What we learned about the direction of the Georgia football program after rewatching Ole Miss loss

System · January 6

What we learned about the direction of the Georgia football program after rewatching Ole Miss loss

BornADawg · January 6

This sequence of plays has been rehashed a dozen or more times now. Same words over and over. Time to move on. Go Dawgs!

CDDawgs · January 6

Such a joke reporter!

Vetdawg · January 6

as was the problem on the other loss. The offensive line was the problem all night. Please fire searles ( even tho I k ow it won’t happen) and go pay Sam Pittman whatever he asks.

Thank you,

Problem solved

jdatl3 · January 6

The offensive staff just isn't good enough. The line isn't good. The play calling is terrible. We've all beat this horse to death. But, Kirby like Mark Richt won't make the change. MR wouldn't get rid of Willie Martinez and it was eventually his undoing. Bobo has a few good games, but when it's on the line, he will lose. Need to score in the forth quarter, and he runs up the middle twice. I knew he would, the opposing coaches knew he would, the squirrels in the parking lot knew he would. Enough already.

What's worse, the Defense is down a notch or two as well.

JimWallace · January 6

Saying Ole Miss made more plays that the Dawgs is necessary and true, but it doesn't address the questions of why that happened and how to fix it.

I'd say our offensive line failed us and our coaches failed us, but again, why? And, again, how can it be fixed?

Go, Dawgs!

Raw54 · January 6

The Game is over get over it

80Grad1955 · January 6

Funny how people seem to forget how this team improved steadily all year. We could have easily been 8-4 this year but for some miracle plays. Now, at the end, people act like ANY team can play perfectly all of the time. We had a great year. Had incredible games. You dont win the natty every year. We lost two games by a combined 6 points, not counting the safety. Go Dawgs!

natejaws · January 6

I want to say something positive before I go negative. I really liked this year's team and thought they did an amazing job of growing and persevering all season. This team was a real joy to watch and gives me hope for the games future. The next part is more of a reflection of the current state of the college football game and less of the UGA football team.

The NIL makes this loss much easier for me. Its no longer a "we" mentality with NIL and the transfer portal. The folks making millions of dollars lost the game, not the folks paying hard earned money to attend it. This is no longer the sport I was die hard about, and has turned into a corporate cash grab. I don't go to nearly as many games and I live within walking distance to the stadium with season tickets. College football has a real problem and will be like top golf in just a few years. Folks loved it but it's expensive and not worth the price tag once you've done it a few times.

MontanaDawg · January 6

This game is in the rear view mirror. Move on…

Indiana already winning in the transfer portal….LSU losing. Ole Miss got a big boost when Lacy and Chambliss (assuming he gets his waiver) said they would return next season to the Rebels.

Over 4,000 players in the TP from both the FCS and FBS (2,500 or so from the FBS). All (4) QBs in the CFP semi-finals are transfers. Will Howard was a transfer on the Buckeyes NC team last season.

"Indiana landed TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, the No. 4 QB in The Athletic’s portal rankings; Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh, one of the top receivers available; and Turbo Richard, Boston College’s leading rusher. It’s also added some impact pass rushers from Kansas State in Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor. More commitments are rolling in, seemingly every few hours.

In short: The Hoosiers are loading up for another CFP run in 2026 and have done an elite job of stocking up on impact transfers in a hurry.

Texas Tech…The team that made the biggest splash in the 2025 portal cycle has made it clear that it’s not going anywhere. Much of the attention from the weekend centered on the Red Raiders landing their top quarterback target, Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby (the No. 1 QB in the portal), but the Red Raiders have also done well at other need positions so far.

No team has added more FBS starters in the portal so far than the 12 the Nittany Lions have. Unsurprisingly, Matt Campbell has leaned on the players he knows, bringing in 19 transfers from Iowa State. That includes both starting quarterback Rocco Becht and his heir apparent, Alex Manske, and several others who were coveted at their position in the portal. Running back Carson Hansen, receivers Brett Eskildsen and Chase Sowell, tight ends Benjamin Brahmer and Gabe Burkle, linebackers Kooper Ebel and Caleb Bacon and safety Marcus Neal are all solid, productive, experienced players who will help Campbell and his staff hit the ground running."

NorthHallDawg · January 6

There are a lot of "if and buts" when it comes to this game, and we all know if "ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a Merry Christmas…" Several things stand out to me, and one is the offensive line. I'm an old offensive lineman so I can berate them… First, I think it's key that Freeling and Greene return. Secondly, we need to find someone to replace Micah Morris and Juan Gaston ain't it. Bobo back at Center will surely help (did I just compliment a Bobo?) and Dontrell Glover has proved more than serviceable as a starting Guard. Juan Gaston is the weak link. Sure he's a Hulk but he's too slow. Numerous times this year I watched as his man either blew past him OR, worse yet, Gaston just plain misses his assignment. Remember the Alabama loss at home? If Gaston makes the block we walk into the endzone. But no, he whiffed on his assignment. Now, let's not be too harsh on the players. Technique and effort reflects coaching and Searles just plain sucks, he's terrible. I hear a guy named Pittman is available—go get him now and send Searels packing. Who can step in at Guard for Morris. I have an idea and it's unorthodox—Zykie Helton a 2026 recruit from Carrollton. Have you watched him play? He plays angry. Needs to add about 15lbs, and if he does—he's the guy. Another guy, who has a year under his belt, is Mason Short. He plays angry too and he's a smidge bigger than Helton. But the whole Offensive Line overhaul begins with Searels being ousted.

As for the defense. I really, really think we need to add some true NT run stuffers and big bodies from the portal to clog up the middle. We haven't truly had that since Davis and Carter were here. Another tried an true Edge Rusher wouldn't hurt as we have young talent that needs seasoned. Elo Modozie found out the American Athletic Conference ain't the SEC… The Safety from Clemson helps. Finally, Schumann really, really needs to do some self-evaluating and tighten up his X's and O's. I still say we should have ditched T-Rob and paid Muschamp to stay.

Back to the Offense. Without stating the obvious (Bobo must go… Hey, the Atlanta Falcons need another losing Head Coach), with the loss of Branch to the NFL, we need another lightening quick slot receiver from the portal. Rolden and Scovie White-Helton ain't it. Really hoping Cam Coleman comes over from Auburn, He, Taylen Taylor and CJ Wiley could provide a great core of receivers. Humphreys has proven reliable, albeit he's more of a possession receiver. Our TE room speaks for itself, with Luckie being the leader next year. I'm excited to see what Barbour, Williams and Reddel can do. At Running Back, hoping Frazier wasn't seriously injured at the Sugar Bowl. Might need to dip into the portal and get another bruiser to replace McCray. Bowens seems to have regressed and Phillips might be better suited to replacing Branch if a good slot receiver isn't in the portal. Bo Walker will prove to be real good. Jae Lamar, I guess we'll see in Spring. I like Gunner Stockton, I really do. BUT, I have to ask: has he reached his ceiling? QB is a position to watch going forward. Puglisi, so far, hasn't inspired much confidence. Montgomery has gotten a lot of fanfare but that's against the scout team. Sooner or later, we have to hit on a 5* QB that will stay committed…

Finally, coaching. Kirby, as great as he's been, still makes boneheaded game management decisions and only he can fix them. Bobo, we've beat that horse to death. There are certainly better receiver coaches out there… Hey Hines Ward is still around, right? We need a better DB coach than we have in Donte Williams, too many DBs getting burned and missing assignments. T-Rob isn't much better; I'd rather kept Muschamp.

Kirby needs to put the staff on notice—either fix it or I will, and that begins with you being fired. We need to have a little luck in the portal and bring 3 or 4 missing pieces that can put us over the top. BUT a true self-evaluation by the coaches is desperately needed. Saban improvised, adapted and overcame and kept winning Nattys, it's time for Kirby to do the same…

navydawg · January 6

This game is in the rear view mirror. Move on…. @MontanaDawg Amen my Brother !! This is just recycling of points that have already been made ad nauseating. Time to try to catch the best fish possible from the TP and along with the new recruits and what ever veterans left over Work Hard then Work Harder !! Go Dawgs !!

flipside · January 6

Despite a horrible 3rd quarter we still had a chance to win in regulation or at the very least force an overtime. I've said it before but 2nd and goal from the 3 I'm going two TE's and a fullback and running right at them, three chances to get three yards. Lining a guy up nose to nose on 3rd and long with 30 seconds and in a situation where they're out of time outs and a first down doesn't hurt you is risky business. The only way you can lose in regulation in that scenario is give up a big play which is exactly what we did. Sorry but this one was self inflicted.

Gramster · January 6

What we learned:

4 portal QBs in the final 4

3 year rolling portal count of the 4 finalists…

UM 51 Ore 41 Ole Ms 79 Indy 77

Georgia has had 25, time to close that gap also, Kirby. Less spent pursuing noncommittal 5* 18 year wishy washy kids and more spent on two year seasoned proven players…

SnakeScott13 · January 6

Recycle any way you want but the players did not lose the game . The coaches did and for all of your loyalty and high paid coaches you get beat by a team with a staff of 2 weeks . Loyalty does not make champions . Ask Saban if he cared about Hurts or Tua’s feelings .

reddawg1 · January 6

Not sure why we'e not attracting some of these TP kids that have been mentioned below that other teams seem to be grabbing up up like a B.L.A.C.K Friday sell at Walmart! I understand Kirby's philosophy of signing your guys out of HS and developing them. I prefer that model too. But my goodness look at what Branch did for us! Look at what Chambliss has done for Ole Miss. Ohio St won the natty last year with Will Howard a transfer QB. We got beat in the 1st round of the playoffs the past 2 seasons by transfer QB's. Riley Leonard and Chambliss. Yeh, we were close to winning but our in-house guy lost the magic at the 2 yard line(not saying it' s all his fault, just an observation that when presented the opportunity he didn't get it done) or was it the play calling?). Hum!

Mendoza, a transfer, is the odds on favorite to lead Indiana to the NC this season. Carson Beck is a transfer as we all know who has his team in the quarter finals. Oregon's QB is a transfer! What des that mean? 4 out of 4 teams in the quarter finals are all playing transfer QB's. UGA will be sitting home watching those guys play.

Does anyone really think Indiana fans are sore because Mendoza didn't sign with Indiana out of HS? Is any UGA fan sore that we brought Branch in from the TP? Not me!

I'm not saying I want a TP QB neccesarily. But call me crazy, I would like the guy who gave us the best chance to take us all the way. I have heard the excuse by some on here that Gunner was a first year starter. Yeh, that's true. Next year he'll just be a 2nd year starter. It will be interesting to see if the quarter finals next season will all be teams with TP - QB's with 2-3 years of starting experience surrounded by teamates who are TP selections with lots of experience?

If so, and once again we're on the outside looking in, will Kirby change in that regard?

What we learned about the direction of the Georgia football program after rewatching Ole Miss loss

Comments