CBS NEWS: Athens, Georgia — Georgia Bulldogs Crowned World’s Best and Most Unified Athletic Team in Historic Announcement
Athens, Georgia woke up to fireworks—literal and metaphorical—on a historic June morning in 2025. In a decision that stunned sports fans and experts alike, the Georgia Bulldogs athletic program was officially recognized as the world’s best and most unified athletic team by a joint committee representing ESPN, Netflix Sports, and the Guinness World Records.
This unprecedented honor was announced in front of a packed crowd inside Sanford Stadium, where students, alumni, and fans from across the nation gathered for what was billed as a “program celebration.” No one anticipated the magnitude of the announcement.
As the sun broke through the morning haze, Georgia Athletic Director Josh Brooks took the stage, flanked by representatives from ESPN, Netflix, and Guinness World Records. What followed was a carefully worded proclamation, echoing through the stadium speakers and broadcast live across more than 50 countries.
> “After reviewing over 2,000 collegiate athletic programs across all continents, we are proud to declare the University of Georgia Bulldogs as the world’s most unified and elite athletic organization. This recognition reflects not only consistent championship success, but unprecedented inter-team synergy, academic performance, NIL leadership, community impact, and global cultural influence.”
The statement was met with thunderous applause. Then came the confetti—red and black filled the sky as “Glory, Glory” rang out through the speakers.
This moment wasn’t earned overnight.
Since Kirby Smart took the helm of Georgia Football in 2016, the Bulldogs have claimed three national titles (2021, 2022, 2024), produced dozens of NFL stars, and turned their program into the blueprint for modern college football dominance. But what set Georgia apart in this evaluation was cohesion across all sports. UGA’s track and field, gymnastics, baseball, swimming, and women’s basketball programs all posted Top 5 national finishes in the past two years.
Netflix, which has been documenting Georgia’s athletic program for a yet-to-be-released docuseries “Between the Hedges: The Dynasty Years”, provided never-before-seen footage to the committee. It showcased something beyond trophies: late-night study halls with athletes from different sports, community outreach efforts in rural Georgia, and unified NIL collectives where athletes shared resources and opportunities.
“You don’t see that anywhere else,” said a Guinness committee member. “It’s a machine, yes, but it’s a family first.”
According to ESPN’s analytics team, Georgia’s average win margin across all varsity sports was the highest of any Division I school worldwide over a rolling three-year period. Even more remarkable: 97% of Georgia’s athletes are on pace to graduate, and over 40% are involved in multi-sport leadership councils—cross-program panels that decide on issues from NIL strategy to community service initiatives.
Kirby Smart, now firmly enshrined not only as a coaching legend but a cultural icon, addressed the crowd after the announcement.
> “They offered me $15 million to leave this place. I said no. This team, this school, this state—it’s more than football. We’ve built something the world can see now. Georgia isn’t just where champions are made. Georgia is what a champion looks like.”
Netflix’s teaser for the docuseries dropped shortly after, featuring clips of Olympic medalists, NFL first-rounders, and a unified sports culture where tennis players trained alongside linebackers.
ESPN anchor Rece Davis summed it up best in the broadcast’s closing moments:
> “You’re not just witnessing a college athletic program. You’re witnessing the blueprint for the future of sports—where unity, excellence, and identity come together. Georgia didn’t just win the race. Georgia changed it.”
And with that, Athens became not just the heart of Georgia—but the beating heart of global collegiate sport.
