ATHENS- Georgia wrapped up its regular season with a perfect record. The performance against Georgia Tech was far from that as the Bulldogs led only 10-7 at halftime but Georgia overwhelmed the Yellow Jackets to coast to a 37-14 victory.

The win moves Georgia to 12-0 and marks a sixth straight win in the in-state rivalry. Georgia becomes the first program to complete unbeaten regular seasons in back-to-back years since Clemson did it in 2018 and 2019.

Georgia did not come out looking like the No. 1 team in the country but the Bulldogs made big plays in the second half when they needed to. Kendall Milton ripped off a 44-yard run to put the Yellow Jackets down for good in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett didn’t have the strongest game statistically but the Georgia quarterback didn’t turn the ball over and completed 10 of his 18 passes for 140 yards to go along with two touchdowns.

The defense also responded after giving up an opening-drive touchdown against the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech finished with 255 total yards, while Georgia finished with 4.0 sacks and a fumble recovery as well. The second Georgia Tech touchdown came on the final possession of the game for the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia going 12-0 is nothing new for the Bulldogs, as they did so last year. But next week’s game against LSU represents an opportunity to do something that last year’s team could not. A win over the Tigers would give Georgia an SEC title.

That would make an already perfect season all the better.

Kenny McIntosh does it all for Georgia again

A week after setting a career-high against Kentucky, Kenny McIntosh had another big day for the Bulldogs. He led the team in rushing with 86 yards, while also coming down with the longest pass play of the season.

On Georgia’s opening drive of the fourth quarter, McIntosh snuck out of the backfield on a wheel route. Bennett hit him in stride and allowed McIntosh to race ahead for an 83-yard gain. Georgia Tech needed to bring McIntosh down by his facemask to keep from scoring.

No bother though for McIntosh, as he scored on the next play to give Georgia a 30-7 lead. McIntosh doubled as Georgia’s leading receiver on Saturday as he finished the game with 96 receiving yards.

McIntosh also ripped off a 45-yard run in the first half, giving him the longest rush by a Georgia running back on the season as well.

The senior running back was honored before the game as a part of senior day. With how he played on Saturday, McIntosh showed why it will likely be his final home game as he looks more and more like a Sunday player every week.

Georgia football special teams save the day

The one area of the game where Georgia looked like the No. 1 team in the country and Georgia Tech looked like a clear sub-.500 team came on special teams.

Ladd McConkey ripped off a 39-yard punt return and downed a Brett Thorson punt inside the 1-yard line. Thorson also boomed a 51-yard punt that was fair caught on his first punt of the game.

Jack Podlesny made all three of his field goal attempts, including a season-long 50-yarder. The senior kicker continued his strong run of form and is now 23 of 25 on the season.

The Bulldogs were also gifted some great field position as Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan dropped a punt, which led to him getting blasted by Georgia’s Trezmen Marshall and Smael Mondon. Georgia got the ball on the Georgia Tech 17-yard line and turned the short field into a touchdown. Brock Bowers hauled in a one-yard score for his fifth touchdown catch of the season.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart so often preaches about the importance of special teams. It’s why the Bulldogs have key players such as Bowers and starting inside linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson on various units. And that level of commitment paid off big-time for Georgia on a day when the Bulldogs weren’t at their sharpest.

Georgia football sleeps through first half

Georgia did not come out firing on all cylinders to open the game. For the first time all season, the Bulldogs gave up a first-quarter touchdown as the Yellow Jackets scored on their first possession of the afternoon.

The Bulldogs responded by going 3-and-out.

Eventually, Georgia got its running game going, with the Bulldogs adding a field goal and touchdown on their next two possessions. But it was not a crisp start to Saturday’s game for the Bulldogs, something of a trend this season. In wins against Missouri, Kentucky and Auburn the Georgia offense struggled to get going early in the game.

Maybe the atmosphere or tryptophan had something to do with the start, as it was far from a packed house against the rival Yellow Jackets. Whatever it might be, the first-half performance was not befitting of the No. 1 team in the country, much less one that was a five-touchdown favorite over the competition.

Georgia football news and notes

AD Mitchell dressed out on Saturday, something he had not done since the month of October.

Georgia also saw Tate Ratledge get the start at right guard after missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury.

Georgia did have two players leave the game, with Zion Logue exiting in the first half and Marvin Jones Jr. doing so in the second half.

Tight end Arik Gilbert was not spotted with the team during pregame warmups. Gilbert did not travel with the team to Kentucky last week.

Saturday’s win gave the Georgia seniors their 46th win, the most ever for a senior class, surpassing the mark set by last season’s group. Georgia honored 22 players before the game as a part of senior day festivities. Many of those who participated though do have the ability to return next season.

Georgia will play LSU in the SEC championship game next week, with the game set to start at 4 p.m. ET on CBS.

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