’s tournament on the linear channels, especially during the overnight hours, which are the night matches in Australia. Peyton’s Places on ESPN+ will expand with new shows hosted by Sue Bird (college basketball), John McEnroe (tennis) and P.K. Peyton and Eli Manning hosted ESPN’s portion of the Disney Upfront, which also features the “Monday Night Football” crew of Buck, Aikman and Lisa Salters.

New Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman makes his debut on the road against Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. The day will begin with ESPN’s “College GameDay” originating from Columbus, Ohio, for its first on-campus show of the season. ESPN has renewed its deal for the Australian Open through 2031. Peyton’s Places on ESPN+ will expand with new shows hosted by Sue Bird (college basketball), John McEnroe (tennis) and P.K. Peyton and Eli Manning hosted ESPN’s portion of the Disney Upfront, which also featured the “Monday Night Football” crew of Buck, Aikman and Lisa Salters.

Luke, 45, joined Kirby Smart's staff ahead of the 2020 season after spending eight seasons as head coach at Mississippi.

Georgia 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. 1 in the final AP Top 25 following its 33-18 win over Alabama in the national championship game on Monday night in Indianapolis. “Go Braves and go Dogs!” Davis said, before lifting his College Football Playoff hoodie to reveal a Braves jersey. Fans lined Lumpkin Street in Athens, Georgia, for the parade to celebrate the Bulldogs' first national championship since 1980. ___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart told a near-capacity crowd at Sanford Stadium the Bulldogs don’t plan to wait another 41 years for their next national championship.

Now, he's got one of his own after Georgia rallied for a 33-18 victory over Saban and the Crimson Tide in the championship game Monday night. Smart has several players who plan to enter the transfer portal, though they held off on making their decisions public until after the national championship game. “We don’t know how many spots we have because we don’t know what some guys are doing,” Smart said. Bennett, the offensive MVP of both the Orange Bowl semifinal and the national championship game, isn't regarded as a top NFL prospect, so he could come back for a sixth season. “Bama is a world-class caliber team,” said safety Lewis Cine, the defensive MVP of the national championship game.

Kirby Smart learned from his former boss that the time for celebrating is short in college football.

CFP Championship Football Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. 1 in the final Associated Press college football poll of the season after winning its second national title by beating Alabama. 4 Cincinnati, which became the first team from outside the Power Five conferences to reach the playoff, finished with its best final ranking. 5 Baylor; the Bears' previous best finish in the AP poll was No. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The Bulldogs defeated the Crimson Tide in a rematch of the SEC title game.

Georgia has become an elite program under Kirby Smart, but has not been able to chase down its Southeastern Conference rival until now.

CFP Championship Football Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after the College Football Playoff championship football game against Alabama Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Georgia is No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, earning their second national title by beating Alabama on Monday night. The Bears previous best finish in the AP poll was No. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

APTOPIX CFP Championship Football Alabama place kicker Will Reichard has a field goal attempt blocked during the second half of the College Football Playoff championship football game against Georgia Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. A blocked field goal prevented Alabama from adding any points after a 17-play drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock in the third quarter. Zamir White scored the go-ahead touchdown three plays later, and Alabama spent the rest of the game scrambling. After struggling to stop Alabama in the SEC championship game last month, he took a different approach. Instead, he saw an opening, raced up the field and scored on the longest interception return in championship game history.

Alabama had plenty of chances in the College Football Playoff championship Monday — but rarely turned those opportunities into touchdowns.

The final blow came from Georgia's dominant defense. Kelee Ringo intercepted an underthrown deep ball and took off for a 79-yard touchdown.

CFP Championship Football Alabama's Bryce Young thorws past Georgia's Channing Tindall during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. The Bulldogs entered the championship game allowing a nation-best 9.6 points per game. Held without a sack in the loss to Alabama in Atlanta, Georgia's defense appeared to break through on the fourth play of the game. Georgia took a 19-18 lead on Stetson Bennett’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell. The Crimson Tide's punt set up Bennett's 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brock Bowers to stretch the lead to eight points.

Georgia won its long-awaited national championship the way it dominated during an undefeated regular season — by relying on its defense.

APTOPIX CFP Championship Football Georgia's Adonai Mitchel catches a touchdown pass over Alabama's Khyree Jackson during the second half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Stetson Bennett delivered the biggest throws of his storybook career and Georgia’s defense sealed the sweetest victory in program history, vanquishing rival Alabama 33-18 in the College Football Playoff title Monday for its first national title in 41 years. The Bulldogs hadn't won a national title since freshman Herschel Walker led them there in 1980. Nick Saban's Crimson Tide had won seven straight against the Bulldogs, including the last four against Georgia coach Kirby Smart, Saban's longtime assistant. __Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-pollCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Bennett’s lost fumble set up an Alabama touchdown for an 18-13 lead with about 10 minutes remaining. ___11:28 p.m.Stetson Bennett’s 40-yard touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell has given Georgia a 19-18 lead over Alabama in the national championship game. Bennett lost a fumble on Georgia's previous drive, leading to an Alabama touchdown. ___10:35 p.m.Alabama receiver Jameson Williams’ national championship game ended early, but his team still led 9-6. ___8:10 p.m.A sellout crowd, clad largely in red, filled Lucas Oil Stadium arrived early for the national championship game between SEC rivals No.

Georgia defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in a rematch of the SEC title game.

Stetson Bennett delivered the biggest throws of his storybook career and Georgia’s defense sealed the sweetest victory in program history, vanquishing rival Alabama 33-18 to win the College Football Playoff title game.

CFP Championship Football Alabama's Dallas Turner sacks Georgia's Stetson Bennett during the first half of the College Football Playoff championship football game Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Paul Sancya)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — The Latest on the College Football Playoff championship game (all times local):9:50 p.m.No. 3 Georgia 9-6 at halftime of the CFP championship game, a contest that has turned into a defensive struggle. The Crimson Tide lost top receiver Jameson Williams with what appeared to be an injured left knee early in the second quarter. Alabama beat Georgia five weeks ago in the SEC title game, but the Bulldogs are a slight favorite.

Stetson Bennett threw two touchdown passes to lead Georgia to a 33-18 win over Alabama for its first national championship in 41 years.

Kickoff is Monday night at 8 p.m. ET.

The Georgia Bulldogs defense has a chance at redemption.

(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter) (Jeffrey McWhorter)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — When Alabama receiver John Metchie III crumpled to the ground during last month's SEC championship game, the questions came hard and fast. If Alabama can continue to thrive without Metchie in Monday night's rematch against No. Metchie had six catches, 97 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game against Georgia near the end of the first half. “Metchie is someone you just can’t replace," Young told reporters on a video call after arriving in Indianapolis earlier this week. After Metchie went down, Young leaned heavily on Williams, who finished with seven receptions, 184 yards and two TDs.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart sees challenges everywhere for his defense — even with Alabama missing one of its top receivers.

Georgia plays Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Jan. 10, 2022. The Bulldogs face the top-ranked and defending national champion Tide in all-Southeastern Conference College Football Playoff title game played in the heart of Big Ten country. How much of an outlier was the Alabama game for Georgia? To find more successful runs in college football, you have look beyond the top of the sport. That game in Atlanta was the first — and until now the only —- CFP title game matching conference rivals.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart got an inside look at what it takes to build a college football juggernaut working for Nick Saban at Alabama for eight years.

CFP Championship Alabama Football The Alabama team disembarks from a plane Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at Indianapolis International Airport in Indianapolis. Alabama is scheduled to play Georgia on Monday in the College Football Playoff championship game. (Michelle Pemberton/The Indianapolis Star via AP) (Michelle Pemberton)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — Coach Nick Saban walked off Alabama's team plane Friday night to a cold, harsh reality. Saban's top-ranked team received a warm welcome in frigid Indianapolis, arriving shortly after dusk Friday with streaks of orange and red and a bright crescent moon coloring the sky. “It's been pretty cold in Tuscaloosa the last day or two but not this cold," Saban said.

Those Georgia Bulldogs aren't the only ones having a devil of a time beating fellow Southeastern Conference powerhouse Alabama. When the powerhouses met about two months later in the BCS championship game at New Orleans, Alabama smothered the unbeaten Tigers 21-0. “We got hit pretty hard.”Rematches are rare in college football, but it's common n the NFL where division foes meet twice a year. Florida earned another crack at its Sunshine State rival by beating Alabama in the SEC championship game. ___Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at https://twitter.com/pnewberry1963 and find his work at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25 Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

A mere 37 days after they last played, Alabama faces Georgia again with a national football championship on the line.

That includes Georgia's 41-24 loss to Saban's Crimson Tide in the Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta on Dec. 4. The Georgia coach insisted on Monday the Georgia-Alabama rematch for the national title is not about Smart vs. Saban. Smart's big-game history also includes an overtime loss to the Crimson Tide in the 2017 national championship game. By bringing the Bulldogs to another national title game, Smart has made Georgia a regular part of the championship picture. Quarterback Stetson Bennett said Monday a heavy burden accompanies Georgia's national championship drought.

By bringing the Bulldogs to another national title game, coach Kirby Smart has made Georgia a regular part of the championship picture.

The national championship game quarterbacks are a former five-star recruit already with a Heisman Trophy and a former walk-on ending a long journey with his home state team.

2 Michigan 34-11 on Friday night to advance to the College Football Playoff championship. “We knew we were better than what we showed that last game,” Bennett said. Georgia grabbed a two-touchdown lead, hitting Michigan with some of the trickery the Wolverines have used so well this season. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Stetson Bennett threw three touchdown passes, Nakobe Dean led an angry Georgia defense and the third-ranked Bulldogs returned to their dominant ways, beating No. 2 Michigan 34-11 in the Orange Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship.

Alabama has a chance to repeat.

USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken puts into perspective Georgia's win over Michigan and what it means for the program and Kirby Smart.

Orange Bowl Football Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart speaks during a coaches luncheon ahead of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, in Miami. 3 Georgia square off in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It looks as if college football has been relatively lucky, but the explanation might have more to do with the protocols and transparency. Yeah, it’s been tough, but we’re managing pretty well.”___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

For years, college coaches have worried about players partying too much ahead of big games.

Key Georgia football support staffer resigns amid university investigation

Texas A&M holds the lead in the race for the national recruiting title in college football.

Georgia's proud defense is seeking to redeem itself after the Bulldogs' ugly loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Alabama once again collected a Southeastern Conference title and two big league-wide individual awards.

A person familiar with negotiations says new Florida coach Billy Napier agreed to a seven-year, $51.8 million contract that makes him the fifth-highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Bryce Young stunningly carved up the nation’s best defense, giving Nick Saban and Alabama a shot at another national championship.

Winning rivalry games comes with bragging rights and other rewards, but Alabama coach Nick Saban knows what losing them brings. "And what comes after ‘but’ usually isn’t good.”Southeastern Conference teams have plenty at stake entering rivalry week, including No. Yes, it's time for the the Iron Bowl, the Egg Bowl and the assorted other rivalry games involving SEC teams. 8 Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin has a splash of reality for fans and media placing larger than life importance on rivalry games. His Rebels can't suddenly "practice more or try harder" just because it's Mississippi State week.

It's rivalry week across the Southeastern Conference, with plenty of stakes beyond bragging rights.

Standout defensive tackle Jordan Davis scored his first career touchdown and No. 1 Georgia’s stout defense was again dominant in a 56-7 rout of Charleston Southern.

After 10 games this season, Georgia and Alabama are the top two defensive teams in the SEC and also sit atop the conference standings — again. 1 in the SEC in defense, allowing 247 yards per game. “As a defense, we talk about getting back to that ‘Bama Standard,’” defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis said. “Everyone knows what the Alabama defense used to be. Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. are widely regarded as the top two defensive players in the country.

Stetson Bennett ran for a touchdown and threw for another as top-ranked Georgia remained perfect, wrapping up its Southeastern Conference schedule by routing Tennessee 41-17.

Top-ranked Georgia and No. 3 Alabama appear headed for a showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Stetson Bennett passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to former starter JT Daniels, leading No. 1 Georgia to a 43-6 win over Missouri.

No_ 1 Georgia and its top-ranked defense dominated Florida in the annual rivalry known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

Georgia's first game as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team since 2008 was a big success.

Georgia Auburn Football Georgia head coach Kirby Smart celebrates after a defensive stop during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill)ATLANTA — (AP) — Georgia finds itself in a most unusual position. Georgia hasn't been top dog since the 2008 preseason poll, a spot they surrendered even after winning their opening game. Georgia hopes to finish the job that long-ago team failed to complete, though its a much-different era. Dooley remains the only coach to guide Georgia to an undisputed national championship, way back in 1980. Most notably, Smart led the Bulldogs to the national title game against Alabama at the end of the 2017 season.

Georgia finds itself in a most unusual position.

South Carolina Georgia Football Georgia quarterback JT Daniels (18) warms up for the team's NCAA college football game against South Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill)ATHENS, Ga. — (AP) — Georgia quarterback JT Daniels is out of the starting lineup for Saturday’s key Southeastern Conference game against No. Stetson Bennett is making his second start of the season. Daniels' injury was not expected to keep him from playing. Bennett made the start and Daniels returned the following week for a 43-10 win over South Carolina. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels is out of the starting lineup for Saturday’s key Southeastern Conference game against No. 8 Arkansas because of a right lat injury.

Alabama and Georgia, the top-ranked teams in the country and the favorites to win their Southeastern Conference divisions, are preparing to face the league’s biggest early season surprises.

JT Daniels threw for 121 yards and two touchdowns playing only the first quarter as No. 2 Georgia dominated Vanderbilt 62-0 Saturday in the Bulldogs’ biggest win in a series that started in 1893.

The Southeastern Conference is moving away from early season cupcakes.

Other notable breakthrough cases have occurred in college football, with vaccinated players and coaches testing positive. His announcement follows Monday’s revelation by Georgia football Kirby Smart that “three or four” players on the second-ranked Bulldogs were sidelined with COVID-19. Kiffin did not travel with the Rebels to Atlanta for Monday night's 43-24 victory over Louisville after announcing his own breakthrough case on Saturday. “I am grateful to be vaccinated and experiencing only mild symptoms,” Kiffin said in a statement released on Twitter. Just not for us right now.”___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25Copyright 2021 The Associated Press.

Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari says he contracted COVID-19 after being vaccinated, but points out that he is relieved the shot did its job in leaving him with mild symptoms.

Christopher Smith returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and No. 5 Georgia turned in a defensive effort for the ages, toppling third-ranked Clemson 10-3 on Saturday in the opener for both teams.

No team has lost its opening game and reached the Bowl Championship Series title game of the College Football Playoff.

Southeastern Conference officials are trying to get back to normal on football game days, with stadiums filled with fans and grills being fired up outside, even in a portion of the country where the states have among the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates.

College coaches are trying to get a handle on the recruiting impact of athletes' ability to profit off their fame.

College football coaches around the country are spending much of the offseason urging their players to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Georgia quarterback JT Daniels said Tuesday he was asked about Gilbert more than anyone else. They filled some of the void through the transfer portal. “We’re at a deficit just from scholarship numbers, not to mention experience,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. Heupel, who added eight players since spring practices, said the transfer portal was “a double-edged sword” for the Vols. “By the time I got there in late January, there were a large number of kids in the transfer portal,” he said.

The rich got even richer in the Southeastern Conference when the transfer floodgates opened wide.

Former Georgia and Miami football coach Mark Richt has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Florida-Georgia football game is staying in Jacksonville through at least 2023. The Florida-Georgia game has been extended through 2023 with an option to extend to 2025. The contract between the teams to play in Jacksonville was set to expire after the 2021 game at TIAA Bank Field. The future of the game in Jacksonville has been a hot-button topic, more so in recent years. But the financial incentives to keep the game in Jacksonville make it worth it for the programs.

Just dont expect the Georgia-Florida game to fall into that category and move away from Jacksonville any time soon. Prying the Georgia-Florida game away from the same venue it has played continuously since 1933 (except 1994-95 for Gator Bowl renovations) would take a bizarre turn of events. Its anchored down pretty tight at TIAA Bank Field. Jacksonville would have to fumble the ball in a bad way because nobody of considerable influence wants the game going anywhere. So those club seats that are $125 (at TIAA Bank Field) might have to go as high as $300.