ATHENS — Georgia football just isn’t what it used to be, according to an ESPN evaluation of the 138 FBS-level teams.

Of course, the odds are against any program — much less UGA — going 35-2 against Power 5 teams over a three-year span like the Bulldogs did between 2021-23.

ESPN noted Georgia is 18-5 against power conference teams over the past two seasons with an average margin of victory that’s less than half as much as those the previous three seasons.

Such data was used to illustrate that, despite maintaining SEC favorite status, UGA has been susceptible to the relative parity brought about in this recent NIL/transfer portal era.

Per the story, authored by David Hale, Smart and Lane Kiffin had an exchange following the 2025 spring session where each coach told the other “we stink.”

Kiffin elaborated that no team will compare to the talent-laden teams Alabama had between 2014-16 and a Bulldogs’ 2021-2023 run that produced back-to-back CFP championships and 33 NFL Draft picks including 10 first-round selections.

ESPN pointed out that 11 different schools have won games in the College Football Playoff since Georgia’s most recent playoff victory, a 65-7 blowout over TCU in the CFP Championship Game following the 2022 season.

ESPN also noted that Smart has “hinted at his reluctance to pay big money to incoming freshmen and over the past three offseason cycles has taken (and lost) the fewest transfers in the SEC,” with 30 incoming transfers and 43 departures.

This season’s production from Georgia transfers has already taken a hit with two of the Bulldogs’ portal additions, Auburn defensive end Amaris Williams (knee) and Kentucky tailback Dante Downdell (accident), out indefinitely.

Hale allows for the possibility Smart might still win another national championship this season, despite the recent drop off from dominance.

But if that’s to happen, Smart himself has suggested the Bulldogs will need to be more explosive on offense this season and generate more of a pass rush.

ESPN provided data to back up the Georgia head coach in that respect:

• UGA ranked 126th out of 134 FBS teams on passing yardage that came on throws more than 10 yards downfield (39 percent of the passing yards)

Indeed, many of the 81 catches made by departing wideout Zachariah Branch last season were on short throws, as he gained 634 of his 811 (78 percent) of his receiving yards after making the catch.

• Georgia’s pressure rate on non-blitz dropbacks vs Power 4 teams was 24.5 percent, ranking 63rd out of 68 Power 4 schools.

• The Bulldogs had nine sacks when it didn’t blitz last season, down from 21 in 2024 and the 2021 team’ 36.

ESPN put four teams in its “Tier 1, Safest Bets” category: Indiana, Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame and Ohio State, while Oregon and Texas were grouped with Georgia in the “Tier 2, Trust Issues” category.

The Bulldogs have finished ranked among the top 10 teams in the final AP Top 25 rankings the past nine years of Smart’s 10-year tenure as the program’s head coach.

Georgia ranks ninth in the nation in returning production, per ESPN, as 13 of 18 defensive players who had more than 200 snaps last season return.