Georgia left Arkansas with a 45-17 win in its SEC opener, and the result kept the Bulldogs unbeaten. Still, the Razorbacks may wind up being the league’s weakest team, so the blowout deserves a little context.
Even with that caveat, Georgia came away with several clear standouts and a couple of spots that need work before the schedule tightens up.
Gunner Stockton was the biggest spark. He didn’t need to throw often, but when Georgia asked him to, he came through with 10 completions on 13 attempts for 147 yards and a touchdown.
The real damage came on the ground. After carrying the ball just once through the first two games - and not on a designed run - Stockton turned loose against Arkansas, rushing seven times for 97 yards.
That included a 63-yard burst on his first designed run of the season. He still hasn’t been tested by a strong defense, but he’s handled what’s in front of him, and his next chance comes against Oklahoma.
Lawson Luckie also made a strong case for a bigger role. Through Georgia’s first two games, he had only one catch.
Against Arkansas, he caught three passes for 59 yards, good for second on the team, and scored his first touchdown of the year. Georgia has plenty of tight end talent, but it needs Luckie to step into a leadership role, and this was the kind of outing that could get him rolling as the schedule picks up.
On the back end, KJ Bolden played like a tone-setter. He finished with four tackles and a pass breakup, but the numbers don’t capture the way he punished Arkansas receivers with a series of heavy hits. He’s expected to be one of Georgia’s top defenders and a projected first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, and games like this only reinforce that reputation.
Freshman receiver Craig Dandridge kept building his case, too. He led Georgia with 74 receiving yards on three catches and added a touchdown, which is hard to ignore from a true freshman. His playing time should keep climbing, and next week against Oklahoma will be another chance to see how he holds up against a stronger SEC defense.
Ryan Puglisi also came through in limited snaps. Competing with Ryan Montgomery for the backup quarterback job early in the season, he appears to have locked it down.
Against Arkansas, he completed seven of eight passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. He may not be called on again this year, but Georgia knows he’s ready if needed.
Not everything was clean, though. Demello Jones had a rough start before settling in, and Kirby Smart even mentioned him in his postgame press conference.
Early on, Arkansas was able to target him and land a few big plays. Jones doesn’t carry the same expectations as some of Georgia’s other secondary stars, but his ceiling matters if this defense is going to become nearly impossible to attack.
Georgia’s pass protection also landed on the wrong side of the ledger. The offensive line was dominant in the run game, but the pocket work was only average.
The Bulldogs allowed three sacks, which is too many against an Arkansas team that was overmatched, and Stockton took too many hits overall. Maybe that’s a byproduct of not facing a strong defense yet, but next week will demand more.
One of the SEC’s best defenses is coming to Athens.
In Other News...
Georgia Oklahoma Line Says Something Fans Didn't Expect
Georgia heads into week four at 3-0 after handling Arkansas 45-17 in its SEC opener, and the next test brings a familiar kind of pressure: a high-profile matchup with Oklahoma that will say plenty about where this team stands early in the season. The Bulldogs are favored by 14 points, with the over-under sitting at 47.5, a line that reflects confidence in Georgia but also hints at a game that could get shaped by defense and field position rather than a shootout.
Oklahomas recent offensive struggles have changed the conversation around this one, even as its defense continues to look like the unit that can keep things tight. For Georgia, the early-season momentum is real, but this is the kind of noon-adjacent spotlight game that can expose whether a hot start is built to last when the competition stiffens. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, September 26, and the betting market has already made clear what it thinks of the matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Won't Love This Detail About The Oklahoma Game
Georgia heads into Saturdays matchup with Oklahoma still unbeaten, and the setting should fit the stakes. The Bulldogs are 3-0 after their first three games and will host the Sooners in Athens on Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. EST, with ESPN carrying the first SEC home game of the season.
The betting line reflects what Georgia has built so far, with DraftKings Sportsbook installing the Bulldogs as 14-point favorites and setting the over-under at 47.5. Even with home-field advantage and a strong start, the Sooners bring enough brand value to make this one of the more attention-grabbing games on Georgias early schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Lost A Marquee Chance Fans Were Counting On
Oklahomas early-season slide has taken some of the shine off Georgias upcoming schedule, because what once looked like a marquee matchup no longer carries the same weight in the rankings. The Sooners opened the year at No. 10, but after three weeks they were out of the AP Poll, even with a recent win, which means Georgia will not get the ranked victory some fans had circled for this weekend.
Georgia still sits at No. 2 and the path ahead remains lined with chances to add to its rsum. Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss and Missouri all loom as possible ranked opponents later on, though those standings could shift before the Bulldogs ever see them. For now, one expected statement game has lost some of its bite, and the attention turns to which of the upcoming matchups can still deliver the kind of win Georgia was hoping for. [Read more 🡒]