Dear Class of 2025,

You’ve wrapped up your tenure as University of Georgia students. As fireworks lit up the sky above Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium, you are the winningest class in Georgia history, turning your tassels and walking away from the greatest four-year run in Georgia football history.

This class, your class, set foot in Athens not knowing what was to come. Most of you probably didn’t know where your classes were, much less what you would soon see grace the gridiron before you. 

Class of 2025, what if I told you you would see not one, but two national championships, back-to-back at that? What if I told you you would see two SEC Championships, two Orange Bowl wins and a Peach Bowl win? What if I told you you would only see five losses in your time as a student here… They might be heartbreaking, but what if I told you you would also see 53 wins, more than any other four-year student in this university’s 129 years of football? What if I told you you would never lose at Sanford Stadium? What if I told you you would never lose to Tennessee, Auburn, Florida or Tech? 

Well… you did all of that, and here’s how…

JT Daniels was the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs at your arrival. A defense filled with future NFL talent from top to bottom would soon break records. A freshman named Brock Bowers would burst on the scene. And, a backup, walk-on quarterback, who got to Georgia four years prior to you, would soon take the starting job and cement Stetson Bennett IV into Damn Good Dawg lore.

With a 10-3 victory over No. 3 Clemson in Charlotte, you began your Georgia careers with a statement win. That aforementioned defense would not let up throughout the year led by senior defensive lineman Jordan Davis. 

The Bulldogs would lose their first game of the season in the 13th game of the year… The SEC Championship against Alabama. 

No need to fear, class of 2025… You got your revenge, and you got two more SEC titles coming your way, just wait.

The battle-tested Dawgs stomped No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl 34-11 en route to the national championship game.

On that cold, fateful night in January 2022, that backup quarterback I talked about found a streaking AD Mitchell for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Dawgs a lead they would never relinquish. Then, Kelee Ringo would seal the most magical night of your life. A 79-yard pick six would all but set the confetti off as you were on your way to breaking a 41-year curse. Just like Stetson did on the sidelines, you either cried in Lucas Oil Stadium or cried as you sprinted downtown to party with your friends, classmates and strangers… The rise of the Dawg and fall of the Tide! 

What a night! But it doesn’t end here…

As you basked in the glory of being the kings of the mountain for an entire offseason, it was back to school and back to Sanford come fall. Another statement win kicked off your sophomore year as the Dawgs vanquished Oregon 49-3 on opening day of hunting season. 

The steamroll continued… It was perfect. 

There were bumps and scares along the way like that come-from-behind win in Columbia, Missouri. Down 10 in the fourth quarter, freshman Malaki Starks saved the season, tackling the Tiger tailback inside the five. Holding Missouri to a field goal, the comeback Dawgs battled back and stayed perfect.

Then, there was that glorious, rainy day in Sanford. The loudest you may have ever heard it. As water fell from the sky, the red wave engulfed the Volunteers. Tennessee came to town as the No. 1 team in the country. You probably felt disrespected. Well, Stetson did too. After being kept up all night thanks to someone leaking his phone number, No. 13 laid out for a rushing touchdown and reminded everyone: just keep calling because I’ll keep answering when my name is called. It was all downhill from there for Tennessee. Another tally in the win column!

Back to Atlanta for the second time that year and your second SEC title game. This time, LSU awaited. Future Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was ready to spoil your season, but he was no match for Jalen Carter. The ferocious defender lifted him in the air and showed the world Georgia was No. 1.

The Buckeyes from Columbus, Ohio thought they could ruin your year too… Not so fast! At the strike of midnight, Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles kicked off your year wide left. You won for a third time in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and it was back to the natty. 

This time, a cross-country trip to Los Angeles where the Horned Frogs’ Cinderella Story would soon lose their glass slipper. 

The most dominant win in bowl game history, a 65-7 rout on the way to your second national title. You were perfect… 15-0. Back to Clayton Street for another downtown takeover, celebrating yet again.

The win streak continued through your next regular season. That is until another date with Alabama in Atlanta for the SEC Championship. It probably felt like your heart had been ripped out and thrown down the stairs of Boar’s Head. 

After being snubbed from the Playoff in 2023, your junior football season concluded with a 63-3 win over Florida State to claim your second Orange Bowl victory. Oh, and by the way, that record you set last year in LA… You just broke it.

Your last ride was upon you. After wrapping up those summer internships, you found yourself back in Atlanta for a heavyweight bout with Clemson. Well, just like you did your freshman and sophomore years, you held the opening game opponent to three points. Just like your first ever game as a Georgia student, you took down Clemson. This time, a little more convincingly… 34-3. 

It was off to the races. The Crimson Tide handed you your third-ever loss as a student. It sucked. Despite the Dawgs mighty comeback efforts, it was just short of a win in Tuscaloosa. 

Then, it was off to Austin, Texas. The first SEC bout between the Bulldogs and Longhorns. All you heard was, “There’s a new sheriff in the SEC,” or “The Eyes of Texas are upon you.” But you didn’t go there to take pictures. You kept chopping and showed Texas how we play ball in the SEC. 

Another loss came in Oxford. This might have been just your fourth loss ever, but every single one of them still stung. 

Then, your last game in Sanford Stadium. It was your opportunity to be perfect at home and complete the sweep over Georgia Tech… those pesky bees from Atlanta. 

You were down and out. There was zero chance of victory. Some of you might have even left the stadium. But just when all hope seemed lost; just when your home win-streak was ready to dissipate; just when your perfect record against Tech seemed gone, a former walk-on named Dan Jackson speared the nerd’s quarterback, forced a fumble and gave your beloved Bulldogs a chance to send it to overtime.

After eight of those things, freshman Nate Frazier sealed the game with a legendary run right up the gut. Whew! Your home record was officially perfect… 25-0. You were 16-0 against Tennessee, Auburn, Florida and Tech.

Thanks to the chaos around you in the SEC, it was back to Atlanta for your fourth straight SEC Championship appearance. Texas… for the second time. 

Once again, it was all this doubt: “You can’t beat a team twice,” they said. Guess what? Your quarterback went down, but a backup from Rabun County stepped up to the plate by the name of Gunner Stockton. 

It was back to overtime for the second straight week. I’m sure your heart took enough strain the week prior, but just to be sure you were still kicking, the Dawgs decided to go to overtime again.

Gunner took a hit, but he held onto the damn ball. Resilient, just like your class. When the dust settled, after the very next snap, you became SEC champions once again! 

Your football career ended short in New Orleans, but what a ride it was. Cherish those moments, those moments with 93,000 of your closest friends. Savor the wins. Remember the losses, and think back to the triumphs that followed. They were all sweet, sacred moments you’ll have for a lifetime. They are rings no one can ever take away from you. They are flags that fly high above Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium that will never cease to wave. 

Now, wish the next classes the same success you had. You are now an alumni and can always claim victory alongside the new breed of Bulldogs that wear the red and black! 

You lived the Glory Days!

Sincerely, Your Alma Mater,

Georgia