Georgia
Nobody Benefits More From No Nick Saban Than Georgia’s Kirby Smart
ATHENS, GEORGIA – NOVEMBER 11: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts during the … [+]
With apologies to Lou Gehrig’s spirit, University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart is the luckiest man on the face of the earth.
Well . . .
Now he is.
As for the past, 1-5?
That was Smart’s record against Alabama coach Nick Saban, and that was ridiculous since folks held their breath during Georgia-Alabama games to see how Smart’s Bulldogs would lose this time.
So much for old news.
Here’s the latest: Kirby Paul Smart is the undisputed champion of his profession, and he has the ability to knock the crimson and white out of Alabama just about anytime he pleases.
Just like that, the bogeyman during Kirby’s eight years of goodness and often greatness with the Bulldogs is gone.
He’s outta here.
He’s done since Saban and “1-5” retired out of nowhere Thursday after seven national championships, including six at Alabama during the past 17 years.
Saban was the primary reason the Crimson Tide ranked fourth on Forbes’ 2019 list among college football programs with a three-year average revenue before the pandemic of $134 million.
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on in the … [+]
Pop Warner. Knute Rockne. Frank Leahy. Amos Alonzo Stagg. Bud Wilkinson. Woody Hayes. Barry Switzer. John McKay. Tom Osborne. Bobby Bowden. Neither of those college football coaching legends nor Alabama’s other eternal god named Bear Bryant surpass Saban in greatness.
Which meant Smart wasn’t alone among his peers getting spooked by Saban, owner of a 31-3 record against his former assistant coaches. It’s just that Smart remained Saban’s most prominent and persistent target.
Ding dong. The bogeyman is dead.
Which old bogeyman?
The Saban bogeyman.
And, boy, did Saban rattle around Smart’s head since Saban served as his old boss for nearly a dozen years. That included one season at LSU, one with the Miami Dolphins and eight at Alabama, where Smart served as the Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator for four of those Saban-led national titles.
Alabama officials wanted Smart on Saban’s staff forever. So, during the summer of 2015, they jumped Smart into a tie for the highest-paid assistant coach in the sport with a $15o,000 raise to $1.5 million.
Georgia officials did better than that for their alumnus who was an All-SEC defensive back for the Bulldogs during the late 1990s. They give him $3.75 million for the 2016 season, and they also made him their head coach.
Smart didn’t disappoint.
On that same 2019 list for Forbes’ most valuable college football program, Smart had the Bulldogs so popular that they ranked seventh with a three-year average revenue before the pandemic of $125 million.
Georgia school officials even unleashed a Kirby-inspired building spree. By the fall of 2021, they had written checks totaling $175 million for more than 350,000 square feet of football properties since his arrival.
Such things happen when you go from decades as only consistently better than mediocre since winning the 1980 national championship with Herschel Walker in your huddle to sitting among national royalty in recruiting and victories with Kirby on your sidelines.
Let’s start with recruiting.
Nobody was close to Saban and Alabama over years in that department, but before long, Kirby and Georgia were.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – JANUARY 10: Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates with … [+]
Better yet for the Bulldogs, they finished with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for 2024 after signing the No. 1 cornerback, the No. 1 linebacker and the No. 1 punter as well as the No. 1 player in the states of New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia.
Alabama was a consensus No. 2 overall.
There also was this: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote during Kirby’s nine recruiting classes at Georgia, Alabama was No. 1 five times and No. 2 three times while the Bulldogs were No. 1 three times with two No. 2 finishes.
The paper added this was the eighth time in the last nine years either Georgia or Alabama grabbed the nation’s No. 1 class, and this was the fourth time they both finished first and second.
With no Saban, Smart is now peerless as a recruiter.
The same goes for as a winner.
Kirby’s Alabama-like recruiting turned Georgia into the game’s most dominant program after capturing two consecutive national championships before this season. Not only that, but the 2023 Bulldogs just missed returning to the College Football Playoff (CFP) after they sealed a 13-1 campaign with a 63-3 slashing of previously unbeaten Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
Georgia’s only loss this past season?
To Saban, of course.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts to a play … [+]
That was in early December during the SEC Championship Game, which was an unofficial home game for the Bulldogs playing Alabama in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, located 71 miles from Sanford Stadium in Athens.
Smart’s Georgia teams dropped two other SEC Championship Games and a national championship game to Saban’s Alabama teams at the same location.
The fifth loss for Smart against Saban happened in Tuscaloosa, and the only victory occurred in Indianapolis, where the Bulldogs won the first of their consecutive national championships following the 2021 season.
But was that a fluke?
You have to ask, because here’s what happened the next time the 48-year-old Smart faced the 72-year-old Saban: Youth wasn’t served again.
Alabama was chosen by the 2023 CFP selection committee over Georgia as one of its four teams after Saban and the Tide survived the Bulldogs during that SEC Championship Game in December.
That said, Georgia and Alabama will play in September when the Bulldogs travel to Tuscaloosa for a regular-season game, but this time, with much of the world returning to watch, Saban won’t be on the sidelines.
Hear that sound?
It’s Smart exhaling.
ATHENS — Georgia will hold its annual spring game on Saturday, April 18. Below you can find live updates, the score and rosters for the 2026 G-Day game.
Georgia will have the red team, featuring the first team offense and second team defense, taking on the black team, which will be the first team offense and second team defense.
Georgia football live updates, highlights, roster for 2026 G-Day game
Seventh Drive Black- Red 17, Black 7
Hezekiah Millender completes a short pass to Jeremy Bell for 2 yards. Millender goes back to Bell for a gain of 10 yards. Then, Jae Lamar rushes to the left for 4 yards. Millender is sacked by Khamari Brooks for a loss of 7 yards. On 3rd & 13, Millender passes to Brayden Fogle for 32 yards. Jae Lamar picks up 5 yards on the ground. Team Black picks up the first down on a 7 yard reception by Will Taylor. Then, Bo Walker carries for a 2 yard gain. On the 10 yard line, Jae Lamar picks up 9 yards to put his team on the 1 yard line. Millender keeps for a TD.
Third Quarter
Sixth Drive Black- Red 17, Black 0
Hezekiah Millender completes a short pass to Bo Walker for 4 yards. Then Millender completes another pass to Ethan Barbour for 20 yards. After back to back it to back incomplete passes, Harran Zuriekat in brought in to kick a 48 yard FG which he narrowly misses.
Sixth Drive Red- Red 17, Black 0
Gunner Stockton completes a short pass to Craig Dandridge complete for 8 yards. Stockton attempts to get it to Dandridge again but it is incomplete. Josh Horton receives an offsides penalty which gives team Red the first down. Back to back incomplete passes by Gunner Stockton ends the drive for the Red Team.
Fifth Drive Black- Red 17, Black O
Todd Robinson picks off Ryan Montgomery’s pass intended for Ethan Barbour
Fifth Drive Red- Red 17, Black O
10 Plays 65 Yards, 5:10
The drive begins with a Ryan Puglisi incomplete pass intended for Elyiss Williams and the next play sees another incomplete pass intended for CJ Wiley. Team red picks up the first down thanks to Puglisi’s 32 yards pass to Talyn Taylor. Dwight Phillips Jr see back to back carries for a totaly gain of 3 yards. On 3rd & 7, Chauncey Bowens rushes to the left for 10 yards. On the 20 yard line, Puglisi completes a short pass to Elyiss Williams for 2 yards. Then Ryan Pugli’s pass to Jaden Reddell is good for 16 yards and a first down to put Team Red at the 4. Dwight Phillips Jr rushes up the middle for 3 yards. On 2nd & 1, Dwight Phillips Jr finds the endzone.
Fourth Drive Black- Red 10, Black 0
Ryan Montgomery’s pass intended for Ethan Barbour is incomplete. Dante Dowdell rushes to the left for a gain of 27 yards. Montgomery’s pass to Jeremy Bell is complete for 4 yards. On 2nd & 6, Bo Walker carries up the middle for a gain of 4 yards followed by another Walker carry for no gain. The drive ends after an incomplete pass intended for Talyn Taylor.
Fourth Drive Red- Red 10, Black 0
Chauncey Bowens rushes up the middle for a gain of 4 yards. Ryan Puglisi scrambles to pick up 1 yard. On 3rd & 5, Puglisi’s passed is tipped by Justin Greene.
Third Drive Black- Red 10, Black 0
On the first play, Jeremy Bell rushes for 35 yards but Lincoln Keyes draws a holding penalty. Then, Bell rushes again but there is no gain. On 3rd down, Montgomery’s pass intended for Ethan Barbour is incomplete.
Third Drive Red- Red 10, Black 0
8 Plays, 67 Yards, 4:32
Gunner Stockton’s pas intended for Craig Dandridge is incomplete. Chauncey Bowens breaks loose for an 18 yard rush. After an imcomplete pass intended for Talyn Taylor, Stockton completes a pass to Dwight Phillips Jr for 19 yards. Bowens takes a tackle for loss that brings the Red team back to the 32. Jaden Reddell gets involved with a 23 yard carry. On 1st & 9, Chauncey Bowens rushes up the middle for a gain of 2 yards. The Red Team scores on a 7 yard reception by Jaden Reddell.
2nd Quarter
Second Drive Black- Red 3, Black 0
Ryan Montgomery completes a pass to Kaiden Prothro for 2 yards followed by another pass to Prothro for 7 yards. On 3rd & 1, Bo Walker fumbles.
Second Drive Red- Red 3, Black 0
8 Plays, 67 Yards, 4:40
Stockton completes a pass to Isiah Canion followed by Dwight Phillips Jr carries for a 2 yard gain. Dwight Phillips Jr breaks loose for an explosive run of 15 yards. Then, Stockton completes a pass to Craig Dandridge for 33 yards. On the 16 yard line, Chauncey Bowens picks up 4 yards. Bowens gets the ball on the next play but there is no gain. On 3rd down, Stockton keeps but is short of the 4th down so Peyton Woodring is brought in to kick a 26 yard field goal which he makes.
First Drive Black- Black 0, Red 0
The first play sees an incomplete pass by Ryan Puglisi, intended for Ethan Barbour. Then, Nnmadi Ogboko gets the sack against Puglisi for a loss of 4 yards. On 3rd down Puglisi completes a pass to Jeremy Bell but it is short of the first down.
First Drive Red- Red 0, Black 0
The first play for the red team sees Nate Frazier rush for 5 yards. Then, Gunner Stockton pass to Chauncey Bowens is complete for yards. After an incomplete pass intended for Isiah Canion, Dwight Phillips Jr rushes for 7 yards. On 3rd down, Gunner Stockton keeps but is short of the first down.
1st Quarter
12:45 p.m. ET update: Couple of Bulldogs look like they won’t play today. As Georgia compeltes pregame warmups, wide receiver Sacovie White-Helton, linebacker Raylen Wilson and cornerback Demello Jones were not seen going through warmups. Cornerback Gentry Williams is in a white non-contact jersey, as is linebacker Zayden Walker. Both were dealing with shoulder injuries coming into today.
On the offensive line, Zykie Helton was working as the first-string right guard, with Juan Gaston at right tackle. Jah Jackson is also expected to play with the first-team offensive tackle.
11:30 p.m. ET: Georgia has released the rosters for the 2026 G-Day game. You can see them below.
RED TEAM
0 — Sacovie White-Helton
1 — Talyn Taylor
3 — Nate Frazier
4 — CJ Wiley
5 — Chauncey Bowens
6 — Isiah Canion
7 — Lawson Luckie
8 — Landon Roldan
10 — Zayden Walker
10 — Elyiss Williams
11 — Darren Ikinnagbon
12 — Ja’Marley Riddle
12 — Ryan Puglisi
13 — AJ Kruah
13 — Tyler J. Williams
14 — Gunner Stockton
15 — Khamari Brooks
15 — Ryan Montgomery
16 — London Humphreys
18 — Caden Harris
20 — Dwight Phillips Jr.
22 — Todd Robinson
23 — Tyriq Green
23 — Jaden Reddell
27 — Balke Stewart
28 — Walter Blanchard
28 — Jordan Smith
29 — Isaiah Gibson
32 — Jaylan Morgan
33 — PJ Dean
35 — Elijah Littlejohn
36 — Daniel Okonkwo
38 — AJ Lonon
39 — Will Snellings
41 — Carter Luckie
42 — Nick Abrams II
45 — Terrence Penick
48 — Duncan Carpenter
50 — Cortez Smith
52 — Valdin Sone
55 — Zykie Helton
55 — London Seymour
63 — Dontrell Glover
64 — Jahzare Jackson
71 — Earnest Greene
73 — Juan Gaston
74 — Drew Bobo
82 — Craig Dandridge
82 — Colton Heinrich
91 — Peyton Woodring
92 — Preston Carey
94 — Henry Bates
95 — Nnamdi Ogboko
96 — JJ Hanne
97 — Wade Register
BLACK TEAM
0 — Gabe Harris
1 — Ellis Robinson IV
2 — Thomas Blackshear
2 — Zion Branch
3 — Quintavius Johnson
4 — KJ Bolden
5 — Raylen Wilson
7 — Khalil Barnes
8 — Demello Jones
9 — Ethan Barbour
9 — Chris Cole
11 — Jeremy Bell
16 — Maurice Hayes
17 — Golter Ginn
17 — Amaris Williams
18 — Bryson Beaver
19 — Hezekiah Millender
19 — Justin Williams
20 — Zech Fort
22 — Donte Dowdell
24 — Braylon Conley
24 — Bo Walker
25 — Jake Bobo
25 — Jontae Gilbert
26 — Micah Bell
26 — Gentry Williams
27 — Rasean Dinkins
27 — Jae Lamar
30 — Terrell Foster
31 — Kyron Jones
31 — Wade Penn
36 — Jackson St. Clair
37 — Ben McElreath
41 — David Lalaian
44 — Jordan Hall
45 — Eli Barrow
46 — Danny Curan
47 — Will Taylor
51 — Malachi Toliver
52 — Michael Uini
53 — Zach Lewis
54 — Waltclaire Flynn
60 — Henry Peagler
65 — Dennis Uzochukwu
66 — Tyreek Jemison
67 — Clinton Barlow
69 — Graham Houston
70 — Daniel Calhoun
72 — Ekene Ogboko
75 — Mason Short
76 — Marcus Harrison
78 — Tate Helms
79 — TyQuez Richardson
80 — Kaiden Prothro
81 — Josh Horton
83 — Brady Holbert
84 — Dallas Dickerson
85 — Chase Linton
85 — Ryan Mosley
87 — Lincoln Keyes
88 — Brayden Fogle
88 — Nasir Johnson
90 — Elijah Griffin
90 — Drew Miller
91 — Justin Greene
94 — Xzavier McLeod
98 — Connor Ferguson
99 — Joseph Jonah-Ajonye
99 — Harran Zuriekat
Georgia will be without a few key players on Saturday, as outside linebacker Amaris Williams and cornerback Ellis Robinson are not expected to play due to injury.
Georgia spring game: How to watch 2026 G-Day online
This game will not be streamed over traditional cable. You can still watch the game if you have a cable subscription to ESPN. Visit the WatchESPN tab on ESPN’s homepage and find the game on either ESPN+ or SECNetwork+. Click here to watch the game.
Below is a video walking through how to watch the game.
Georgia spring game game time for 2026 G-Day
The Georgia spring game starts at 1 p.m. ET.
Georgia spring game TV Network for 2026 G-Day
The Georgia spring game will be broadcast on SECNetwork+/ESPN+.
Georgia spring game radio options for 2026 G-Day
The G-Day scrimmage can be heard loclally on WNGC 106.1, 95.5 WSB and WXKT 103.7. G-Day will also be distributed to all network affiliates and the game will be available on the Georgia Bulldogs app.
Georgia spring game rosters for 2026 G-Day
*These have not been released by UGA yet. This section will be updated as soon as the rosters are available.
WR Ted Hurst
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 206 lbs
- Class: Senior
- School: Georgia State
- Hands: 9 ¾”
- Arm length: 32 ⅝”
- 40-yard dash: 4.42s
- 10-Yard Split: 1.55s
- Vertical Jump: 36 ½”
- Broad Jump: 11’3”
- STATS
An unranked recruit out of Johnson High School in Savannah, Georgia, where he enrolled at Valdosta State and played two years at the small school before transferring to Georgia State in 2024.
He was a three star recruit in the transfer portal; the 211th wide receiver, and the 1,624th player. Hurst was raised in a military family and his brother, Darrell Myers Jr. was a wide receiver for Valdosta State when they won the 2018 Division II National Championship.
Hurst dominated the smaller level of competition and caught 61.1% of his contested catches during his two years at Georgia State. He dropped 14 passes (drop rate of 9.7%) and his average yards per reception was 15.4-yards with an 14.8-yard aDot and a 2.18 yards per route run number.
Hurst had an excellent 2026 NFL Scouting Combine and has quietly been a “sleeper” during the draft process.
Strengths
- Elite size + fluidity combination
- Solid thickness + muscle definition + excellent AA
- Excellent size/speed/fluidity combination
- Long strider with IMPRESSIVE acceleration and stop/start
- Has an explosive second gear
- Above-average change of direction + excellent explosiveness on in-breaking routes
- Swift transitions on the vertical plane
- Quickly gets his numbers back to the QB on curls/comeback
- Excellent ability to gear down on the vertical plane
- Very good ball skills – tracks and secures deep balls well
- Concentration is great – can pluck away from his frame
- Has acrobatic catch ability
- Wide catch radius with above-average hands
- Solid YAC ability
Weaknesses
- Limited route tree
- Route nuance and pacing could improve
- Solid YAC ability, but won’t consistently make NFL defenders miss
- Not much special teams in his past
- Was not used much as a run blocker
Summary
Ted Hurst possesses a rare blend of size, speed, and fluidity. He has an elite ability to smoothly transition/break on routes within the vertical plane (comeback/curl); he has great hip bend and explodes out of his breaks with above-average suddenness.
Hurst has traits that any WR coach would love to develop + his ball-skills are great. He’s a developmental option with a high ceiling, but his route running, timing, and ability to consistently beat NFL athletes must be refined and/or proven. He’s a high upside traits pick that may find his way into Day 2.
GRADE: 6.22
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What to expect from Georgia’s quarterback room during the spring game.
While the Georgia Bulldogs do not have a quarterback battle occuring at the moment for the starting spot, it’s still a very important position to pay attention to during the spring game. Gunner Stockton returns as the starter, but fans have not gotten to see the guys behind Stockton a whole lot throughout their careers.
With that said, here is what fans expect to see from Georgia’s quarterback room during the spring scrimmage on Saturday.
What to Expect from Georgia’s Quarterback Room on Saturday
For starters, fans should not expect to see a whole lot from Stockton. He has been with the program for a long time now. The coaching staff knows what they have in him, so the most important part is that he is ready to go when the fall rolls around.
What’s more important is for Georgia to get a good look at guys like Ryan Puglisi and Ryan Montgomery on Saturday. Puglisi served as the backup quarterback last season, but with Montgomery fully healthy this offseason, it could create a little bit of a battle for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart.
So the expectation should be that Puglisi and Montgomery get the bulk of the reps during Saturday’s scrimmage. The best way to get in good graces with Georgia’s coaching staff at quarterback is to not turn the ball over and have the offense stay ahead of the sticks.
Puglisi has all of the tools in the world to be successful at the college level. The arm talent is there and he is the perfect mold for what most are looking for in a quarterback. However, he did turn the ball over against Kentucky in some limited playing time last season, so it will be important to see if he has cleaned that up this year.
As for Montomgery, this is the first real look fans will get of him since he got to Athens. He was rehabbing a knee injury he suffered during his senior season in high school last spring, but is a full go this year.
Fans can also expect to see Colter Ginn, Hezekiah Millender and Bryson Beaver some this weekend as well. Beaver got to Georgia in January after transferring out of Oregon.
Fans who are not able to attend Saturday’s spring scrimmage will be able to watch the game on ESPN+. Kickoff is set for 1 PM ET.
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