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S&D: Nine Dawgs Will Compete at the 2025 Toyota U.S. National Championships

Nine members of the University of Georgia swimming and diving teams will compete against the nation’s best at the 2025 Toyota U.S. National Championships, running Tuesday, June 3 through Saturday, June 7 at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The meet will simultaneously serve as the annual national championships and as the selection meet for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships (July 27-Aug. 3, Singapore), 2025 World Junior Championships (Aug. 19-24, Otopeni, Romania), and 2025 World University Games (July 17-23, Rhine-Ruhr, Germany). The top two finishers in each event, along with the top six in the 100m and 200m freestyle events, will be named to the U.S. World Championships roster given they meet the qualifying standard.

Prelims will begin each morning at 10 a.m., followed by evening finals at 7 p.m. Live coverage of each session will air on the USA Swimming Network, with finals coverage also available on Peacock.

Graduate Luca Urlando leads the group of Bulldogs in the field as he looks to reach his second World Championships, following a fifth-place finish in the 200m butterfly in 2022. In the collegiate season, Urlando won the SEC and NCAA championships in the 200-yard butterfly, twice setting American Records in the event. Following NCAAs, he set a new personal-best time of 1:52.37 in the 200m butterfly, setting a new Pro Swim Series record and earning the top seed in this week’s meet. He also set a new PB of 51.32 in the 100m butterfly at the Sacramento pro meet and is seeded fourth in the event.

Rising sophomore Drew Hitchcock is seeded 11^th in the 200m butterfly and 15^th in the 400m IM, while rising senior Shea Furse is ranked 14^th in the 200m freestyle and 16^th in the 400m freestyle. Rising seniors Sam Powe and Roman Valdez, rising juniors Helena Jones and Elizabeth Tilt, and rising sophomores Marie Landreneau and Charlotte Headland round out the Georgia championships roster.

SCHEDULE

Tuesday, June 3

200m Butterfly

Luca Urlando (#1)

Drew Hitchcock (#11)

Roman Valdez (#44)

100m Freestyle

Helena Jones (#49)

Wednesday, June 4

200m Freestyle

Shea Furse (#14)

Marie Landreneau (#31)

Helena Jones (#50)

—

Luca Urlando (#17)

200m Backstroke

Sam Powe (#15)

50m Butterfly

Luca Urlando (#4)

Thursday, June 5

400m IM

Elizabeth Tilt (#39)

—

Drew Hitchcock (#15)

100m Butterfly

Luca Urlando (#4)

50m Breaststroke

Charlotte Headland (#26)

50m Backstroke

Sam Powe (#42)

Friday, June 6

400m Freestyle

Shea Furse (#16)

Marie Landreneau (#33)

100m Breaststroke

Charlotte Headland (#29)

100m Backstroke

Sam Powe (#46)

Saturday, June 7

200m IM

Drew Hitchcock (#32)

50m Freestyle

Helena Jones (#49)

Betting Odds for the 2025 Dawgs

Massive spreads open the season (UGA is -39.5 vs. Marshall), and games against Charlotte, Austin Peay, and Kentucky (in Athens) aren’t expected to be remotely close.

Vegas spreads reflect both talent and public perception, and Georgia checks both boxes. This team is stacked. Brock Bowers may be gone, but Oscar Delp is no slouch at tight end. The offensive line brings back NFL-size starters, and the defensive front will again be a rotating nightmare for opposing QBs.

The Dawgs are the complete package.

And yet…

Three Games That Could Burn Vegas (and Georgia)

1. Ole Miss – September 20 (Away)

Early Line: UGA is favored by 7.5

Upset Probability: Medium-High

Don’t sleep on Lane Kiffin.

Last season, Georgia smoked Ole Miss in Athens. This year? They head to Oxford, and that’s a different beast.

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium gets loud when Ole Miss is relevant, and in 2025, they should be. The Rebels boast arguably the SEC’s most dangerous receiving corps, a strong offensive line, and a play-caller who knows how to scheme chunk plays.

Georgia’s defense must be on its toes, especially if the offense sputters early. This could become a high-scoring trap game loss if the Dawgs show up flat. Vegas may be giving Georgia a touchdown advantage, but Ole Miss will smell blood.

2. Alabama – September 27 (Home)

Early Line: UGA is favored by 3.5

Upset Probability: Medium

Let’s not pretend this isn’t the biggest landmine on the calendar. Yes, Georgia gets the Tide in Athens, and yes, Nick Saban is gone. But Kalen DeBoer is not your average first-year SEC coach.

DeBoer took Washington to the national title game in Year 2. Now, he inherits a defense complete of 4- and 5-star talent. Don’t be shocked if Alabama’s offensive identity is sharper than Georgia’s by late September.

The key matchup here? Georgia’s offensive line vs. Bama’s defensive front. If Stockton has time to operate, Georgia can win this game comfortably. If not, Alabama’s defense can flip the field and pressure the young quarterback into mistakes.

A close, physical game feels inevitable — and while Vegas gives Georgia the slight edge, this one has serious “coin flip” vibes.

3. Texas – November 15 (Home)

Early Line: UGA is favored by 5.5

Upset Probability: High

Here’s where things get spicy.

Texas is loaded. They return the most dangerous passing attack in the country, led by Arch Manning, flanked by blue-chip receivers and anchored by an elite O-line.

And they’re furious. Last year, they came within a blown coverage of dethroning Georgia in the SEC title game. You better believe Steve Sarkisian has this game circled in red ink.

It’s a November game, which means injuries, depth, and attrition could play a huge role. Texas has the kind of skill talent that can go toe-to-toe with Georgia. If Manning has developed into a true field general by then, this could be Georgia’s most dangerous game of the year — playoff implications and all.

What the Odds Really Mean

Let’s be real: being favored in every game doesn’t mean Vegas expects you to go 12-0.

More likely, they think Georgia goes 10-2 or 11-1 because that’s how probability works. Being a 3-point favorite in one game, a 7-point favorite in another, and a 14-point favorite elsewhere adds up — but not to perfection. Upsets happen. Key injuries happen. And the grind of the SEC schedule is real.

In fact, per ESPN’s Football Power Index and SP+ metrics, Georgia’s “win probability” average per game hovers around 80%, but the chance of winning all 12 is closer to 20-25%.

Kirby Smart knows this. He’s seen 2021, where Georgia dominated the regular season, stumbled against Bama in the SEC title game, and then regrouped to win it all. He’s also seen 2022 and 2023, where razor-thin margins (like that Ohio State field goal) made the difference between championship glory and heartbreak.

Championship Implications

The national narrative around Georgia is straightforward: anything short of a playoff berth is a failure. The betting odds reinforce that expectation.

Being favored in every game clarifies one thing: there are no excuses, not for Kirby, not for Stockton, and not for the fanbase. A two-loss season likely keeps them on the bubble. One loss gives them breathing room. Go 12-0, and everything is lovely.

Final Word: Hype Meets Reality

Georgia is the Vegas darling again in 2025, but the schedule isn’t soft. It’s just that Georgia is that good.

But the dangers are real: Ole Miss is a trap. Alabama’s still Alabama. And Texas may be the new bully on the block. If Georgia takes their foot off the gas, Vegas won’t be the only ones surprised — the whole playoff race could be reshaped.

UGA is playing with house money in terms of talent. Now the question is: can they cash it in without folding under pressure?

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