The 2016 Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs play their home games at Sanford Stadium. They are members of the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. They are led by first-year head coach Kirby Smart.
Previous season
The 2015 Georgia Bulldogs football team was the favorite to win the Eastern Division. The Bulldogs started off the season 4–0 with SEC wins over Vanderbilt 31–14 and South Carolina 52–20, where quarterback Greyson Lambert set a NCAA record for completion percentage in a game with 96% (24/25). On October 3, the #13 Alabama Crimson Tide came to Athens and defeated the Bulldogs 38–10. The next week the Dawgs traveled to Knoxville to face the Tennessee Volunteers. On Georgia's first offensive play of the game, Bulldog's running back Nick Chubb was tackled on the sideline and suffered a season-ending knee injury as Georgia loss their second game of the season. Three weeks later, the Bulldogs suffered their third loss of the season during the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party at EverBank Field in Jacksonville, Florida to the Florida Gators 27–3, where third string quarterback Faton Bauta started. The Bulldogs finish the regular season on a four-game winning streak including road wins over the Auburn Tigers 20–13 and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 13–7. The day after the Georgia Tech game, head coach Mark Richt was fired after 15 seasons of head coach. Richt had a record of 145–51 as head coach of the Bulldogs. Georgia finished the season with a win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Taxslayer Bowl 24–17 under intermediate head coach Bryan McClendon in Jacksonville. The bowl win gave the Bulldogs a final 2015 season record of 10v3, which gave the senior class a total of 40 wins.
Coaching changes
After the 2015 regular season, Georgia's athletic director Greg McGarity fired head coach Mark Richt after 15 seasons with an overall 145–51 record. Richt was replaced with former Georgia football player Kirby Smart, who, at the time, was Alabama's defensive coordinator. Smart played for the Bulldogs from 1995 to 1998 for coaches Ray Goff and Jim Donnan and was defensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008 to 2015 under head coach Nick Saban. Jeremy Pruitt, who was defensive coordinator for Georgia from 2014 to 2015, accepted a position as the defensive coordinator for Alabama to replace Smart.
2016 recruiting class
2016 recruits |
Name |
Hometown |
High school / college |
Height |
Weight |
Commit date
|
Isaac Nauta #1 TE |
Bradenton, FL |
IMG Academy |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
235 lb (107 kg) |
Jan 9, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Mecole Hardman, Jr. #2 ATH |
Elberton, GA |
Elbert County High School |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
171 lb (78 kg) |
Feb 3, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Jacob Eason #1 QB |
Lake Stevens, WA |
Lake Stevens High School |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
207 lb (94 kg) |
Jul 9, 2014 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Charlie Woerner #4 ATH |
Tiger, GA |
Rabun County High School |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
220 lb (100 kg) |
Jul 23, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Javon Wims #3 WR (JC) |
Miami, FL |
Hinds C.C. (MS) |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
205 lb (93 kg) |
Nov 8, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Julian Rochester #8 DT |
Powder Springs, GA |
McEachern High School |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
327 lb (148 kg) |
May 28, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Cavin Ridley #39 WR |
Deerfield Beach, FL |
Deerfield Beach High School |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
190 lb (86 kg) |
Jan 7, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Chauncey Manac #17 DE |
Homerville, GA |
Clinch County High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
252 lb (114 kg) |
Sep 27, 2014 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Jaleel Laguins #11 ILB |
Watkinsville, GA |
Oconee County High School |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
210 lb (95 kg) |
Aug 8, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Elijah Holyfield #11 RB |
Atlanta, GA |
Woodward Academy |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
195 lb (88 kg) |
Sep 4, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Ben Cleveland #13 OG |
Toccoa, GA |
Stephens County High School |
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
327 lb (148 kg) |
Jul 9, 2014 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Tyler Clark #30 DT |
Americus, GA |
Americus-Sumter County High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
290 lb (130 kg) |
May 15, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Michail Carter #9 DT |
Jackson, GA |
Jackson High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
288 lb (131 kg) |
Feb 3, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Tyler Simmons #87 WR |
Powder Springs, GA |
McEachern High School |
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
191 lb (87 kg) |
Feb 3, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Tyrique McGhee #45 CB |
Fort Valley, GA |
Peach County High School |
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
168 lb (76 kg) |
Feb 22, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
David Marshall #25 DT |
Thomaston, GA |
Upson-Lee High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
255 lb (116 kg) |
Feb 3, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Solomon Kindley #40 OG |
Jacksonville, FL |
Raines High School |
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
345 lb (156 kg) |
Jan 25, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Chad Clay #18 CB |
Suwanee, GA |
Peachtree Ridge High School |
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
169 lb (77 kg) |
May 8, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Chris Barnes #19 OG |
Leesburg, GA |
Lee County High School |
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
274 lb (124 kg) |
Apr 11, 2015 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Marshall Long #10 K |
China Grove, NC |
South Rowan High School |
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
230 lb (100 kg) |
Jan 31, 2016 |
Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
|
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 10 Rivals: 9 247Sports: 7 ESPN: 7 |
-
- Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
- In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
|
National Signing Day was on February 3, 2016.
Schedule
Georgia announced its 2016 football schedule on October 29, 2015. The 2016 schedule consists of 6 home, 4 away, and 2 neutral site games in the regular season. The Bulldogs will host SEC foes Auburn, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt, and will travel to Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss, and South Carolina. Georgia will go against Florida in Jacksonville, Florida.[1]
The Bulldogs will host three of their four non–conference games, which are against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the North Carolina Tar Heels both from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns from the Sun Belt Conference, and Nicholls State Colonels from the Southland Conference.[2]
Date |
Time |
Opponent# |
Rank# |
Site |
TV |
Result |
Attendance |
September 3 |
5:30 p.m. |
vs. No. 22 North Carolina* |
No. 18 |
Georgia Dome • Atlanta, GA (Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game) |
ESPN |
W 33–24 |
75,405 |
September 10 |
12:00 p.m. |
Nicholls State* |
No. 9 |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
SECN |
W 26–24 |
92,746 |
September 17 |
7:30 p.m. |
at Missouri |
No. 16 |
Faurot Field • Columbia, MO |
SECN |
W 28–27 |
57,098 |
September 24 |
12:00 p.m. |
at No. 23 Ole Miss |
No. 12 |
Vaught–Hemingway Stadium • Oxford, MS |
ESPN |
L 14–45 |
65,483 |
October 1 |
3:30 p.m. |
No. 11 Tennessee |
No. 25 |
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Rivalry) |
CBS |
L 31–34 |
92,746 |
October 9[a] |
2:30 p.m.[3] |
at South Carolina |
|
Williams-Brice Stadium • Columbia, SC (Rivalry) |
SECN |
W 28–14 |
77,221 |
October 15 |
12:00 p.m. |
Vanderbilt |
|
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Rivalry) |
SECN |
L 16–17 |
92,746 |
October 29 |
3:30 p.m. |
vs. No. 14 Florida |
|
EverBank Field • Jacksonville, FL (Rivalry) |
CBS |
L 10–24 |
84,681 |
November 5 |
7:30 p.m. |
at Kentucky |
|
Commonwealth Stadium • Lexington, KY |
SECN |
W 27–24 |
62,507 |
November 12 |
3:30 p.m. |
No. 8 Auburn |
|
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry) |
CBS |
W 13–7 |
92,746 |
November 19 |
12:00 p.m. |
Louisiana–Lafayette* |
|
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA |
SECN |
W 35–21 |
92,746 |
November 26 |
12:00 p.m. |
Georgia Tech* |
|
Sanford Stadium • Athens, GA (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate) |
SECN |
L 27–28 |
92,746 |
*Non-conference game. Homecoming. #Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in Eastern Time. |
- ^[a] The game between Georgia and South Carolina had been originally scheduled for October 8, 2016, but was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew and played on October 9, 2016.
Game notes
vs North Carolina
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
#22 Tar Heels |
0 |
10 |
14 |
0 |
24 |
#18 Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
33 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
16–12–2 |
1971 |
UGA, 7–3 |
Nicholls State
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Colonels |
0 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
24 |
#9 Bulldogs |
7 |
3 |
16 |
0 |
26 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
First meeting |
at Missouri
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
#16 Bulldogs |
7 |
14 |
0 |
7 |
28 |
Tigers |
10 |
10 |
7 |
0 |
27 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
4–1 |
2015 |
UGA, 9–6 |
at Ole Miss
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
#12 Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
#23 Rebels |
17 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
45 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
32–12–1 |
2012 |
UGA, 37–10 |
Tennessee
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
#11 Volunteers |
0 |
7 |
7 |
20 |
34 |
#25 Bulldogs |
7 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
31 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
21–22–2 |
2015 |
TENN, 38–31 |
at South Carolina
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
28 |
Gamecocks |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
14 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
48–18–2 |
2015 |
UGA, 52–20 |
Vanderbilt
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Commodores |
7 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
17 |
Bulldogs |
3 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
16 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
55–19–2 |
2015 |
UGA, 31–14 |
vs Florida
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gators |
7 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
24 |
Bulldogs |
7 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
49–42–2 |
2015 |
FLOR, 27–3 |
at Kentucky
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Bulldogs |
7 |
6 |
3 |
11 |
27 |
Wildcats |
7 |
7 |
7 |
3 |
24 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
55–12–2 |
2015 |
UGA, 27–3 |
Auburn
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Tigers |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
Bulldogs |
0 |
0 |
7 |
6 |
13 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
56–55–8 |
2015 |
UGA, 20–13 |
Louisiana–Lafayette
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Ragin' Cajuns |
0 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
21 |
Bulldogs |
14 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
35 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
1–0 |
2010 |
UGA, 55–7 |
Georgia Tech
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Yellow Jackets |
7 |
7 |
0 |
14 |
28 |
Bulldogs |
7 |
7 |
13 |
0 |
27 |
Overall record |
Last meeting |
Result |
65–40–5 |
2015 |
UGA, 13–7 |
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. ( ) = First place votes.
| Week |
Poll |
Pre |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
Final |
AP |
18 |
9 |
16 |
12 |
25 |
RV |
RV |
NR |
NR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Coaches |
16 |
9 |
13 |
11 |
20 |
RV |
RV |
NR |
NR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CFP |
Not released |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Not released |
References
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |