Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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34 SEPT. 11, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY BRYAN DRISKELL F or the first time since 2005, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish will square off in a regular- season matchup against an opponent from the mighty South- eastern Conference. A regular-season game like this has been even longer in the making for Georgia. The Bulldogs haven't trav- eled north of the Mason-Dixon Line for a regular-season game since they trekked to Ann Arbor in 1965 to play the Michigan Wolverines, a game they won 15-7. Notre Dame and Georgia rank sec- ond and 11th in all-time victories, but this will be just the second time the two programs have played, and the first in the regular season. The last time Georgia and Notre Dame met there was a national championship on the line in the 1981 Sugar Bowl, and Hall of Fame running back Her- schel Walker was just a freshman. Walker won game MVP honors in that matchup, rushing for 150 yards and two scores on 36 carries while leading the Bulldogs to a 17-10 vic- tory over the Irish that earn UGA its first and still lone consensus national championship. Some things haven't changed. Georgia will once again feature a tal- ented running back. Actually, it will feature five talented running backs. Athlon and Phil Steele's preseason publications both ranked that unit as the nation's second-best group of rushers in the country. Senior running back Nick Chubb trails only Walker in all-time rushing yards at Georgia, racking up 3,424 ca- reer yards despite missing over half of the 2015 season with a leg injury. In addition, fellow senior Sony Mi- chel ranks 10th all time in rushing yards with 2,411. When Chubb went down in the sixth game of the 2015 season, Michel took over and picked up 1,161 yards on the ground. "I like Georgia's running game with Chubb, Sony Michel, Brian Herrien and newcomer D'Andre Swift," UGAS- ports.com publisher Radi Nabulsi said. "That all hinges on the offensive line. It's worth noting, though, that Chubb looks to be fully healed, which was not the case last year. I do not expect him to go down upon first contact anymore." Herrien averaged more yards per carry as a freshman (5.76) than either Chubb (5.04) or Michel (5.53) went for a season ago. Swift, a true freshman, was ranked as the nation's No. 35 overall recruit in the 2017 class by Rivals. The backs aren't the only position of strength for the Bulldog offense. Its tight ends, led by sophomore Isaac Nauta, is also deep. Nauta hauled in 29 passes for 361 yards as a true freshman in 2016, and was a preseason second-team All-SEC pick by Lindy's, Athlon and Phil Steele's. "Notre Dame better be prepared for Georgia's two-tight-end sets," Nabulsi noted. "That tight end group of the Bulldogs is unreal. Look for offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to make use of the mismatches those guys create." Georgia's offensive line played below typical Bulldog standards last year, and a great deal of uncertainty exists with the group heading into the 2017 cam- paign. Just how effective the Bulldogs can be with riding its deep stable of backs depends largely on how quickly the revamped line can get on track. Nabulsi listed the line as Georgia's greatest concern over the summer, and that sentiment had not changed at the conclusion of fall camp. "With three days until kickoff there has not been a starter named at left guard, and the right tackle is a true freshman," Nabulsi said prior to Georgia's season opener against Ap- palachian State Sept. 2. "The center, [redshirt junior] Lamont Gaillard, is a converted defensive tackle and the right guard played in only two games last year. "The left tackle, Isaiah Wynn, is the team's best offensive lineman, but is quite a bit undersized when compared to typical SEC tackles," Nabulsi said of the 6-2 senior tackle. "I am still concerned." Improving upon a scoring offense GAME PREVIEW: GEORGIA Facts & Figures GEORGIA AT NOTRE DAME Game Info Date: Sept. 9, 2017. Site: Notre Dame Stadium (77,622). Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET. Television: NBC. Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on SIRIUS Satellite Radio (channel 129) and on Notre Dame's IMG affiliates. Series Facts: This is the second meeting between Notre Dame and Georgia. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 1-0. Head Coaches: Georgia — Kirby Smart (9-5, second season); Notre Dame — Brian Kelly (60-31, eighth season). Noting Georgia: In the first and only meeting between the two schools, Georgia beat Notre Dame 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 1981 … The Bulldogs were 4-4 to start the 2016 season, but they went 4-1 down the stretch, including a 31-23 come-from-behind victory over TCU in the Liberty Bowl … UGA has a 6-2 mark in its last eight non-conference games against Power Five opponents … Georgia has won 12 SEC titles, with the most recent coming in 2005 … Smart is one of nine head coaches at schools from Power Five conferences that are coaching at their alma maters. Quarterback Jacob Eason started 12 games as a true freshman last year, and threw for 2,430 yards and 16 touchdowns. PHOTO COURTESY GEORGIA RARE MATCHUP The talented Bulldogs head north for the first time in more than half a century to face the Fighting Irish