The No. 4 Georgia Bulldogs (10-1, 7-1 in SEC) took care of business against the Charlotte 49ers (1-10) after their blistering 35-10 win vs. the Texas Longhorns (8-3). The Bulldogs defeated the 49ers 35-3. Their SEC slate is done and next up is the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton wasn't super impressive, with just 196 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception, but the running game carried the way offensively. Sophomore Nate Frazier totaled 54 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, while freshman Bo Walker scored three times and had 48 yards on just nine carries.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Georgia defense did the rest of the heavy lifting. The 49ers only converted one of their 11 third downs and generated just 169 total yards of offense. Georgia intercepted and sacked Charlotte quarterback Grayson Loftis twice. Overall, Georgia's nickel-and-dime offense and stout defense was enough to win the game. Georgia had to pay almost $2 million to play Charlotte and they got their money's worth.
Georgia is more than likely in the College Football Playoff with a pretty strong resume through 11 games. They will need to avoid an upset loss against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (9-2) in another episode of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.
Takeaways from the Georgia Bulldogs 35-3 win over the Charlotte 49ers
Georgia is on a roll
JJ Hanne #96 and Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs leave the field during the second quarter against the Charlotte 49ersThe Georgia Bulldogs are in a major groove. After a stunning loss to Alabama and a near-upset loss to Auburn in October, the Bulldogs have turned things around since their second bye.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Bulldogs have a point differential of +81 in their last four games. They've scored 35 points in each of their last three games, with wins against Mississippi State, No. 18 Texas, and Charlotte.
Expanding the scope to their games since the loss against Alabama, Georgia has a point differential of +120 with 35 or more points in five of their last seven wins. Georgia feels like a machine, and it feels inevitable that they're going to be a team to fear in the playoff, even if they miss the SEC championship.
Freshman studs showed up
Bo Walker #24 of the Georgia Bulldogs rushes in for a touchdownToday was a day that saw a lot of freshman contributors. In games against Group of Five opponents, that is a common tradition for UGA.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn offense, freshman running back Bo Walker was a star in the run-game. Walker was considered a breakout candidate earlier in the year, and while he's earned less carries than most expected, Walker has capitalized on the carries he's received. Against Charlotte, he ran for 48 yards and three touchdowns on just nine carries.
On defense, two freshman made impact plays. Former top recruit Elijah Griffin nabbed a sack and 1 1/2 tackles for loss. It was Griffin's first sack of the season, and it's a great step towards him living up to his high massive expectations. Then, freshman safety Daniel Okonkwo picked off Charlotte quarterback Grayson Loftis to seal the win for Georgia.
Overall, this win has Georgia feeling good about their 2026 team just as well as their 2025 one.
Georgia must avoid voodoo magic
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) runs the ball against the Georgia BulldogsA dominating win, albeit against a Group of Five opponent, is always refreshing. However, Georgia's still got some business to take care of against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt's another edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate, and this Yellow Jackets team look much stronger than past teams. Their hopes of the ACC championship were put on life support after a brutal 42-28 home defeat vs. the Pittsburhg Panthers, but the Yellow Jackets are eager to play spoiler against the Bulldogs.
The game is at Mercedes-Benz Stadium instead of Bobby Dodd Stadium, but it's still in Atlanta. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have been desperate to defeat the Bulldogs, with seven straight losses to their in-state rivals. If Georgia Tech ends up winning, that could put a dent into Georgia's playoff path.
They'd still have a 10-2 record, a great resume, and a shot at the SEC championship, but they wouldn't host a playoff game, and they'd be put in the cluster of two-loss teams, alongside potentially Alabama, Miami, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Michigan if they win against Ohio State. It would put their playoff fate in the hands of the committee, but if Georgia takes care of business against Georgia Tech, then there's no doubt Georgia's at least hosting a playoff game if not securing a bye.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Three takeaways from the Georgia Bulldogs win over Charlotte
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