Georgia returns to No. 1 in Week 11 AP poll

Georgia moved back to No. 1 in the Week 11 Associated Press poll after a 42-7 win at Ole Miss and Miami’s loss to Notre Dame. The Bulldogs received 53 first-place votes, while No. 2 Utah received 12.

Notre Dame climbed to No. 3, followed by UCLA and Miami. Alabama is No. 7, Texas is No. 8 and Tennessee is No. 9, while Ole Miss dropped to No. 19 after the loss. South Carolina, Georgia’s Week 12 opponent, is No. 20.

Georgia dominated at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Bulldogs led 28-0 at halftime and 35-0 at one point, giving Kirby Smart his first victory in Oxford. Georgia had fallen from No. 1 three weeks earlier after an upset loss to Auburn.

The defense held Ole Miss below four yards per play and to 2.1 yards per carry. Against quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, Georgia recorded five sacks. Chambliss committed two turnovers, and the Rebels did not score a touchdown until the fourth quarter.

Georgia paired that defensive control with an explosive and efficient offense. Before three kneel-downs to finish the game, the Bulldogs were averaging over eight yards per play and had scored touchdowns on all four red-zone trips.

The running game produced nine gains of 10 yards or more, including four of 15 yards or more. Georgia also finished with three pass plays of 20 yards or more and three scrimmage plays of 40 yards or more.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton threw four touchdown passes and added another score on the ground. Across three career games against Ole Miss, his touchdown total is now 13.

Georgia next returns to Sanford Stadium to play Missouri in its first home game since the Auburn loss. Missouri is unranked but received votes in the AP poll.

Why it matters

Georgia reclaimed the AP poll’s top spot three weeks after its loss to Auburn. The Bulldogs paired five sacks and strong run defense with an offense that averaged over eight yards per play before its final three kneel-downs.

What to watch next

Georgia hosts Missouri at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC, its first home game since the loss to Auburn.