Georgia’s Defense Found Its Turning Point - And It Might Just Power a Title Run
ATHENS - For a while, it looked like Georgia’s defense had lost its bite. The first three quarters against Ole Miss back in October?
Brutal. The Bulldogs gave up touchdowns on all five of their defensive drives.
Forty-one points allowed, 13 third-down conversions surrendered - it was the kind of performance that had folks wondering if Georgia’s defense in 2025 was capable of being anything close to elite.
But then came the fourth quarter. And something changed.
Georgia’s defense, which had been gashed all night, suddenly slammed the door shut. Three straight stops to end the game.
Just 13 total yards allowed on Ole Miss’ final 11 plays. And with that, the Bulldogs held on for a 43-35 win - a game that may end up being the turning point of the season.
“I do think that those stops were huge for us from a confidence standpoint,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “But there’s a lot of the game that there weren’t stops.”
Smart’s not wrong - Ole Miss had its way for much of the night. But those final defensive stands weren’t just about confidence.
They were a signal. A spark.
And since that moment, Georgia’s defense has looked like a different unit.
A Defense Reborn
Since that wild October night, no opponent has cracked 30 points against Georgia. The Bulldogs gave up 20 to Florida, 21 to Mississippi State - and that’s it.
The real shift came after the Nov. 15 matchup with Texas. Since then, Georgia has allowed just two touchdowns across four games.
That’s not just improvement - that’s dominance.
The biggest driver of that turnaround? The run defense.
Over the last four games, Georgia has allowed just 128 rushing yards. That’s not per game - that’s total.
By shutting down the ground game, the Bulldogs have forced opponents into obvious passing situations. And when you know the pass is coming, it’s a lot easier to pin your ears back and go get the quarterback.
Through the Ole Miss game, Georgia had just 8.0 sacks. In the six games since, they’ve added 12.0 more.
No one’s calling this a ferocious pass rush just yet, but when you consistently put teams in third-and-long, good things happen. That’s been the formula - and it’s working.
Health Will Be Key in the Rematch
Looking ahead to the rematch against Ole Miss, Georgia’s ability to control the line of scrimmage will again be critical - especially if Rebels running back Kewan Lacy is limited with a shoulder injury. Without Lacy, Ole Miss could struggle to stay balanced, and that plays right into Georgia’s hands.
Of course, Georgia has its own injury concerns. The most pressing on defense is Gabe Harris, who’s dealing with turf toe. And make no mistake - Harris has been a difference-maker.
Since the Texas game, Harris has racked up 4.0 tackles for loss, bringing energy and disruption off the edge.
“Yeah, Gabe’s a wrecker, man. He wrecks things,” Smart said.
“He’s tough, physical, relentless. He’s been a force with our defense, and he’s one of those guys that doesn’t question things.
He just gets out there and works, competes, and gets better.”
That kind of presence matters in December football.
A Championship-Caliber Defense?
Georgia’s late-season surge on defense is doing more than just winning games - it’s reshaping the national conversation. The Bulldogs are now firmly in the championship picture, and it’s not just because of what they’re doing on offense.
This defense - the same one that looked lost for three quarters against Ole Miss - has found its identity. It’s fast, physical, and playing with purpose. The rematch against the Rebels will be a chance to show just how far they’ve come.
And if they keep trending this way, Georgia might just be gearing up for another title run.