The Georgia Bulldogs have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving week. For one, they’re 11-0, ranked No. 1 in the country, winners of 28 consecutive games and 4 measly wins away from their third consecutive national championship.

Georgia right now is in the midst of the kind of run of success that all programs hope for but very few actually achieve. This is rarefied air that only a handful of teams have ever sniffed, and none may ever sniff again. In the era of expanded playoffs, NIL and a wide-open transfer portal, building the kind of program that can win with this much regularity is probably a thing of the past.

So be thankful, Georgia fans. Enjoy this ride. It will end at some point, but today just be thankful.

Here are the top 5 things Bulldogs fans should be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Carson Beck biding his time

Remember when there was a question about who would be Georgia’s starting quarterback heading into 2023? Would it be Beck or Brock Vandagriff or Gunner Stockton? And there were even murmurs in the first couple of games that Beck wasn’t really delivering. Sure, the numbers were fine, but it was so vanilla.

Today, Georgia fans, be thankful for Beck’s patience.

He was a highly-touted quarterback recruit coming out of high school. But when he struggled to pick up the offense and couldn’t beat out a former walk-on for the starting job a couple years ago, it was fair to wonder whether he’d ever develop at Georgia.

But he was patient. He watched. He learned. He kept putting in the work at practice — against elite defenders — that has molded him into the passer he is today.

Eleven games into his time as starter, Beck has passed for 3,320 yards, 21 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions, and has rushed for 3 more scores. He is slowly inching his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation, and might work his way into consideration as a first-round NFL pick in 2024. Bulldogs fans everywhere are hoping he’ll come back for an encore season.

Brock Bowers’ genes (and his surgeon’s hands)

First, Georgia fans, give a quick note of appreciation for Oscar Delp, who filled in admirably during Bowers’ injury. And also for Ladd McConkey’s timely return from injury, just when Bowers had to sit for a couple of games.

But most of all, appreciate that Bowers is superhuman, his doctors did a fantastic job on his procedure, and his trainers were great in getting him back into playing shape.

If I’m being picky, he does look maybe half a step slower in his 2 games since returning from the injury. But a Brock Bowers at 80% is still better than 99% of the tight ends out there. He’s been great, and he’ll continue to get better.

Tykee Smith’s determination

We don’t appreciate Smith enough. He’s not the type of player who is making all the sexy plays. He doesn’t get the attention of a Malaki Starks, Javon Bullard or Mykel Williams. But consider the road he’s been on.

He transferred to Georgia before the 2021 season and, after being an All-American at West Virginia, the hopes were high for his contributions to the defense. But injuries forced him to miss time. And when you miss time on a defense as star-studded as Georgia’s, you also lose your spot.

Smith, nonetheless, has stuck with his work and, as a fifth-year senior, is putting together the finest season of his college career.

Be thankful for the whole defense, but take a special moment for guys like Smith whose roads to success are a little windier than the others.

Kirby Smart’s drive, meticulous preparation, ability to motivate

I mean, it all comes down to Kirby, right? Perhaps you should give the slightest nod and tip of the cap to Nick Saban, whom Smart has drawn so much from in his career as a coach. But let’s not pretend that Smart doesn’t have some pretty innate abilities that have brought him to the top of his profession.

Smart works harder than any coach in America. And I don’t say that to discount the efforts of anyone else. Every big-time college football coach is a workaholic, spending holidays game planning and recruiting, missing time with their own families, losing sleep. But Smart is a different animal.

The things he was once criticized for have become strengths. In-game decision making? I give you plays like the timeout before Ohio State’s fake punt in the CFP semifinal a year ago. Poor quarterback management? I give you 2 of the best developed quarterback prospects, Stetson Bennett and Beck, in college football in recent memory.

And then there’s the motivation. Have you heard the halftime speeches? Of course you have.

There isn’t a player in the country who wouldn’t run through a brick wall for Kirby Smart. And that’s why Georgia is what it is.

Mike Bobo 2.0

I’ve saved the best for last. And it’s the one that needs to be heard the most. Mike Bobo had very little support as offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs when Smart announced he would be replacing Todd Monken. For whatever reason, Georgia fans have harbored this negative impression of Bobo as a coordinator under Mark Richt, and never wanted to see him call another play for Georgia.

But a couple hard truths: He was a fantastic coordinator back then, and he’s an even better one now.

Everyone knew the Georgia offense, regardless of who was calling plays, would probably be a pretty solid unit this season. But it is arguably better than the last 2 and may be one of the best the program has ever had.

Bobo has remained balanced and committed to the run — even when lesser play callers may have become more one dimensional when the run failed to take off early in the season. But he’s also evolved and played to the team’s strengths, which are its pass catchers and superior pass blocking.

Bobo is perfect for this offense. Maybe give another note of appreciation to Smart for going with his gut and trusting the guys he’s put around him.