Kirby Smart has Georgia at the top of the college football world, but he’ll need to keep up a trend in one key area if the Bulldogs are going to reclaim the SEC and national title.

Winning in college football is hard. Winning in the SEC – the sport’s most dominant conference – is incredibly difficult. Winning on the road in the SEC against a ranked opponent is nearly impossible.

It’s what ends up breaking most coaches in the end. You can do everything right, win every game you’re supposed to at home and on the road, but if you can’t get over the hump against tough opponents on the road, you’ll never reach a championship. It’s something Georgia will need to do in 2024 if they hope to reclaim the SEC crown and play in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Bulldogs will play four SEC teams on the road this fall – Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss – and they’ll all likely be ranked when they host Georgia. If they’re going to make it to the Playoff, Georgia will likely need to win three of those games. So how do the Bulldogs stack up historically?

In their eight seasons under head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia is 6-4 (60%) in true road games against ranked opponents. Some of the games have been program-changing, like Georgia’s thrilling 20-19 win at Notre Dame in 2017, while some have been blowouts, like the 40-17 loss at Auburn that same season.

Again, winning at an opponent’s place is always a tall task, especially when they’re still in the hunt for a postseason berth. In his first eight seasons at Alabama, Nick Saban went 9-5 (64%) on his way to three national titles. But it’s something you have to do if you’re going to win at the highest level.

Other Georgia News:

Join the Community:

Follow Christian Goeckel on Twitter: @Goeckelsi

Subscribe to our YouTube Page HERE.

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking “Follow” on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @DawgsDailyFN

A fisherman in Georgia is now the second angler to set a new record for the same fish in the span of two months.

Brian C. Richburg, 29, from Brunswick, Georgia, is now the official record holder for the queen triggerfish after reeling in the vibrant species on May 17, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The angler went out with some friends, targeting mahi mahi, shellfish and wahoo, but around lunchtime the bites began to slow down, Richburg told Fox News Digital.

During that lull, Richburg started bottom fishing and, to his surprise, he reeled in something big, bright and “beautiful,” he said.

He caught his record-breaking fish offshore in roughly 180 feet of water near the South Ledge.

At first, Richburg was unaware that his queen triggerfish was a record breaker.

“I was about to start cleaning the fish, I’d already cleaned all the other fish, and, I was literally about to put a knife to it,” Richburg said.

Richburg’s catch weighed 9 pounds, 6.24 ounces.

This new record surpasses the previous record set on April 7 by Ryan R. Simons of Richmond Hill. Simmons’ catch weighed 7.58 pounds.

“Georgia’s coast offers a great variety of both offshore and inshore fishing, so it’s no surprise that Mr. Richburg was able to land his trophy fish,” Tyler Jones, public information officer for the DNR, told Fox News Digital.

“It’s a little unusual for a record to be broken so quickly, but it in no way diminishes the achievement of the previous record holder, Mr. Ryan Simons,” Jones said.

The queen triggerfish species is known for its recognizable shape and distinct, vibrant colors, according to the DNR.

The DNR officially recognized the state record after verifying the weight and species of Richburg’s catch, the DNR’s press release said.

Richburg will be presented with a certificate signed by Gov. Brian Kemp, DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon and Coastal Resources Division Director Doug Haymans. Richburg is currently featured on the DNR’s website, recognizing him as the official record holder.

“Georgia DNR works hard to ensure our state has great fishing opportunities for everyone, whether that’s through our artificial reef program, our beach water quality monitoring or our public access work including the new Georgia Beyond Barriers handicap accessibility initiative,” Jones said.

“We want to see anglers out there making memories and sometimes even breaking records.” 

Richburg is excited to get back out on the water for some upcoming fishing tournaments starting June 1, but right now he’s enjoying being recognized as a record-breaking angler.

Get the latest updates to this story on FoxNews.com.

LOS ANGELES — Maya Brady homered twice and scored three runs to lead the UCLA softball team to an 8-0 victory over Georgia in six innings on Thursday night in the Los Angeles Super Regional at Easton Stadium.

The sixth-seeded Bruins will continue the best-of-three series with Game 2 against the 11th-seeded Bulldogs on Friday at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, would be Saturday.

“I’ll just say this: Game 1 is always the biggest one,” UCLA coach Kelly Inouye-Perez told reporters after the game. “We’ve got to be able to appreciate tonight, get some rest and come back because I guarantee it’ll be a dogfight tomorrow.”

UCLA freshman lefty Kaitlyn Terry pitched a complete six innings and gave up four hits, with three walks and five strikeouts.

Terry said that taking “debbies,” or deep, exaggerated breaths, before each pitch has helped her stay focused through the pressure of postseason.

“It makes me reset everything,” Terry said, “and just makes me like pitch loose because when I pitch tight, it’s just not good. So honestly, I think taking ‘debbies’ is my biggest thing.”

Brady cracked a solo home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the first inning to get UCLA’s offense started early after the defense held the Bulldogs hitless in the top of the frame.

She went deep a second time when she attacked the second pitch she saw in the bottom of the fifth inning for another leadoff solo home run and her 17th overall this season.

“It’s just literally trying to put my team in the best position to get us a dub at the end of the day or at least a little room against a swinging team like (Georgia),” Brady said. “Everything I do is for my teammates.”

Brady came up with big defensive plays at shortstop throughout the game as well. She made a catch along the third base line to force Georgia’s Jaydyn Goodwin to foul out to end the top of the second inning and turned a quick double play at second base in the fourth.

Inouye-Perez compared Brady’s ability to make plays in the infield to Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson.

“She’s smooth like that,” Inouye-Perez said. “I wanted her at shortstop this year – I wanted her with the young pitching staff to be on the field so that she could communicate and keep the team together. And she has done a phenomenal job.”

Jadelyn Allchin stretched out for a diving catch in left field at the top of the second inning to prevent Sara Mosley from getting on base. UCLA’s outfield played deep all evening against a Georgia offense that features two players who each have 20 home runs this season – No. 4 hitter Mosley and No. 3 hitter Jayda Kearny.

Kearny recorded one hit and Mosley had none on Friday night.

“Momentum is a big deal. We had it at a point in the season and we’ve been battling to get it back for a long time,” Georgia coach Tony Baldwin told reporters. “I like our team, I like our people, I love going to work with them, I love competing with them. We just haven’t been consistent enough to get the ball rolling with momentum on our side.”

Thessa Malau’ulu and Janelle Meoño both grounded out in the bottom of the third inning to bring the top of the batting order back out and also give Brady a chance to get her second big hit of the game.

Brady doubled, then Allchin laced a single down the first base line to score the Pac-12 Player of the Year. The Bruins were able to load the bases when Sharlize Palacios and Megan Grant were both walked, but Jordan Woolery struck out swinging to leave all three runners stranded.

UCLA’s third home run of the evening came in the bottom of the evening and gave the Bruins a 6-0 advantage. Allchin singled and Palacios reached first on an HBP. Gabriela Jaquez, who also plays on UCLA’s women’s basketball team, came in to pinch run for Palacios.

Megan Grant grounded out to move the runners over and Woolery homered to bring them both in.

Savannah Pola ended the game when she singled to right field to push pinch runner Taylor Stephens and Allchin across home plate in the sixth inning.

“We know what Maya Brady can do and she continues to do it and it’s so impressive to watch,” Inouye-Perez said, “but we’re at our best when the bottom half is taking care of it.”

Two homers and a web gem 😮‍💨

All in a day’s work for @UCLASoftball’s Maya Brady.#RoadToWCWS pic.twitter.com/JSEr9Sl6vC

— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball) May 24, 2024

A @jordanwooleryy 3 from way downtown!

𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆.

📺: ESPN2
📲: https://t.co/T5Ovxk6xCw#GoBruins | #LevelUp pic.twitter.com/jqKGAScoY3

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 24, 2024

Advertisement

WALK IT OFF AGAIN, SAVI!!!

ONE WIN AWAY!!!#GoBruins | @savannahpola pic.twitter.com/cc2uWn7bg7

— UCLA Softball (@UCLASoftball) May 24, 2024