Sep 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; USC Trojans wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) runs the ball against Utah State Aggies linebacker Jon Ross Maye (1) during the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Branch brothers to transfer from USC to Georgia

Former Southern California standout wide receiver Zachariah Branch and safety Zion Branch are transferring to Georgia, the brothers announced on Sunday.

Also a star punt and kick returner, Zachariah Branch was USC’s second-leading receiver in 2024, gaining 503 yards and scoring just one touchdown on 47 receptions. He has 78 catches for 823 yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving, one rushing) over two college campaigns.

He was an All-American in 2023 and won the Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers Award as the country’s top return specialist. He led NCAA FBS in punt return average (20.8 yards) in 2023, also pacing the Pac-12 with 332 punt return yards. He averaged 5.7 yards on 13 returns in 2024.

Zachariah Branch has one career TD on a punt return and one on a kickoff return.

“I chose Georgia because I felt like the culture was something special,” he told ESPN. “They have a great coaching staff, the brotherhood within the program, their will to win, being prepared for the next level and being as successful as possible on and off the field was important to me.”

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he is the No. 4 player and No. 2 wide receiver in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.

Zion Branch, who like his younger brother has two years of eligibility remaining, is the No. 269 overall player and No. 16 safety in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings.

He finished the season with 19 tackles, one sack and three pass breakups in 12 games. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he has 41 career tackles in 21 games. He ended the 2022 and 2023 seasons early due to injuries.

“I chose the University of Georgia because of its great coaching staff, their pedigree and the history of the program,” Zion Branch told ESPN. “Georgia has consistently been one of the best programs in college football, and the culture of excellence they’ve built is something I want to be a part of. The coaches are not just about winning games; they’re about building character, fostering growth and pushing players to be their absolute best both on and off the field.”

The brothers, who are Las Vegas natives, join former USC assistant Donte Williams, a defensive backs coach at Georgia since December 2023.

–Field Level Media

Georgia coach Kirby Smart celebrates with his dad Sonny Smart after a NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. Georgia won 27-13.

Syndication Online Athens

Father of Georgia coach Kirby Smart dies after Sugar Bowl fall

Sonny Smart, the father of Georgia coach Kirby Smart, died early Saturday morning due to complications from hip surgery necessitated after the 76-year-old fell in New Orleans before Thursday’s Sugar Bowl, the university announced.

“Sonny fell while walking during the day on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans and fractured his hip,” the statement said. “He was hospitalized and underwent hip surgery; unfortunately, complications arose. He fought valiantly but was unable to overcome his injuries.”

Sonny Smart was a longtime high school coach in Alabama and Georgia, including coaching football at Holtville High School in Alabama while also leading the baseball team to the state title in 1982.

The University of Georgia said the elder Smart passed away surrounded by his wife, Sharon, and their three children, Karl, Kirby and Kendall.

Kirby Smart was able to visit his father in the hospital several times before and after Georgia’s 23-10 loss in the Sugar Bowl, which was postponed from Wednesday to Thursday following a terrorist attack on Bourbon Street early New Year’s Day that killed 14 people and injured dozens more.

The Smart family thanked the Ochsner Medical Center staff in New Orleans in the school’s statement.

“Additionally, they ask for your continued prayers for those affected by the tragic events that occurred in the early hours of New Year’s Day,” the statement said. “The Smart family treasures everyone’s thoughts and prayers and now prays for God’s comfort, strength, and guidance.”

Sonny Smart played college football at Samford University in Birmingham, Ala. He coached while Kirby played safety at Bainbridge High in Georgia and also coached at Rabun County High in north Georgia.

“He’s taught me so much just about the way you handle things, the right way, the wrong way,” Kirby Smart said of his father in January 2023, per ESPN. “Control the controllables. The moment’s never too big if you’re prepared. And I always watched the way he prepared our teams and our staff in high school.

“He was a very wise man, a man of few words. I tried to follow his mantra as a coach. I’ve certainly evolved from going to coach for other people, but a lot of my core beliefs came from the way he ran our programs in high school.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins (5) celebrates after scoring a touch down during the second quarter against Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Notre Dame stymies Georgia at Sugar Bowl, moves on to CFP semis

NEW ORLEANS — Jayden Harrison had a record kickoff return for a touchdown, Notre Dame’s defense dominated and the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish defeated No. 2 seed Georgia 23-10 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday.

The Irish’s Riley Leonard passed for just 90 yards but threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins and rushed for a game-high 80 yards in a game that was postponed from Wednesday night because of the terrorist attack that took place in the French Quarter earlier that day.

Notre Dame, 13-1 after winning its 12th consecutive game, will face No. 6 seed Penn State in a semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 in Miami.

Sophomore Gunner Stockton made his first start at quarterback for the Bulldogs (11-3) in place of Carson Beck, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the SEC championship game. Stockton completed 20 of 32 for 234 yards with one touchdown.

Notre Dame scored the game’s first touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first half and extended its lead to 20-3 when Harrison returned the second-half kickoff a CFP-record 98 yards for a touchdown.

Stockton threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cash Jones to trim the lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter.

On the third play of the fourth quarter Mitch Jeter kicked a 47-yard field goal to push the lead to 23-10. The Bulldogs had a chance to make it a one-score game, but Stockton threw an incompletion on fourth-and-5 from the Irish 9.

The game was scoreless through one quarter. Peyton Woodring kicked a 41-yard field goal for Georgia and Jeter kicked a 44-yarder to tie the score.

Jeter added a 48-yarder to give Notre Dame a 6-3 lead with 39 seconds left in the half. On the next play, RJ Oben forced Stockton to fumble while being sacked, Junior Tuihalamaka recovered for the Irish and Leonard and Collins teamed on their touchdown to give them a 13-3 halftime lead.

–Les East, Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) goes down after a hit on this trowing shoulder during the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Georgia QB Carson Beck has shoulder surgery, out for CFP

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck underwent elbow surgery Monday and will not play in the College Football Playoff, the school announced.

Beck had successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right (throwing) elbow. He saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for the procedure.

That leaves Gunner Stockton in line to guide No. 2 seed Georgia into the CFP, starting with the Bulldogs’ quarterfinal game against No. 7 seed Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1 in New Orleans.

“(Stockton) got lots of reps prior to these practices, but he’s getting much more now,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said earlier in the day. “I do think … when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time, and we have time.”

It also means Beck may have played his final game of college football, as before the injury he was expected to be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Beck, the Bulldogs’ starter all year, missed most of the second half of the Southeastern Conference title game with the injury. Stockton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff.

Beck threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, his second as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

Stockton has amassed 206 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception in three appearances this season.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws the ball during the first half of a NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech in Athens, Ga., on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Report: Georgia QB Carson Beck out for CFP quarterfinals

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (elbow) is expected to miss the team’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, On3 reported Thursday.

That means backup Gunner Stockton is in line to start the knockout round game, when the Bulldogs face either No. 7 seed Notre Dame or No. 10 seed Indiana.

Beck, the Bulldogs’ starter all year, missed most of the second half of the Southeastern Conference title game with an injury to the UCL in his right (throwing) elbow. Stockton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff.

On3 reported that Beck has not practiced or been with the team since it returned to workouts late last week.

It is unknown whether Beck would be ready to return for the semifinal round if the Bulldogs make it that far.

Beck has thrown for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, his second as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock gets doused after the Huskies defeated Arkansas State.

Amid constant change, NIU, Fresno State enjoy tradition at Potato Bowl

For roughly three hours Monday afternoon, the dizzying college football carousel will slow long enough for Northern Illinois (7-5) and Fresno State (6-6) to battle for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

Neither school will have its starting quarterback (and other quality players) due to the transfer portal. Neither school is expected to belong to its current conference by July 2026 as Fresno State already has committed to the Pac-12 while NIU is rumored to be weighing a move to the Mountain West.

And, in Fresno State’s case, the program’s official head coach isn’t the guy who’s steering the ship in Boise. Interim boss Tim Skipper, who took over in July when Jeff Tedford had to step down for health reasons, hands over the reins after the bowl game to Southern California associate head coach Matt Entz, who was hired Dec. 4 to take over the program.

Nonetheless, Monday’s game allows for a bit of college tradition to shine through. Specifically, a bunch of seniors getting to end their careers on a bowl trip with their teammates. The Huskies, for example, have a school-record 30 seniors playing on Boise’s unique blue turf for their final game.

“You have to adjust and adapt to the new landscape of college football and do the best you can,” Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock told Field Level Media. “But I’m glad we didn’t have to cancel a game like Marshall — that we can go out there and experience this game with our seniors and let them go out there and have one last hurrah.”

The Huskies, of course, already have secured one lifetime memory this season: their 16-14 victory on Sept. 7 at fifth-ranked Notre Dame. But Ethan Hampton, the quarterback who guided that upset with 198 passing yards and one touchdown, no longer runs the show for NIU. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Wake Forest — only to decommit Monday when head coach Dave Clawson retired. He’s now headed to Illinois.

In Hampton’s stead, redshirt freshman Josh Holst will get his second start. In his first start, Holst completed 22 of 46 passes for 210 yards and rushed 14 times for 48 yards in a 13-6 loss vs. MAC rival Toledo.

“He’s really made a tremendous jump over the last three weeks from a preparation standout to a mentality standpoint and with his approach,” Hammock said. “I’m excited to watch him go out and play. You can do a little bit more (with Holst) because he does have the ability to hurt you with his legs.”

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene led the Mountain West with 2,892 passing yards as he clicked on 70.5 percent of his passes. Alas, Keene is one of 14 Bulldogs who hit the transfer portal and won’t play Monday.

Through it all, Fresno State will embrace its spot in a bowl game.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity, but we just kept on swinging,” Skipper said, according to the Fresno State student-run newspaper The Collegian, after the Bulldogs became bowl eligible.

Fresno State has chosen to keep Northern Illinois guessing by listing sophomore Joshua Wood and freshman Jayden Mandal as co-starters on the depth chart. Wood seems more likely because, while he attempted just five passes, he rushed 26 times for 86 yards and five scores as the Bulldogs’ change-of-pace quarterback in the Wildcat formation.

“It’s a challenge, right?” Hammock said. “It’s almost like a first-game-of-the-year mentality. You have an idea of what they want to do schematically — and then you’ll figure out the personnel once you get out there.”

–Field Level Media

Mississippi State's quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (0) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the Egg Bowl game against Mississippi at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Former Mississippi State QB Michael Van Buren Jr. transfers to LSU

Former Mississippi State quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. announced on social media Sunday that he is transferring to LSU.

Van Buren, who has three years of eligibility remaining, made eight starts as a true freshman this season for Mississippi State (2-10). He played in 10 games and completed 140 of 256 passes (54.7 percent) for 1,886 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed for five TDs.

Bulldogs starter Blake Shapen sustained a season-ending injury in the fourth game of the season against Florida on Sept. 21 and Van Buren took over. Shapen said Monday that he plans to return as a sixth-year senior in 2025.

LSU’s QB room includes starter Garrett Nussmeier, who announced his plans to return, as well as former Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann.

The Tigers’ Class of 2025 recruiting has not included a quarterback after No. 1 prospect Bryce Underwood changed his commitment from LSU to Michigan last month.

“My family and I are forever thankful to coach (Jeff) Lebby, the staff, my teammates, the administrative team and the professors for their contributions to my growth as an individual,” Van Buren had posted on social media on Tuesday in announcing he was transferring. “For the past year, we have worked arm in arm to generate some memorable moments in coach Lebby’s first year, and I am confident there is more greatness to come from the program.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Van Buren was a four-star prospect out of Bowie, Md., who initially committed to Oregon before signing with Mississippi State.

–Former Nebraska quarterback Daniel Kaelin committed to Virginia on Sunday, he announced on social media.

The true freshman from Elkhorn, Neb., redshirted this season. Kaelin (6-foot-3, 220) was behind true freshman starter Dylan Raiola and junior Heinrich Haarberg on the depth chart.

–Field Level Media

Georgia mascot Hairy Dawg arrives before the start of a NCAA college football game against Massachusetts in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Nielsen numbers: Georgia was most-watched team in 2024

The Georgia Bulldogs were the most-watched team during the 2024 college football regular season, according to Nielsen numbers released Wednesday.

Georgia (11-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference) averaged 8.6 million viewers per game, boosted by its marquee matchups with Alabama on Sept. 28 (12 million) and Texas on Oct. 19 (13 million).

The Bulldogs’ 30-15 victory against the then-No. 1 Longhorns in Austin was the season’s most-watched game.

Ohio State (6.8 million) ranked second in average total viewership, with Alabama (6.6), Texas (6.4) and Tennessee (5.4) rounding out the top five. They were followed by Michigan (5.2), Texas A&M (4.9), LSU (4.8), Kentucky (4.5) and Florida (4.3).

For the first time, Nielsen also announced its “conference champions” list of the most-watched teams in each FBS league: Army (AAC), Miami (ACC), Colorado (Big 12), Ohio State (Big Ten), UTEP (Conference USA), Notre Dame (independents), Colorado State (Mountain West), Oregon State (Pac-12), Georgia (SEC) and Marshall (Sun Belt).

Per Nielsen, more than 154 billion minutes of college football were watched live this season across the networks owned by Disney, FOX, NBC and others.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs place kicker Peyton Woodring (91) kicks a field goal against the Texas Longhorns during the first half in the 2024 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

No. 5 Georgia overcomes QB injuries to beat No. 2 Texas in OT

ATLANTA — Trevor Etienne rushed for a game-winning four-yard score in overtime, clinching the Southeastern Conference Championship for the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs with a 22-19 win over No. 2 Texas.

Etienne rushed for 94 yards and two scores, as Georgia (11-2) won despite starting quarterback Carson Beck missing the entire second half with an injury. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before replacement Gunner Stockton threw for 71 yards and an interception.

After Bert Auburn’s 32-yard field goal gave Texas a three-point lead in overtime, Stockton was knocked out of the game after an eight-yard rush on Andrew Mukuba’s helmet-jarring tackle. Beck re-entered to hand the ball off on Etienne’s game-winning score.

Quinn Ewers completed 27 of 46 passes for 358 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions for Texas (11-2), which fell to Georgia for a second time.

Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Georgia took its first lead on a 10-play, 75-yard drive, stamped with Etienne’s 10-yard rushing touchdown. After each team traded punts, Auburn missed a 51-yard field goal at the 4:56 mark of the third quarter.

Peyton Woodring’s 24-yard field goal then gave Georgia a 13-6 lead. Texas responded with its first touchdown, a 41-yard game-tying pass from Ewers to DeAndre Moore at the 13:54 mark of the fourth quarter.

Georgia’s following drive was prolonged by a successful fake punt on 4th and 5 from its own 30, as backup center Drew Bobo took the direct snap in the backfield and flipped it forward to Arian Smith, who took it for nine yards. Nate Frazier’s runs of 15 and and 14 yards set up the Bulldogs on Texas’ four-yard line, where Woodring’s 20-yarder gave Georgia a 16-13 lead with 4:32 remaining.

On 3rd and 17 in the ensuing drive, Ewers was picked off by Daylen Everette on Georgia’s 29-yard line, but Stockton gave it right back with an interception by Jahdae Barron with 2:30 left. Aided by defensive pass interference, Texas advanced to Georgia’s 14. Auburn then tied the game with a 37-yard field goal with 18 seconds left.

On the game’s first drive, Ewers was intercepted by Everette at Georgia’s 35-yard line.

After Georgia’s three-and-out, Texas’ nine-play, 64-yard drive was stamped with Auburn’s 41-yard field goal with 5:17 remaining in the opening quarter.

Following another Georgia punt, Texas doubled its lead on Auburn’s 42-yarder with 10:22 left in the second quarter. Georgia answered with Woodring’s 44-yard field goal with 6:41 left in the first half.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Texas Longhorns mascot Bevo XV runs onto the field ahead of the game against Colorado State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.

No bull, just dogs: Texas mascot banned, UGA’s OK for SEC title game

Texas might have beef with the Southeastern Conference officials after denying the Longhorns’ request to bring live mascot Bevo XV inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for Saturday’s championship game with Georgia in Atlanta.

A nearly one ton longhorn steer, Bevo XV is the Texas mascot and storms the home field of the Longhorns before and during games.

The animal is larger than the combined weight of the five-person offensive line for either team and was considered too excessively large to patrol the dome sideline safely.

The conference decided to make the preemptive decision after saying it “look at alternatives” after receiving the request from Texas.

“The reality is there is limited sideline space at the stadium. We can’t jeopardize the safety of Bevo or the game participants,” SEC spokesman Chuck Dunlap said.

Georgia is permitted to leash up its mascot, a recognizable English bulldog named Uga XI.

In response, Texas fans launched a The Change.org petition with thousands of signatures as of Friday.

But Bevo XV also has a reputation stemming from a near-incident in similar indoor surroundings.

At the Superdome in New Orleans before the 2019 Sugar Bowl, Bevo XV toppled a barricade enclosure and began to make a charge in the direction of Georgia’s bulldog mascot. At the time, the mascot was Uga X. The animals did not get close enough to have any direct interaction, but the longhorn was held by members of the Texas contingent and safely restrained.

During NFL games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, camera crews, boomlift camera machinery and cheerleaders crowd the sideline near the playing field and high-end box seats are closer to the action than many other, older stadiums.

–Field Level Media