The Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up for another promising season, bouncing back from a solid 2025 campaign that saw them fall just short in the College Football Playoff. This year, the Bulldogs are bringing back a wealth of talent, more than what fans might typically expect. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, Georgia's returning production numbers are looking better than ever, setting the stage for what could be an exciting season.
Georgia ranks second in the nation for returning starters, as highlighted by CBS Sports. Connelly's rankings place Georgia at No. 8 out of 138 FBS programs, with 68 percent of last year's production making a comeback.
On offense, they're bringing back 63 percent of their production, which is 32nd nationally. Defensively, they're even stronger, returning 72 percent of their production, ranking fifth.
Last season, those numbers were significantly lower, with only 41 percent of offensive production and 48 percent of defensive production returning.
In the SEC, Georgia is third in overall returning production, trailing only South Carolina and Texas. Among their non-conference opponents, Georgia Tech and Western Kentucky are returning much less of their production, ranking 79th and 133rd nationally, respectively.
Connelly lists Georgia as one of the top teams likely to improve in 2026, alongside Oregon, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma. Interestingly, nearly half of last year's College Football Playoff teams are also in the top 20 for returning production.
Georgia, Oregon, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma all have their starting quarterbacks returning, which is a big advantage. Texas Tech, despite losing Behren Morton, has bolstered their lineup with Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby, a standout in the transfer portal.
A key point Connelly makes is that with the conclusion of the COVID season eligibility waiver, returning production has seen a 23 percent drop nationally since 2021. This trend is evident across college football, with even the top team in returning production this year, Notre Dame, ranking lower compared to previous years.
Connelly's breakdown of returning production is meticulous: for offense, 39.6% comes from returning OL snaps, 35% from WR/TE receiving yards, 22.3% from QB passing yards, and 3.1% from RB rushing yards. On defense, it's 65.9% from returning snaps, 19.2% from tackles, and 14.9% from tackles for loss.
This season, the Bulldogs are bringing back 17 starters, including three transfers. This is a step up from previous years, reflecting a growing trend of experience and stability within the team.
Georgia’s roster includes four two-time returning starters, adding to their depth and experience. With this lineup, the Bulldogs are poised to make a strong push in 2026, potentially setting the stage for another championship run.