Kentucky Wildcats (2-2, 0-2 SEC) head coach Mark Stoops is winless in his career against the Georgia Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC). Stoops’ 0-12 record against Georgia does not indicate how difficult of an opponent the Wildcats have been for Georgia.
Kentucky always plays a physical game against Georgia and came just one play away from defeating Georgia last season (UGA won 13-12). The Wildcats are coming off a 35-13 loss at South Carolina while Georgia is fresh off a 24-21 home loss to Alabama. Both teams are looking to rebound with a key SEC win in Week 6.
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Stoops knows Georgia will be a major challenge for Kentucky, who is trying to snap Georgia’s 15-game winning streak in the series.
“Another great challenge this week, going on the road playing a great Georgia team,” Stoops said. “Always a very big challenge. Georgia is coming off a loss. I’m sure they’ll be in a bad mood, like our players are.”
Stoops on having close games, but no wins against Georgia
“We just try to be who we are,” Stoops said. “Through the years, we’ve always tried to be very tough and very physical and play the game the right way. They’ve been, certainly, on the right side of the wins and losses. They have a great team. They’ve beat a lot of people and they’ve had a great program for a long time.”
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Who is Kentucky? The Wildcats are a physical team that prefers to rush the football and tries to stay out of obvious passing situations.
What Stoops said about Georgia QB Gunner Stockton
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) warms up before the game against Kentucky Wildcats
“Gunner (Georgia QB Gunner Stockton) is a guy that is most definitely a dual-threat guy, and he operates this offense very well,” Stoops said. “He’s a guy that makes very good decisions, he could hurt you with his legs and buy himself enough time. He has just enough speed and athletic ability to really hurt you when he wants to but he also operates the offense very efficiently.”
Stockton has avoided throwing interceptions this season, but could get through his progressions more efficiently. Overall, Stockton is making good decisions and Georgia is a very tough team to beat if the Bulldogs avoid turnovers.
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On this Georgia team
“Great respect for Kirby (Coach Kirby Smart) and Georgia and what they’ve done,” Stoops said. “It’s a typical Georgia team, very good in every area, very physical, and make things tough for us, offensively, defensively.”
Stoops and Smart are the two longest tenured head coaches in the SEC. Kentucky is very familiar with Georgia and has played some great UGA teams over the years. The Wildcats and Georgia used to be in the SEC East together. The Kentucky-Georgia series has played even season since 1956, but that will stop in 2026 with the new nine-game conference schedule.
On Georgia’s defense
“Really playing at a high level,” Stoops said. “Good at all levels of the defense, disruptive, strong guys up front, linebackers that could run, and very good cover guys.”
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If Georgia has one defensive issue, then it is the Bulldogs’ pass rush. Fortunately for Georgia, Kentucky tends to run the ball a bunch, so Kentucky will be trying to attack one of the strengths of the Georgia defense.
On Georgia’s offense
Georgia Bulldogs running back Chauncey Bowens (33) runs against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Bray Hubbard (18)
“Offensively, a typical Georgia team, very big, very physical, run the ball extremely well, and a quarterback that operates within that Mike Bobo offense very effectively, and put a lot of stress on you,” Stoops said. “And I think they have always been talented and very good, but I feel like their receiver positions have even gone notch this year, very talented players.”
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Georgia prioritized getting back to running the ball this season and is coming off a 227-rushing yard performance against Alabama. The Bulldogs still have a lethal passing attack with talented receivers that shredded Tennessee for over 300 passing yards.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Mark Stoops talks about challenge of facing ‘typical Georgia team’
