It’s the one sweet spot that has consistently proven gold for Georgia over the years, but failure to rush for at least 100 yards in a game comes with dire consequences.

The Dawgs are a meager 3-12 over the past eight seasons when they have fallen short of that target, including last season’s 27-3 thumping in Jacksonville at the hands of rival Florida in which they managed just 69 yards rushing, according to the college football website cfbstats.com.

The telling statistic underscores the importance of the Georgia running game and has become even more relevant following injuries to tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel that have left question marks about their effectiveness or availability altogether in the upcoming Sept. 3 season opener at the Georgia Dome against North Carolina.

The Tar Heels, led defensively by former Auburn coach Gene Chizik, were one of the worst against the run last season. They allowed 247 yards per game, finishing No. 122 in the country. For perspective, South Carolina finished last in the SEC in rushing yards allowed at 217 per game.

A first-team All-SEC performer as a freshman in 2014 after rushing for 1,547 yards and 14 touchdowns, Chubb was having banner sophomore year in 2015 until tearing the PCL and two other ligaments in his left knee at Tennessee last October. He had surgery to repair the ligaments, but it remains unclear whether he will be cleared to play against the Tar Heels or how quickly he will regain the form that made him one of the nation’s premier backs.

Michel was brilliant in Chubb’s place last year, totaling 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns, but suffered a broken left forearm while riding an ATV this summer. He remains “limited” in practice while his surgically-repaired limb continues to mend.

If neither Chubb nor Michel are able to go or are effective, first-year coach Kirby Smart will likely turn to senior Brendan Douglas and true freshman Elijah Holyfield for most of the carries. Douglas is a solid player, but lacks great explosiveness. Holyfield, the son of former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, was an excellent runner between the tackles in high school, but how much he plays likely depends on how quickly he picks up pass-protection schemes that typically take longer for true freshmen to master.

But whoever shoulders most of the carries will need to produce because it’s imperative the Dawgs establish the running game. History tells us what happens when they don’t.

Here’s a brief look at the past 15 games in which UGA failed to rush for at least 100 yards in a game since 2008. The Dawgs went 3-12 over that span.

Florida (2015): Lost 27-3, 69 yards. Hard to run without a viable passing game as the overmatched QB Faton Bauta threw four INTs.

Nebraska (2014 TaxSlayer Bowl): Lost 24-19, 96 yards. Todd Gurley’s 86 yards weren’t enough.

Kentucky (2012): Won 29-24, 77 yards. Who needs to run when QB Aaron Murray is passing for 427 yards and four touchdowns?

LSU (2011 SEC Championship Game): Lost 42-10, 78 yards. Dawgs led early, but were undone by turnovers and special teams mistakes.

Michigan State (2012 Outback Bowl): Lost 33-30, 51 yards. Georgia just 51 yards rushing on 39 attempts.

South Carolina (2010): Lost 17-6 61 yards Georgia managed just 61 yards rushing for its lowest scoring output against South Carolina since 1904.

Auburn (2010): Lost 49-31, 81 yards. Caleb King had 51 yards, but the Dawgs could never get the ground game going at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Central Florida (2010 Liberty Bowl): Lost 10-6 82 yards. UGA could only muster 82 yards rushing in an embarrassing loss to the Knights.

Oklahoma State (2009): Lost 24-10, 95 yards. An ugly start to the season after managing just 95 yards rushing at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

LSU (2009): Lost 20-13, 45 yards. Six sacks for 34 yards didn’t help the rushing totals.

Arizona State (2009): Won 20-17, 92 yards. Georgia totaled just 92 yards rushing, but that was more than enough with wide receiver A.J. Green going off for 153 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Tennessee (2009): Lost 45-19, 89 yards It speaks volumes to your worst offensive output of the season when your leading rusher has just 30 yards.

Alabama (2008): Lost 41-30, 50 yards. The Dawgs fell in big hole early with a 31-0 halftime deficit and had no choice but to abandon the running game.

Georgia Tech (2008): Lost 45-42, 81 yards. Georgia totaled just 81 yards rushing, instead relying on the arm of quarterback Matthew Stafford. The future No. 1 NFL Draft pick completed 24 of 39 passes for 407 yards and five TDs to fuel the Bulldogs offense in the loss.

Michigan State (2009 Capital One Bowl): Won 24-12, 81 yards. Tailback and future NFL first-round draft pick Knowshon Moreno totaled 62 yards on 23 carries to help Georgia win despite managing just 81 yards rushing.