The 1946 Georgia Bulldogs football team was an American football team that represented the University of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) during the 1946 college football season. In their eighth year under head coach Wally Butts, the Bulldogs compiled a perfect 11–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 392 to 110, and tied for the SEC championship.^[1]

The Bulldogs ranked second nationally in total offense with an average of 394.6 yards per game.^[2] They also ranked second nationally in passing offense with an average of 173.7 passing yards per game.^[3]

The team played its home games at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.

Claim to national championship

In the final AP Poll released in early December, Georgia was ranked No. 3 with 1,294 points, behind No. 1 Notre Dame with 1,730-1/2 points and No. 2 Army with 1,659-1/2 points.^[4] After the final AP Poll was issued, the Bulldogs defeated No. 9 North Carolina, 20–10, in the 1947 Sugar Bowl.^[5] Neither Army nor Notre Dame played in a bowl game, and Georgia was the only one of the top three teams with an unblemished record. In later analyses, Georgia was recognized as the 1946 national champion under the Williamson System.^[6]

Key players and awards

At the end of the season, Georgia halfback Charley Trippi won the Maxwell Award as the best player in college football.^[7] He was also selected as the SEC Player of the Year,^[8] finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy,^[9] and was a consensus first-team selection on the 1946 All-America college football team.^[10] Trippi ranked fourth nationally in total offense with 1,366 yards and eighth nationally in rushing with 744 yards.^[11]

Guard Herbert St. John was selected by the United Press (UP) and Associated Press (AP) as a first-team player on the 1946 All-SEC football team. Quarterback John Rauch received third-team All-SEC honors from the UP.^[12][13] Trippi and Rauch were both inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.^[14][15]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 27	Clemson*		Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	W 35–12	35,000	[16][17]
October 4	at Temple*		Temple Stadium Philadelphia, PA	W 35–7	35,000	[18]
October 11	No. 19 Kentucky	No. 8	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	W 28–13	25,000	[19]
October 19	Oklahoma A&M*	No. 8	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA	W 33–13	35,000	[20]
October 26	at Furman*	No. 8	Sirrine Stadium Greenville, SC	W 70–7	12,000	[21]
November 2	at No. 15 Alabama	No. 5	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (rivalry)	W 14–0	52,000	[22]
November 9	vs. Florida	No. 3	Municipal Stadium Jacksonville, FL (rivalry)	W 33–14	23,000	[23]
November 16	vs. Auburn	No. 3	A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium Columbus, GA (Deep South's Oldest Rivalry)	W 41–0	22,000	[24]
November 23	at Chattanooga*	No. 3	Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN	W 48–27	10,000	[25]
November 30	No. 7 Georgia Tech	No. 3	Sanford Stadium Athens, GA (Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate)	W 35–7	55,000	[26]
January 1, 1947	vs. No. 9 North Carolina*	No. 3	Tulane Stadium New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	W 20–10	73,300	[5]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

^[27]

Rankings

1947 NFL draft

The 1947 NFL Draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Bulldogs were selected.^[28]