August 30, 3:30 p.m. ESPN – Marshall – Sanford Stadium

Georgia has won 31 consecutive games Between the Hedges, equaling the longest home winning streak by any Southeastern Conference team in history. Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide also won 31 straight at home between 2015 and 2019. The reigning SEC champion Bulldogs now aim for a record number 32 in a row against the Thundering Herd. Marshall has been a tremendous program through the years, but they are going through a transition period. In a prime example of how college football so badly needs a functioning timeline, last season a coaching change and massive transfer portal exodus led to the Herd pulling out of their bowl game. 

Tony Gibson is the new head coach, moving over from the defensive coordinator’s post at N.C. State. 

When it comes to great head coaches in Marshall history, College Football Hall of Famer Jim Donnan is at the top of the list. From his second season of 1991 through 1995, he led the Herd to the 1992 Division 1-AA National Championship, three other trips to the title game and a semifinal appearance. Remarkable. Donnan then left to become the head coach at Georgia, rebuilding the talent level in Athens and sending the Bulldogs on an upwards trajectory in the midst of dominant eras by SEC East rivals Florida and Tennessee. Among Donnan’s standout players in Athens, All-SEC safety/Academic All-American Kirby Smart. 

Early point spreads have Georgia favored by around 38. There is a lot of unknown for Marshall, with a heavy roster turnover and new coach. 

Gunner Stockton will be the Bulldogs quarterback, and he’ll lead an offense that will feature a lot of new faces. 

September 6, 3:30 p.m. ESPN+/SECN+ – Austin Peay – Sanford Stadium 

It’s hard for those of us of a certain age, when thinking of Austin Peay, not to immediately be drawn for the famed cheer of their high scoring basketball star of the 1970s, Fly Williams. The Governors are members of the Atlantic Sun Conference in the FCS (1-AA). Jeff Faris is in his second season as Austin Peay’s head coach, and confident in making a jump from last season’s 4-8 record. Faris’ predecessor Scotty Walden led Austin Peay to conference titles in 2022 and 2023. Walden left Austin Peay to become the head coach at UTEP. 

This is a game that Georgia, though there will be a healthy respect for the Governors, should win comfortably. And with the Volunteers on deck in Knoxville, a healthy tune-up will be just what the doctor ordered. Of course, we’ll always remember Nicholls State – especially college football’s premier head coach. 

September 13, 3:30 p.m., ABC – Tennessee – Neyland Stadium

Georgia’s record against Tech, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee during the Kirby Smart dynasty is astounding. Since 2017, Smart’s second season at the helm of his alma mater, the Bulldogs are 30-2 against the Yellow Jackets, Gators, Tigers and Volunteers. That includes an eight game winning streak against Tennessee, with each of those victories coming by at least 14 points. It’s the type of thing that would have been hard to envision when those great Tennessee teams of the 1990s beat Georgia nine consecutive times (1989, 1992-1999). 

Josh Heupel has done an outstanding job as the Volunteers head coach. The highlights are an 11-2 Orange Bowl Championship campaign in 2022, and last season’s berth in the College Football Playoff. Tennessee’s fanbase has been recharged after going through a tough decade in the 2010s. 

In the spring, Heupel and the program earned a lot of praise for their handling of a “holdout” type situation in college football that led to their incumbent starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava – who signed a lucrative deal with the Vols coming out of high school in California – entering the portal and exiting to UCLA. Which is now in the Big Ten. 

Joey Aguilar is the projected starter, transferring to Tennessee from UCLA. The quarterback of the future is true freshman George MacIntyre, who’s dad and grandfather both carved out outstanding coaching careers. 

In this new era of college football, the stakes are high, but it’s not the end of the world for a loser. But there is margin for error for the winner. There will be a raucous atmosphere in Knoxville. The Vols have broken long losing streaks to both Alabama and Florida, and now they aim to do it against Georgia. 

Smart’s Bulldogs have won four straight times in Knoxville – 41-0 in 2017, 43-14 in 2019, 41-17 in 2021 and 38-10 in 2023 – in the midst of this eight game winning streak. Georgia, which trailed the all-time series 17-10-2 heading into the 21st century, now leads 29-23-2. 

September 27, 7:30 p.m., ABC – Alabama – Sanford Stadium 

For the first time since 2015, the Crimson Tide will visit Sanford Stadium. Georgia reached its greatest heights against Alabama, topping the Tide for the 2021 National Championship. There have been the heartbreaking losses of 2012, 2017 and 2018, and a tough one in 2023 that wound up costing the Bulldogs a shot at a historic three peat. Last year’s shootout went to the Tide, 41-34 in Tuscaloosa. Bama grabbed a 28-0 lead, but the Bulldogs staged a furious comeback, and held a brief lead in the fourth quarter. 

Jalen Milroe, who played great at quarterback against Georgia in the last two meetings between the two superpowers, is now in the NFL. 

As always, Alabama will be talented, headlined by standout sophomore wide receiver Ryan Williams, who caught what proved to be the game-winning score last year at Bryant-Denny Stadium. 

Last season, Kalen DeBoer took over for Nick Saban and the Tide went 9-4, including a loss to Vanderbilt. While Alabama did win the head-to-head meeting with Georgia, the Bulldogs won the SEC Championship and made the College Football Playoff. Smart has led the Bulldogs to two national championships since Saban’s sixth and final crown at the Bama helm in 2020. 

If Georgia could beat Tennessee and Alabama in back-to-back weeks, the Bulldogs would likely be ranked somewhere in the top three and have margin for error. Split the two, and Georgia is still in good shape for the playoff. Lose both, and there is zero margin for error. 

A win over Bama would be huge, and hopefully (presuming victories over Marshall and Austin Peay to start the season) extend the SEC record and nation’s current longest home winning streak. If the Bulldogs do win, as Kirby always says, humility is just a week away. 

October 4, Noon, ABC or ESPN – Kentucky – Sanford Stadium

Last season’s 13-12 victory over Kentucky was a hard-fought knee knocker. Smart’s Bulldogs found a way, and prevailed over the Wildcats for the 15th consecutive time. Mark Stoops has led Kentucky to some of its greatest gridiron successes and is the Wildcats all-time leader in coaching victories. 

How will Georgia react coming off the Alabama game? The Bulldogs will come ready to play under Smart’s watch. Will the home win streak still be going? Either way, the Red and Black faithful will be on hand on Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium. 

Brock Vandergriff, a Georgia transfer, spent one season as Kentucky’s starting quarterback and has stepped away from football. Another Georgia native is expected to be the Wildcats starting signal caller. Zach Calzada out of Buford, and Lanier High School will be making his fourth collegiate stop. Calzada has also played at Auburn, Texas A&M and University of the Incarnate Word. 

Though Georgia has enjoyed incredible success against the Wildcats, Stoops teams play a hard nosed physical style, just like Kirby’s Canines. This is one Georgia must have. Back to margin for error, a loss to the Wildcats would likely derail any realistic CFP hopes. On paper, this one looks like a trap, a ‘tweener” type game between Alabama and Auburn. 

October 11, between 6 and 8 p.m. – Auburn – Jordan-Hare Stadium

Georgia has won eight in a row over Auburn, dating back to the 2017 SEC Championship Game, which vaulted the Bulldogs into the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff. The Tigers “beat the dog crap” out of Georgia three weeks earlier in the loveliest village on the Plains. Three of the eight wins in the streak have come at Jordan-Hare. Two of those were very tight. Smart’s Dogs held on for a 21-14 victory in 2019. The national champions of 2021 dominated the Tigers in a 34-10 triumph. On the Bulldogs last visit, Brock Bowers donned a cape, and provided the heroics for a 27-20 comeback victory. 

How about this, going back to the 2007 Blackout victory over Auburn, the Bulldogs have won nine in a row over Auburn at Sanford Stadium. These streaks of success against the rivals are just astounding. From 1977-2001, the Bulldogs went 2-11 against Auburn Between the Hedges. During that stretch, from 1983-1990, Georgia’s record against the Tigers was 1-7. 

Smart’s success against the rivals is simply magnificent. 

Auburn will aim to turn the tables this season, and break, not just the streak against the Bulldogs, but a stretch of four successive losing seasons. Hugh Freeze’s Tigers have the potential to be amongst the most improved teams in the SEC. 

Jackson Arnold, a heralded recruit, is the likely quarterback. The Oklahoma transfer figures to have a talented group around him up front and at the other skill positions. Auburn’s defense should be very good, led by linebacker Demarcus Riddick, a big defensive front and promising secondary. 

Alex McPherson is a great story at kicker. He was 13-for-13 on field goals and 40-for-40 on extra points in 2023. He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis last season, kicking in just one game. McPherson underwent surgery and is back as one of the top kickers – and most inspirational players – in the country.

October 18, Afternoon or Evening – Ole Miss – Sanford Stadium

This will mark the third straight season that the Bulldogs and Rebels square off. Georgia posted an overwhelming 52-17 victory Between the Hedges in 2023. Last year in Oxford, it was the Rebels who prevailed, defeating the Bulldogs 28-10. Georgia responded with wins over Tennessee, UMass, Tech and then Texas in the SEC Championship Game. Ole MIss had dropped a pair of heartbreakers to Kentucky and LSU largely due to a pair of critical fourth down plays. The Rebels then had their playoff hopes evaporate with an upset loss to Florida in Gainesville. 

Lane Kiffin has energized the Rebel faithful, and awoken the echoes of Johnny Vaught, Jake Gibbs and Archie Manning. Their 11-2 campaign in 2023 (the only losses were to the Bulldogs and Alabama) was Ole Miss’s best in 60 years. Yes, the Rebels were disappointed to miss out on the playoff, but a 52-20 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl blowout of Duke capped a 10-3 season. Jaxson Dart is gone at quarterback. One of the SEC’s best was a first round pick of the New York Giants. Austin Simmons is the next Rebel QB, and he has talent. Simmons came on for Dart in the game against Georgia last year, and led Ole Miss on an impressive scoring drive to tie the contest at 7-7 in the first quarter. 

As always, Kiffin has restocked the Rebels through the transfer portal. It’s a good bet that Ole Miss will be able to move the ball and put up a lot of points. The biggest question could be the defensive front. It should be good. However, last year, led by Walter Nolen, it was outstanding. 

The Rebels host Washington State the week prior, while Georgia continues the SEC gauntlet. An open date looms for the Dogs, then it is on to Jacksonville. If the record is 6-1 or 7-0, the Bulldogs will have positioned themselves for a potential playoff run in November. 

November 1, 3:30 p.m., ABC – Florida – EverBank Stadium (JAX)

The thrown shoe incident for the Gators of 2020 turned the trajectory of what was shaping up as an outstanding season into a poor ending. Three straight losing records followed. From 2013-2023, Florida had five losing seasons, including the three in a row. Last year, Georgia won 34-20 in Jacksonville, the seventh victory for the Bulldogs in the last eight meetings with Florida, and the Gators announced that Billy Napier would return for 2025 as their head coach. The next week, Texas blew Florida away, mounting a 35-0 lead in Austin en route to a 49-17 win. Florida was 4-5 and another losing record seemed inevitable. 

But the Gators didn’t quit on Napier, and closed the season in strong fashion. Florida upset LSU 27-16 the next week in the Swamp. That was followed by a 24-17 win over Ole Miss in Gainesville. The Gator faithful took great pleasure in ending Florida State’s disastrous season with a 31-11 victory in Tallahassee. The Gators then rolled over Tulane 33-8 in the Gasparilla Bowl to finish the season on a four game winning streak, posting an 8-5 record. 8-5 never felt so good at Florida.

So the Gators are optimistic heading into the 2025 season. Quarterback D.J. Lagway is a big reason. He played very well down the stretch and is a difference maker throwing and running. Lagway left the game in Jacksonville with Florida leading, and it dealt a blow to the Gators upset hopes. 

Kirby Smart has led the Bulldogs to seven victories in the last eight meetings with the Gators, including a four game winning streak, Georgia’s longest in the series since winning six straight from 1978-1983. The Bulldogs have also appeared in seven of the last eight SEC Championship Games. The Covid year of 2020 is the exception to both of those seven out of eights. Harkening back to what was referenced for both the Tennessee and Auburn series, back when the Gators went 18-3 against Georgia from 1990-2010, could you have imagined a scenario where the Bulldogs would go on a run like this in Jacksonville? 

It will be a huge test, and obviously a critical game for both sides. The Bulldogs and Gators have extremely challenging schedules. The feeling last year is that they were the country’s two most difficult slates. 

In addition to Lagway, Florida has an improved running game and weapons on the perimeter. How much better are they up front? The defense can run and the special teams has playmakers. That’s a scouting report on Florida that has qualified for many years. 

Georgia overcame three interceptions last year to prevail. A tremendous go-ahead touchdown drive was followed by C.J. Allen’s clutch pick, and then Dwight Phillips’ clinching touchdown. The Bulldogs have given up exactly 20 points in Jacksonville each of the last three years, while scoring 42, 43 and 34. 

You know the Gators will be coming hard at Georgia, but that’s what the Bulldogs get every week. It’s expected. “Pressure is a privilege,” CKKS. (Coach King Kirby Smart)

November 8, Noon, ABC or ESPN – Mississippi State – Davis-Wade Stadium 

Mississippi State has been through a transition period since the passing of Mike Leach, a character and offensive guru who gave MSU a big boost. Jeff Lebby is an excellent play-caller, and is confident that State can make a big jump heading into his second season at the helm in Starkville. 

It was a struggle last season, as the Maroon Bulldogs went 2-10, defeating Eastern Kentucky and UMass, and 0-8 in the SEC. But they gave excellent teams tough games. Georgia beat State 41-31 Between the Hedges last year. MSU also stayed within 10 over Texas A&M, 12 of Ole Miss, and Bully gave Texas a scare before the Longhorns prevailed 35-13 in Austin. 

We all know there are no moral victories in the SEC, but it’s not like they were getting beaten by four touchdowns every week. No doubt they are catching Georgia at a good spot. A road trip to Starkville between the Gators in Jacksonville and what figures to be a highly touted showdown against Texas in Athens. 

Blake Shapen is the likely quarterback. In four games last year, he threw for eight touchdowns against just one interception after transferring from Baylor. 

The Bulldogs beat MSU 45-19 on their last visit to Starkville. That was a cold night in November of 2022, a victory that improved Georgia to 10-0 and clinched the SEC East title en route to a 15-0 perfect season and second straight national championship. Stetson Bennett, Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers were three of the headliners. No room for a slip-up here if Georgia is going to make the CFP.

November 15, Afternoon or Evening – Texas – Sanford Stadium

It was a great first season for Texas in the Southeastern Conference. The Longhorns posted an 11-1 regular season record and made the SEC Championship Game. It had to be especially sweet for the ‘Horns, denying Texas A&M a spot in Atlanta with their win the Saturday after Thanksgiving. After losing to Georgia in Atlanta, the Longhorns beat Clemson in Austin in the playoff, then won a thriller over Arizona State back in Atlanta to make it to the CFP Semifinal, where they fell to Ohio State. 

Arch Manning takes over as the starting quarterback and he is surrounded by talent. The Longhorns payroll has gotten a great deal of attention. Steve Sarkisian has quickly elevated Texas back to the nation’s elite, and they are a popular pick this season to be the last team standing. 

Georgia won 30-15 over Texas last season in Austin, and then took the rematch 22-19 in overtime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in one of the greatest SEC Championship Games ever. 

Texas ended last season with a loss to Ohio State. The Longhorns open this season with a big time showdown against the Buckeyes in the Horseshoe. This is one of those games that is no killer for the loser, but it gives the winner major margin for error. Last year, Texas had the most favorable schedule in the SEC. It toughens a bit this year with the Buckeyes, Florida and Georgia all on the road. Texas has an open date before taking on the Dogs Between the Hedges. 

Yes there are challenges, but anything short of a playoff berth will not sit well in the Lone Star State Capital. Manning has a slew of outstanding targets, including Ryan Wingo. Quintrevion Wisner leads a strong running back corps, and the offensive line is big and talented. Brandon Baker, the right tackle, has All-American potential. 

The defense is talented and can run. Colin Simmons highlights the front seven. He could be that difference maker on the defense. Texas should be very good on special teams. There are lots of weapons. Never wanting to jump the gun or take anything for granted, but there’s a chance these two could see each other more than once, yet again, this season. 

November 22, 12:45 p.m., SECN – Charlotte – Sanford Stadium 

This is one that Georgia should win by a comfortable number. The Jackets loom, and Texas, capping an eight game stretch of SEC games is in the rearview mirror. Charlotte went 5-7 last season, but the 49ers closed strong, beating Florida Staltic 39-27 on the road and upsetting UAB 29-27. 

Charlotte opens this season against Appalachian State in the Duke’s Mayo Classic in the Queen City. Then they get North Carolina in Charlotte. Shade of Cornbread Maxwell and Phil Ford. Three of their last four are on the road, including the Bulldogs in Athens. The Roadrunners of Texas-San Antonio head to Charlotte prior to the game against Georgia. 

Former North Carolina signal caller Conner Harrell is the projected starting quarterback. Last season, he was 21 of 37 for 282 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. Tim Albin is in his second season as Charlotte’s head coach, and he has a good resume. In 2023, Albin led Ohio University to the MAC championship. 

Friday, November 28, 3:30 p.m, ABC – Tech – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)

This is one of the biggest games of them all for what legendary Hall of Fame Coach Vince Dooley always called “the biggest game of them all.” 

Georgia is riding a seven game winning streak against the Yellow Jackets, with last season’s 44-42 eight overtime triumph making history as one of the most nerve wracking, glorious victories in Bulldog lore. The Bulldogs are one win away from matching the infamous drought of 1949-1956, when Tech won eight straight over Georgia. 

Three times since, Georgia has had seven game winning streaks against the Jackets. In 1998, with Kirby Smart donning the silver britches for the final time Between the Hedges, Georgia led 19-7 in the second half, having won seven in a row. But Tech came back. There was no replay and Joe Hamilton fumbled, but the officials ruled him down. Bad call. History changing!  Of course, that awful call would be trumped the next year with the blatant cheating and/or incompetence of Al Ford’s crew. 

In 2008, Georgia, led by Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno was riding a seven game winning streak, and leading Tech 28-12 at the half. But Paul Johnson’s triple option got cranking and the Jackets came out on top 45-42. 

Back in 1998, Brent Key was playing offensive line for Tech. He’s done an excellent job in his previous two and a half years. The program was in the depths when he took over for Geoff Collins midway through the 2022 campaign. Key has led Tech to bowls in each of the past two seasons with winning 7-6 records. He went 4-4 in 2022 after a 1-3 start. The Jackets had three win seasons in 2019, 2020 and 2021. 

Georgia and Tech, due to Covid and an SEC only schedule for the Bulldogs, didn’t play in 2020. That very likely would have been a Georgia win, and we’d be talking about going for nine in a row. 

In his three games coaching against Georgia, Key’s Jackets have given the Bulldogs very tough challenges. Georgia trailed for much of the first half in 2022, but pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 37-14 en route to a second straight national championship. It was a knee-knocker at Grant Field in 2023, but the Bulldogs held on 31-23 to wrap up a record third straight 12-0 regular season. And then there was last year, a game unlike any ever played between these two ancient foes at Sanford Stadium. 

Tech will be very good. They’ve got a shot at the ACC Championship Game and certainly feel like they could contend for a playoff spot. Haynes King is tremendous at quarterback. He has played great against the Dogs the last two years. Backup QB Aaron Philo, who played at Prince Avenue Christian in Athens, is very good too. The Jackets backfield is one of the most proven in the country. King is joined by Jamal Haynes, one of the ACC’s top running backs. 

Key has built Tech back up on the line of scrimmage. There are two Georgia transfers playing for Tech, tight end Brett Seither and linebacker E.J. Lightsey. Aiden Birr is a very good kicker. 

It is well documented that this year’s game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and that, for a second straight year, it will be on a Friday. Tech will host Pitt the Saturday prior. 

When it comes to streaks, here is a nice one for the Red and Black. Georgia has beaten Tech 12 straight times at Grant Field, and won 16 of the last 17 on Tech’s campus – the Al Ford Jasper Sanks game the exception. 

Kirby Smart has built a Hall of Fame career and put together a list of records and accomplishments that rank amongst the greatest in the history of college football. The back-to-back national championships, eight straight top ten finishes and major bowl berths, the various incredible winning streaks, seven trips to the SEC Championship Game in eight years, and 30-2 versus Tech, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee since 2017, all highlight a staggering resume. Smart coached and willed Georgia to victory in the eight overtimes last season. If he could lead his beloved alma mater to an eighth straight triumph over “The Enemy,” it would go down as one of the most important and historically significant accomplishments in Georgia football lore. Especially for those die hard, long time fans who remember those dark days of the drought.