The Georgia Bulldogs have recently dominated college football, with Kirby Smart turning the team into a consistent national championship contender. Let’s examine Georgia’s playoff history and compare it to other elite programs.
Georgia Playoff Appearances and Results by Year
- 2017-18
- Rose Bowl: Won 54-48 (2OT) vs. Oklahoma
- National Championship: Lost 23-26 (OT) vs. Alabama
- 2021-22
- Orange Bowl: Won 34-11 vs. Michigan
- National Championship: Won 33-18 vs. Alabama
- 2022-23
- Peach Bowl: vs. Ohio State
- National Championship: Won 65-7 vs. TCU
- 2024
vs. Notre Dame, TBD
Georgia won back-to-back national championships in 2022 and 2023, defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide and the TCU Horned Frogs, respectively. They aimed for a three-peat in 2024 but failed to make the College Football Playoff (CFP) after losing the SEC Championship to Alabama.
Georgia’s first appearance in the CFP was during the 2017-18 season, where they played two overtime games. They are the only team to have participated in multiple overtime games in a single playoff, defeating Oklahoma in a two-overtime thriller at the 2018 Rose Bowl before losing to Alabama in overtime in the National Championship that same season.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Playoffs with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
Since then, Georgia has returned to the playoff twice, winning the National Championship Game on both occasions. In 2021, they defeated Alabama 33-18, and in 2023, they easily triumphed over TCU with a score of 65-7.
They return again in 2024, earning a first-round bye after defeating the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Championship Game.
Georgia Playoff History FAQ
What’s Georgia’s Playoff Win/Loss Record?
Georgia has a 5-1 record in the College Football Playoff, the highest winning percentage among teams that have participated in the playoffs at least twice. Their only loss in the playoffs was against Alabama in the 2018 National Championship Game.
How Many Times Has Georgia Been to the College Football Playoffs?
As of 2024, the Bulldogs have participated in the College Football Playoff four times, winning the national championship twice. They secured a first-round bye in the newly expanded 12-team playoff format after defeating Texas in the SEC Championship Game. They face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 2025 AllState Sugar Bowl, looking to advance to the CFP semifinal stage.
How Many National Championship Appearances Do the Bulldogs Have?
The Bulldogs have reached the National Championship Game three times. In their first appearance, they lost to Alabama in overtime, with a final score of 26-23. However, in 2022, they faced the Crimson Tide again and secured revenge, defeating them 33-18 to win their first national championship in the College Football Playoff era.
In 2023, Georgia achieved back-to-back titles by convincingly defeating TCU with a score of 65-7.
How Many National Championships have the Bulldogs won?
The Bulldogs have won a total of four national championships in their history, with two of those titles coming since the College Football Playoff was established in 2014. Additionally, there are four more national titles that Georgia holds but does not claim.
The Bulldogs won their first two championships in 1942 and 1980, but they had to wait until 2022 and 2023 to secure their next two titles.
When Was the Last Time the Bulldogs Made the National Championship Game?
Georgia last competed in the National Championship Game in 2023, where they decisively defeated TCU with a score of 65-7 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The Bulldogs finished the season undefeated, securing consecutive national championships after having defeated Alabama the previous year.
Stetson Bennett performed exceptionally well in the title game, throwing four touchdown passes and earning the MVP award in the process.
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