September was pivotal for Kentucky football, setting the tone for the challenges of October. The Wildcats couldn’t afford a slow start but stumbled early with disappointing losses to Ole Miss and South Carolina, leaving them scrambling to recover and regain momentum.
The road ahead now appears far more daunting. Kentucky faces three crucial SEC matchups this month, each presenting steep challenges that will test their resilience. With the team already struggling to find its footing, October’s schedule offers little room for error.
Adding to the pressure, UK is projected as a double-digit underdog in six of its remaining games, favored only against Tennessee Tech in mid-November. The season risks slipping out of reach quickly, and the Wildcats now brace for what could be their toughest opponent yet.
Georgia continues to boast one of the nation’s most talented rosters under head coach Kirby Smart and remains firmly in the national championship conversation. The Bulldogs’ remarkable 33-game home winning streak ended last week with a loss to Alabama, but their title hopes are far from diminished.
While this year’s squad may not quite reach the dominant standard of the 2021 and 2022 championship teams, Georgia still carries the depth, talent, and pedigree to compete with anyone in the country. UGA’s identity as a powerhouse program remains intact.
Despite the setback, the Bulldogs’ experience, coaching, and star-studded lineup keep them a legitimate threat on the national stage, underscoring that Georgia is still very much Georgia.
Let’s take a first in-depth look at the Georgia Bulldogs as they enter a pivotal stretch of the season.
Offense still finding its rhythm under Mike Bobo
After helping guide Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, Todd Monken departed for the NFL, leaving a major void in the Bulldogs’ offensive leadership. Buster Faulkner, another key offensive analyst, also moved on to become Georgia Tech’s play-caller. To fill the gap, head coach Kirby Smart turned to a trusted figure well-known in Athens: Mike Bobo.
Bobo’s history with the Bulldogs runs deep. A former Georgia quarterback from 1993–97, he began his coaching journey as a graduate assistant in 1999 and later served on Mark Richt’s staff from 2001–14, including eight years as UGA’s offensive coordinator. After a head coaching stint at Colorado State and offensive coordinator roles at South Carolina (2020) and Auburn (2021), Bobo returned to Athens in 2022 as an analyst. Following Monken’s departure, the 51-year-old was elevated back to the coordinator position, aiming to steer Georgia’s offense toward renewed success.
This marks Mike Bobo’s 13th season as a play-caller in the SEC, and while Georgia’s offense is once again ranked among the nation’s top 15, it’s still very much a work in progress. The unit has yet to reach the dominant level it displayed during Todd Monken’s tenure.
Heading into the weekend, Georgia sits at No. 57 nationally in yards per play (6.05). The Bulldogs’ pro-style attack has been efficient in both the ground and aerial game ranking inside the top 30 in rushing and passing success rate but has struggled to generate explosive plays that were once a hallmark of Monken’s scheme. New starting quarterback Gunner Stockton has provided steady production, completing 69.7% of his 27.3 passes per game at 7.8 yards per attempt, while also contributing 159 non-sack rushing yards, eight total touchdowns, and no turnovers. On the perimeter, Colbie Young (17 catches for 238 yards) and Zachariah Branch (14 catches for 216 yards) have been dynamic weapons, and the rushing tandem of Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier has combined for over 400 yards, each averaging more than five yards per carry.
The talent is there for Georgia to boast a top-10 offense, but the production hasn’t quite met the expectation. The Bulldogs have struggled to create explosive plays sitting at No. 66 nationally in gains of 20-plus yards which has limited their scoring potential. That lack of big-play success has contributed to Georgia failing to reach 30 points in two games this season, a surprising dip for a team accustomed to offensive dominance.
However, the offensive inconsistency isn’t the only concern in Athens. The Bulldogs’ usually stout defense has looked surprisingly vulnerable, ranking No. 85 in success rate allowed and No. 71 in EPA/play allowed. Those are startling figures for a unit that has long been one of the nation’s best under Kirby Smart. While the offense often draws the criticism, Georgia’s defense hasn’t played up to its championship standard so far and needs to tighten up if the Bulldogs hope to remain in the national title hunt.
Georgia has the personnel to field a top-10 offense, but so far the results have fallen short of that ceiling. The Bulldogs’ biggest issue has been a lack of explosive plays ranked No. 66 nationally in gains of 20-plus yards which has capped their scoring output. That deficiency has already led to Georgia failing to hit the 30-point mark in two games, a surprising drop-off for a program accustomed to routinely lighting up the scoreboard.
The concerns don’t stop on offense. Georgia’s defense long the backbone of its championship success has shown unexpected vulnerability, sitting at No. 85 in success rate allowed and No. 71 in EPA/play allowed. These numbers are unusually poor for a Kirby Smart coached unit that has traditionally been one of the nation’s elite. While much of the attention falls on the offense, it’s the defense that must quickly find its form if Georgia hopes to stay on track as a true national title contender.
The Bulldogs have maintained their usual dominance against the run, ranking No. 6 nationally in non-sack yards per rush allowed, which reflects their strength up front. However, that stoutness hasn’t carried over to the secondary, where Georgia has struggled significantly to contain opposing passing attacks.
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