Looking ahead to the 2021 season, there is a lot to be excited about for the Georgia Bulldogs. The Dawgs are returning a very talented and extremely intelligent quarterback first and foremost. JT Daniels has proven himself in his true freshman season as the starter at USC and now in his 4 games as a redshirt sophomore at Georgia. Having the most important position on the field settled (Lord willing), a plethora of offensive weapons at his disposal, and a returning offensive coordinator that is one of the best in the game is a solid foundation and a welcome set of circumstances by Kirby Smart. Georgia is also going to be very talented defensively as well with a mix of experience up front and youth on the back end. All of this is great no matter what opponent is thrown their way, but the real excitement sets in when one looks ahead at the schedule next fall.

Georgia opens up with Clemson, but providing that neither team blows out the other, that game is simply a resume builder. Do both want to win and should Georgia expect to win? Dang right! However, the remaining 11 games on the schedule will ultimately determine their fate in 2021. In those 11 games, a major thing that jumps out is the fact that the Dawgs will not face any Texas A&M, LSU, or Alabama. This is huge in terms of the grind that is the SEC. There is never an easy week or set of games in the nation’s top conference, but avoiding playing those 3 aforementioned squads is certainly an advantage and slight reprieve. The last time this occurred on Georgia’s schedule…. 2017.

It is worth pointing out that each of Georgia’s first 2 contests will be against conference defending champions in Clemson and UAB from the ACC and Conference USA respectively. That will undoubtedly help Georgia’s overall strength of record. Bill Clark’s UAB squad will well coached and tough as nails. Everyone knows how difficult the Clemson contest will be with the talent laden program that Dabo Swinny runs. However, if Georgia goes toe to toe with the Tigers (win or lose) and takes care of the Blazers in Athens, then the road to the CFP through the SEC is certainly easier than it has been the last 3 seasons. Should Georgia beat Clemson, which I would bet when kickoff rolls around they’ll favored to do, then even 1 SEC wouldn’t be enough to keep them out of the CFP.

Georgia will look to control it’s own destiny throughout the campaign in 2021 as it did in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons. Having one of, if not the most experienced and talent saturated offenses in the country to help cover the ills of a youthful secondary defensively, combined with as ideal of a schedule as you could as for, well it really doesn’t get better than that folks. The Dawgs will have no excuses to complete their “unfinished business” mantra in 2021. They have the offseason now to prepare and we will see if the pressure makes diamonds to go on championship rings, or if it bursts pipe in the building in Kirby Smart’s 6th season at the helm for UGA.