The Georgia Bulldogs fell short of their ultimate goal in the 2024-2025 College Football Playoffs. In a 23-10 loss to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Dawgs’ offense struggled mightily, with the running game proving particularly ineffective both in concept and execution.
The Bulldogs managed just 62 total rushing yards, averaging a dismal 2.1 yards per carry in the Sugar Bowl, serving as yet another data point reinforcing a clear conclusion: for Georgia to reclaim its throne, it must run the football efficiently.
During Georgia’s National Championship runs in 2021 and 2022 under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs rarely rushed for fewer than four yards per carry. In those two seasons, it happened only twice: the 10-3 season-opening win against Clemson in 2021 (3.9 yards per carry) and the 41-24 loss to Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship Game (3.6 yards per carry). In their undefeated 2022 season, Georgia’s lowest rushing output was exactly four yards per carry in a tune-up, 33-0 victory over Samford.
At the helm of Georgia’s offense during those championship years was Todd Monken. However, in 2023, Mike Bobo took over as offensive coordinator. While the Bulldogs still ranked 11th nationally in yards per carry last season, cracks in their consistency began to show.
Georgia rushed for fewer than four yards per carry against Ball State, Auburn, and Tennessee during the regular season. These performances, though sporadic and concerning in hindsight, did not significantly impact the team’s trajectory as Georgia won all three matchups. However, the trend came to a head in the 2023 SEC Championship Game against Alabama. In that pivotal contest, Georgia was held to just 78 rushing yards and an average of 2.5 yards per carry.
The burden of Georgia’s offensive production in that game shifted heavily onto quarterback Carson Beck, a depleted receiving corps (with Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey limited by injuries), and the pass protection. The lack of a credible rushing threat made the Bulldogs one-dimensional, an issue that foreshadowed the struggles of the following season.
In 2024, Georgia’s rushing attack experienced a sharp decline. The Bulldogs rushed for fewer than four yards per carry an alarming eight times over the season. Their overall average of 4.06 yards per carry tied them with UMass for 84th nationally, a shocking drop for a program known for its prowess on the ground. This decline came despite returning four offensive linemen with starting experience from 2023 and adding one of the top running backs in the transfer portal, Trevor Etienne from Florida.
Georgia’s inefficiencies were particularly glaring in their losses to Alabama, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame, where the team rushed for 3.1, 1.8, and 2.1 yards per carry, respectively. In these games, and even in many of their wins, the lack of a reliable ground game forced Georgia into early deficits, making the offense overly reliant on the passing game. This shift to a pass-heavy approach saw Georgia’s rushing attempts drop from 501 (52.3% of offensive snaps) in 2023 to 429 (45.5% of offensive snaps) in 2024.
The increased reliance on the passing game brought its own challenges, including dropped passes by receivers, tight ends, and running backs, as well as difficulties in beating man coverage. Opposing defenses capitalized on this, bringing pressure and exploiting Georgia’s inability to maintain offensive balance.
With a roster built around size and talent across the front and in the backfield, the Bulldogs have the pieces needed to re-establish their once dominant rushing attack. Georgia has recruited the offensive line as well as anybody in the country and has a trio of young backs, plus a likely transfer portal addition coming. It will require greater creativity in offensive design from the coaching staff and sharper execution from the players. Only by regaining its identity as a physical, ground-and-pound team can Georgia reclaim its place as the top Dawg in college football.
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Photo: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
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