If you started looking forward to what the merry pranksters at SEC Shorts had in store after a Saturday of SEC beatdown you’re not alone. And as usually they did not disappoint:

On a semi-serious note even I, an SEC purist of the highest order, have to admit it’s probably time for the SEC Championship Game to end when for a second year running it’s being treated more as an obligation to be escaped than an honor to be cherished. That’s sad, but not unpredictable.

Go Dawgs!!!

Are your Georgia Bulldogs taking on a high-quality SEC opponent and looking to avoid another hangover following a big road victory? Then you could probably use a drink.

I can help you with that.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one. Kirby Smart’s team went on the road and decisively handled a top 10 opponent. It was a result which prompted national media and SEC opponents alike to immediately fete them as the top team in the country. Adulation all around. Fireworks. Champagne dreams. Confetti from the sky.

We saw how that turned out last time. So suffice it to say that I am withholding just the tiniest amount of excitement headed into this Saturday. Maybe the Red and Black’s unfortunate stumble against Auburn was the result of everything going wrong all at once in a way that is unlikely to repeat itself. But I’m keeping this team on probation until the ‘Dawgs prove that they aren’t going to beat the ‘Dawgs.

And what’s the drink for keeping your enthusiasm on probation? Probationer’s punch.

It’s an effervescent refreshment that will still allow you to stay clear-headed and, if you’re a Tennessee fan, able to pass whatever tests your probation officer may have for you.

You’ll need:

3 cups pineapple juice

2 cups orange juice

1 cup of cranberry juice

¼ cup fresh lime juice

6 tablespoons grenadine syrup

Citrus slices (For garnish)

Maraschino cherries (Ditto)

This recipe makes six servings. So feel free to double, triple, or octuple the measurements as needed.

Prepare your garnishes beforehand by skewering citrus slices and cherries on toothpicks or cocktail sticks.

In a large pitcher mix the pineapple, orange, cranberry and lime juices.

Into each individual serving glass pour in one tablespoon of the grenadine syrup. Fill the glass with ice. When ready to serve, pour the rum punch into each glass to create a sunset effect And if you want, you could throw in an ounce and a half of dark rum. Assuming you’re off probation, obviously. . Enjoy responsibly, and….

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the Show Me Drinks :

1.    The Missouri offense is balanced in it’s approach, if nothing else. And they are committed to the run, more so than most teams. But the production just isn’t elite on a play by play basis.

Yes, they run it 51% of the time and pass it 49%. Yet the passing game accounts for almost 2/3rds of their yardage. So while they are perceived to have a great running attack, and they do have a 1,000 yard back already in Jamal Roberts, it lacks the true game control and is almost 1.5 yards per attempt less than what Georgia trots on the field.

2.  How good are they? I think the stat I saw is that they haven’t beaten a top 25 team – as currently ranked. Sure they beat the brakes off Florida, but that was before the smoke and mirrors Jon Sumrall deployed had been removed from the equation. They lost close to Mississippi State, though that was with a healthy Kamario Taylor.

They beat Arkansas and Texas A&M, but who hasn’t? And I’ll grant them some dubious officiating in the loss vs. Texas last week, but it was a sloppy performance at home and with a pretty big spotlight on them.

3. We faced the #1 red area offense last week in Oxford. It turns out to combat that, you just don’t let the opposing team in the red zone. A different story this week, as Mizzou ranks dead last in the SEC, and 124^th nationally, in red zone offense. Add in the fact that the only way Ole Miss scored was off a debatable DPI call on 4^th down to give fresh life, then I tend to like our chances to keep the Tigers side of the scoreboard on the low side.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about going to Vaught-Hemingway where we’re only 12-9 all time and lost the last 2 trips:

1. Georgia and Missouri are 2 of the top teams in the SEC, and some of the top in the country, in turnover margin. Both defenses are aggressive and create turnovers. Both teams create fumbles with pressure in the backfield, strip fumbles, and cause interceptions from getting in the quarterbacks face. So if you like how the UGA defense creates havoc this season, you’ll see the same from the Tiger front.

They recovered 3 fumbles in Fayetteville on Halloween, and got two more when the Longhorns visited last week (they caused another but Arch fell on it for a key first down). And Tiger QB Austin Simmons is keeping a clean stat sheet – he’s only thrown 2 picks on the season. The positive I draw from all of this is that the only truly stout SEC defense they’ve faced was Texas. Hopefully the Georgia D will show up as it has the last 2 weeks and lay waste to their best laid plans.

2. Caydn Lee is a senior Tiger WR who almost certainly will eclipse 1,000 yds receiving and be pushing double digit receiving scores. 3 games over 110 yards, and 7 games over 75 yards. Of course he’s a Georgia native. And we’ve seen him before.

The product of Kennesaw Mountain HS was with Lane Kiffin the past 3 seasons at Ole Miss. He had 4 catches against us in our game there in 2024, and caught 4 more in the Sugar Bowl last December. But he’s breaking out this season, and is definitely the possession, go-to receiver for Austin Simmons with at least 5 catches in every game. And a good complement to the 6’2” rangy Donovan Olugbode on the other side.

3 . Then there is Austin Simmons. You might remember he spelled an injured Jaxson Dart in 2024 vs. UGA, and promptly marched the BearShark Rebels down the field for a key score to quench any momentum we might have gained.

The lefty has really found a home in CoMo, tossing multiple scores in 6 of the Tigers 9 contests. The one game he didn’t throw a TD was against Ole Miss, but he still spun it for 339 yards. The accuracy is pretty elite, and while not a running threat per se, he can move in the pocket and allow his receivers to lose coverage.

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about possibly the 2^nd to last game in Sanford Stadium this season.  And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Welcome to another edition of around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like conference championship games to those who run college football. Speaking of which…

RIP SEC Championship Game

As you may have heard, the SEC has announced that this year’s SEC Championship Game will be the final edition of the game, ending a run of 34 years. What was once one of the crown jewels of the sport has now been scrapped in favor of a first round game between Iowa State and Virginia. What has happened to the sport I love.

Florida dodges Notre Dame

Florida has announced they have canceled their home-and-home series with Notre Dame in 2031 and 2032. This is likely to be the start of a larger trend where teams will bail on scheduling tough out-of-conference opponents to ensure their record is good enough to make the expanded playoff field. Another sad development for the sport.

Ole Miss Fined

The University of Mississippi was fined $250k for fans throwing trash and debris onto the field during the Rebels’ 42-7 loss to Georgia. This was certainly not the fine Ole Miss was hoping for after their game against Georgia.

Yep, this is one of those nostalgic weeks.

This comes thanks to the infinite wisdom of expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams. That, as is well known, means that next month’s SEC Championship will now officially be the final one.

For Georgia fans, playing in this event has become commonplace, but it was not always this way. In fact, until 2002, each December meant lots of watching other SEC rivals take their turn in the spotlight with Georgia fans left to wonder when that time would come..if ever.

For that reason, its why when you think back to the most memorable SEC title game for Georgia, 2002 outranks them all. The whole week was a Mardi Gras for Georgia fans. Thanks to Arkansas’ enthusiasm being grossly outweighed by Georgia fans, the whole scene around the Georgia Dome was a red and black party, and the result was a foregone conclusion.

Yes, there have been other sweet wins in this game for Georgia with last year’s long-awaited win against Bama and the victory a year prior against Texas. The revenge win against Auburn was satisfying, as were the separate wins against LSU, but it terms of what it meant for Georgia fans – the Arkansas win, at least from this viewpoint, will always rank at the top.

In reality, the loss of the SEC title game is a microcosm of the path being driven for college football. And aren’t you glad that teams are going to be incentivized to play marquee games? About that….

Seriously. Saying this new format is great for college football is like going back to 1996 and telling long-time race fans in Wilkes County, NC that moving races away from the Carolinas to Texas and California is a long-term win the NASCAR.

There was apparently some very riveting audio obtained the posting to video content from Glory Glory for their subscribers to view. But at the risk of getting a cease and desist, we won’t post it here, but it can likely be found on the backwebs.

Yes, Georgia is the top-ranked team as expected in the CFP Rankings. But what does that mean to this Georgia team right now? As a south Georgia baseball coach once noted, its only good ‘for toilet paper.’

For the fourth game in a row, Peyton Woodring missed a field goal at Ole Miss. But if you are looking for a lack of confidence in Georgia’s kicker, don’t ask Kirby Smart.

Go Dawgs!

AP Poll

1. Georgia
2. Utah
3. Alabama
4. UCLA
5. Notre Dame
6. Texas
7. Miami
8. Tennessee
9. Indiana
10. BYU
11. Kentucky
12. Texas Tech
13. Wake Forest
14. Houston
15. Iowa
16. Oregon
17. South Carolina
18. USC
19. Ole Miss
20. Ohio State
21. LSU
22. Missouri
23. Arizona
24. Boise State
25. Oklahoma State

Georgia Update

Georgia stormed into Oxford an annihilated Ole Miss 42-7, exacting revenge on the Rebels from last year’s playoff game.

Georgia’s dominant win, coupled with Miami’s loss to Notre Dame, saw the Dawgs rise to #1 in the latest CFP Ranking ahead of their game this weekend in Athens against #22 Missouri.

Our friends at FanDuel have Georgia as the favorites to win the national championship at +250. They also view the Dawgs as a virtual lock to make the Playoff, as they have no longer have active odds that you can bet on for Georgia to reach the CFP.

Ranked Matchups

#22 Missouri at #1 Georgia

#18 USC at #9 Indiana

#2 Utah at #23 Arizona

#6 Texas at #21 LSU

#12 Texas Tech at #25 Oklahoma State

Upset Alert

We’ve witnessed first hand how a team can come out flat the week following an emotional win. FanDuel has the Utah as 2.5 point road favorites against #23 Arizona. A top-2 team has lost five weeks in a row, a feat not seen since 2007. The Wildcats will make it six straight weeks by upsetting Utah at home as minor underdogs.

The sun is shining. The birds are singing. And your Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a dominating SEC road victory. Mondays aren’t high on my list, but this one actually feels pretty darn skippy. Let’s catch up on what you need to know this morning in Bulldog Nation.

The focus now turns to the Missouri Tigers, last seen getting, and this is a term I use advisedly, hosed by the officials in a 34-20 loss to Texas. While the officiating may have turned the tide, the Tigers also had some defensive lapses that made life easier for the Horns. Our good friends at Rock M Nation, the excellent SB Nation Missouri site, have a breakdown of the breakdowns.

Mizzou has lost two of their last three, and are 1-2 against ranked opponents. With Georgia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma left on the schedule, Eliah Drinkwitz’s 6-3 Columbians are coming to Athens behind the proverbial eight ball.

That’s reflected in the spread. The boys and girls in Vegas have installed the Red and Black as a 15.5 point favorite on Saturday. That feels defensible to me given how each of these teams have performed in November. At the same time, Mizzou can be a tough out, as the Bulldogs have seen in the past.

This is the kind of game in which bettors can lose money, because Kirby doesn’t mind running the clock out up 21 late. And while you might lose your rent money when Missouri then scores a late touchdown to close to 14, the Kirbster will still sleep like a baby. So as we have said around here for years, those numbers are for entertainment and insight.

Go Dawgs!!!

There’s little value in looking ahead. But that’s not going to stop the effort of doing so anyway.

The first round of CFP Rankings came out on Tuesday night, slotting Georgia second. That puts the Bulldogs in a very good position should they take care of what they need to over the next month and then some. With all of that said, putting a lot of stock in the first round of these rankings is like investing energy in early-voting totals – much is to be hammered out by the it matters.

Because a friendly reminder – there was a time in 2022 when Tennessee led the CFP Rankings…and their prospects were never heard from again by that season’s conclusion.

So how does all of this tie in?

It’s all about where Georgia’s quarterfinal-round destination could be. With Miami currently being No. 1, it’d get the first choice of a venue, and it would be hard for the Hurricanes to turn down the Chick-fil-A Bowl in terms of travel. If Georgia ends the season ranked second, you can bet Kirby Smart from a travel angle would want the next closest venue of the Cotton Bowl. That new venue could be fun except for the Bulldogs playing the current projected winner of Texas and Ole Miss – and playing the Longhorns in Dallas would be anything but a home-field advantage. It’d be akin to Florida in Jacksonville.

Clearly, lots will shake out between now and then, but as it stands now, there’s a projected postseason road for Georgia that it would need to avoid.

It was very clear as the Alabama game began how badly Nate Frazier wanted to play against Alabama. The running back detailed more on Tuesday how tough it was to sit out those handful of games.

The Red & Black takes a nice retrospective on Gunner Stockton’s play against Florida after a rough outing against Auburn. Not surprisingly, Kirby Smart remains bullish when it comes to the Bulldogs’ signal-caller.

It’s hard to tell due to some of the angst hanging around, but Georgia’s offensive leads in the SEC in points per game and passing efficiency. That said, there were plenty of chances of tack on yards and points left on the field against Florida, and that’s heavy on the mind for the Bulldogs going toward Ole Miss. Here’s some insight into how offensive coordinator Mike Bobo plans to attack the Rebels on Saturday.

Basketball is underway for both the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. These early games are glorified scrimmages, in all honesty, but it’ll be good to see what kind of product each team is putting together.

For the Lady Bulldogs, this week was also the debut for new head coach Ayla Guzzardo.

AP Poll

1. Miami
2. Georgia
3. Utah
4. Indiana
5. Alabama
6. Kentucky
7. Texas
8. UCLA
9. BYU
10. Ole Miss
11. Notre Dame
12. Ohio State
13. Tennessee
14. LSU
15. Texas Tech
16. Wake Forest
17. Houston
18. Missouri
19. Iowa
20. USC
21. South Carolina
22. Arizona
23. Oregon
24. Florida
25. Boise State

Georgia Update

Georgia won their sixth straight Cocktail Party, this time in Atlanta and by a final score of 27-8 over Florida.

This win, combined with Ohio State’s loss to USC, saw the Dawgs land at #2 in the first College Football Playoff ranking of the season. The first rankings also mean that their game in Oxford this weekend will be a top-10 showdown with Ole Miss coming in at #10.

Our friends at FanDuel have Georgia with -5000 odds to make the College Football Playoff, only behind Miami who is at -10000. However, the Dawgs are +330 to win it all, which is the best odds of any team.

Ranked Matchups

#2 Georgia at #10 Ole Miss

#9 BYU at #3 Utah

#7 Texas at #18 Missouri

#5 Alabama at #14 LSU

#23 Oregon at #12 Ohio State

#6 Kentucky at #13 Tennessee

#1 Miami at #11 Notre Dame

Upset Alert

I’ve picked Ole Miss twice to win as underdogs. Ole Miss as lost both times. So you know what? I’m doing it again and going for the trifecta. FanDuel has the Rebels as 3.5 point underdogs against Georgia. No way Trinidad Chambliss and team doesn’t win at home against the Dawgs. Give me the Ole Miss to win outright. Hopefully the Rebels don’t make me look bad again (wink, wink).

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! Your Georgia Bulldogs have played two-thirds of their regular season games, and two-thirds of their SEC conference games. And, two-thirds of the “traditional” rivals on the schedule, with only Georgia Tech left in a few weeks.

Are you still basking in the glow of a freshly flambe^’ed gator? You should be. We have 360+ days to remind booger-eaters who still runs our state and theirs. Lots of other folks were impressed with the Bulldog defense that stymied the previously 4th-ranked SEC offense. That includes the folks in Birmingham, who awarded Chris Cole the SEC Defensive Player of the Week, and Gabe Harris the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week.

The initial College Football Playoff rankings will be revealed tonight on ESPN at 7:00 pm ET. Georgia may well be #2, just as it is in the AP poll, with Miami at #1. The real drama will be surrounding teams like 2-loss Ohio State, who are obviously not as good without injured QB Julian Sayin. The same could be said for Wake Forest, whose only loss was to the #1 Hurricanes, but with a QB who left Saturday’s game early. Utah is undefeated and starting to steamroll opponents. UCLA likewise undefeated but with a fairly weak schedule. Kentucky with some of that new car smell.

What does the committee think of Indiana, with a very close loss to Ohio State but also winning by the skin of their teeth most weeks thanks to Cignetti’s deal with the devil? Notre Dame lost to BYU but has otherwise looked very good vs. weaker competition, and BYU is also sitting with one loss – I sincerely hope, and solely for my own entertainment, to have BYU ahead of the Whinin’ Irish.

Coach Kirby Smart held his weekly Monday press conference, and I have to say he was a little more verbose on topics such as tampering and in-season roster management, SEC scheduling as it relates to night games in Athens vs. on the road, and motivation of players in the era of NIL. I don’t think there are any soundbites worthy of national scrutiny (unlike his post-WLCOP comments regarding injuries), but it does make one wonder how he might expound in a more private setting.

When asked about possible injuries to Dwight Phllips, Coach Smart answered “Fine. Probably more tired than hurt.” Similarly, about Ellis Robinson, the answer was “He looks good. Hopefully he’ll be good to go. We’ll find out more today.” That’s pretty positive, and pretty wordy from Kirby. And not a single mention of telling the media to wait until the availability report.

Basketball is here, whether you recognize it’s existence before February or not. Head Men’s Coach Mike White comes into his 4th season in Athens, having already notched more wins in his first 3 campaigns than any previous Bulldog coach. And while not the prettiest of openers, the Hoop Hounds won against NC Central 78-62. It wasn’t necessarily tough for the Bulldogs, but 6-26 from behind the arc kept the Eagles closer than should have been the case.

The Women’s team also tipped off the 2026-27 season Monday afternoon as the first game of a doubleheader at the Steg. The Lady Dawgs bullied West Georgia into a 92-53 victory on their home court.

That should get your Tuesday going as we head into the middle of the week of the last stretch of the regular season, before the post-season, and nonsensical scheduling. Which all makes perfectly good sense for college students. Still and yet, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Get up, ‘Dawgs! It’s Game Day! Let’s start the morning with the obligatory tailgate music:

Are you not hyped? Let Bulldog legend A.J. Green help:

In injury news, the Bulldogs have good news and bad news on the Friday evening eligibility report.

The return of Chauncey Bowens and Thomas Blackshear is certainly welcome. Dwight Phillips has done great work in the backfield, but we need to spread the pounding around to as many tailbacks as possibles.

But Joseph Jonah-Ajonye being ruled out and Elyiss Williams as questionable don’t give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Jonah-Ajonye has really come in as a disruptive presence on the edge. Williams of course is one of the Athenians’ better blockers and matchup nightmares in the passing game.

Away from the gridiron, the Hoop Hounds improved to 2-0 with a 91-77 victory over the fearsome Presbyterian Blue Hose. The Bulldogs looked cleaner offensively than in their season opener against North Carolina Central, but are still very much a work in progress. In accordance with this site’s standing practice, we will generally divert our eyes from Mike White’s squad until they’ve had a chance to get their act together. It’s the kind thing to dip. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There’s no question that when it comes to Ole Miss football, its greatest era came in the 1950s and 1960s, when the Rebels were a combined 157-46-11, a span of time that toward the back end included Archie Manning.

But when it came to the 1968, Georgia, as well as Mike Cavan owned the day against Mississippi as he led the Bulldogs to a pair of fourth-quarter drives in a 21-7 win.

That victory was the first ranked win for Georgia that year which tied Tennessee to start the year and would go on to beat two more ranked foes that year – Houston and Auburn on the way to a No. 4 ranking and the SEC title.

Both teams headed into Athens that day with high hopes. Georgia was unbeaten coming away from wins against and Clemson and South Carolina with the Rebels riding high after beating Alabama the week prior.

By the time it all ended, the Bulldogs had made a statement when it came to both Cavan and Georgia’s season. Cavan would go on to be the SEC’s sophomore of the year, and the Bulldogs ended up in the Sugar Bowl, back when it was still played at Tulane Stadium.

For Cavan, his story didn’t end there with the Bulldogs. Even when his career at Georgia ended as a player, he’d eventually end up back in Athens as an assistant coach in what ended up being one of the most important roles in program history by leading the recruitment of Herschel Walker.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Go Dawgs!

Welcome to another edition of Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like head-to-head results to the CFP Committee. I will say, though, the points are NOT like strength of schedule for once (looking at you, Notre Dame. Good luck this Saturday, you realllllly need this win).

Florida QB Change

Coming off their loss in the Cocktail Party, Florida will make a change at QB, starting freshman Tramell Jones Jr. over Aaron Philo. Jones replaced Philo early against Georgia last Saturday, and head coach Jon Sumrall has elected to go with the freshman ahead of their must-win clash with Oklahoma.

Ole Miss Star Ruled Out

Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy has already been ruled out ahead of the Rebels’ big game against Georgia this weekend. Lacy terrorized Georgia in last year’s Sugar Bowl, and his presence will be missed. The Dawgs will be tasked with holding the Ole Miss run game in check, rendering them one dimensional.

Trump Attending Alabama-LSU

Trump will be in attendance for Alabama-LSU in Baton Rouge. No, not that Trump. First Lady Melania Trump will be attendance ahead of an announcement for a $5 million scholarship donation at LSU for those students who have experienced foster care. This is not a political column, so no comments will be made on that front. In regards to football, I’m assuming the headset communications may be disrupted due to Secret Service presence, so we will see which team navigates this the best.

Georgia-Florida. That’s the official name we’re going by here, by the way. Simply because it’s the correct one.

It’s also a week when the fine folks with interests around Alachua County, Florida have selective memories when it comes to what happened before 1990.

Truthfully, who could blame them. If my school went from 1964 to 1990 without beating its professed rival in back-to-back seasons, I’d want to forget that time, too.

Eventually, that series history swung big in Florida’s history thanks to the Head Ball Coach and later, the combo on Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow, but Georgia still leads the all-time series 58-44 – even if the Gators dispute one of that Bulldog wins. That record comes despite Georgia winning only three times from 1990 to 2010, a big testament to what happened before 1990.

But since the folks south of places like Lake Park, Fargo, Statenville, Folkston, Kingsland and Woodbine understandably would want to forget much of what happened in this rivalry before 1990, we’re here to today to provide a service and noting what else did not exist before 1990.

Major League Baseball being played indoors – yes, even in Florida!

The fact that you can pay student-athletes…legally!

The ability to facelessly troll opposing fans with a device that rests in the palm of your hand

The Atlanta Falcons…scratch that. They’re still, as the late great Larry Munson once said, “so pitiful.”

The Dawg Walk

Unfortunately…the affront to pulled pork that is Sonnys BBQ still exists. Eat it if you wish, but it’s not legitimate BBQ.

Zaxby’s restaurants outside of the ones in Valdosta and Statesboro, the former of which was in a legitimate old two-story house.

The concept of Pat McAfee as an on-air personality.

Broadcasters using their dog as a shield against criticism.

Pop music disguised as country music.

Google. The previous version was a whole shelf of encyclopedias.

Relying on maps instead of a mobile device for directions. Honestly, it made you feel like a pirate seeking treasure.

Costco.

Sanford Stadium being used for things beside football.

Visors being a fashionable sideline apparel option. If there’s one thing that both Georgia and Florida’s best coaches in their history have in common that is it…as well as deep-seeded Kylo Ren hatred being birthed by a loss as a player.

Go Dawgs!

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the resurgent Booger Eaters:

1.    The Gators have a .500 record in the Benz, having notched victories over Michigan and losing to Bama in the SEC Championship. But their most recent trip was 2020 – there are mullet coiffed and jort-wearing 1^st graders that have never seen their horrible uniforms compete there. And Georgia has played this locale 10 times since then, 3 times in 2022 alone, and twice in 2024, plus just last December where the Red & Black stemmed the Crimson Tide.

2.  Georgia is on a 5 game win streak in this series. And since I have selective memory of this border rivalry like Gator fans, I don’t believe Georgia played Florida in the 1990s, so 5 games is definitely the longest streak by either team. You can’t tell me otherwise.

3. The most famous weakness of the Florida Gators is… well, being a Florida Gator. Only slightly less well-known is that the Gator secondary is next to last in the SEC at passing yards allowed.

They’ve watched teams score through the air in every game but one, let Missouri average over 11 yards per attempt, and permitted South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers to save his coach’s job. In 5 conference games, only Texas and the prodigal son passed for less than 270 yards. So depending on where you rank Gunner Stockton against Arch Manning, and coming off a game where Georgia threw for 325 and 2 scores, this could be a good way to score points.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about the school that I hate solely because of Steve Spurrier, even though I currently am fond of the Head Ball Coach:

1. Wrap it up. I have lamented several times this season, and last season, that the Georgia Bulldogs defense is less than great at tackling in the backfield. The pressure and havoc is there, but somehow these mobile quarterbacks are able to slip through, shed an arm tackle, and either escape or at least avoid a negative play.

We’ve got 51 missed tackles the past two games. And both against teams from the Yellowhammer State. Both have dudes, both are above average, but isn’t our defense above average too? I appreciate the explosiveness from the pass rush, but we simply have to limit the opposing offense by better first contact and contain.

2. Do you think Jadan Baugh is going to play 2 hand touch? He might be one of the best running backs in the country at slipping contact and gaining yards after. The guy has 13 rushing touchdowns this season through 7 games. That is as many as Frazier, Bowens, and Phillips combined.  Baugh has more yards than those 3 as well, on a few more carries.

Lest you think that the running game prowess is equitable, remember that the Gators also have Duke Clark, who is toting it for over 7 yards a clip on average. And UGA allowed 161 ground yards from Alabama, and 192 from a previously stagnant Auburn team.

3 . Since QB1 Aaron Philo was injured, Gator Head Coach Jon Sumrall has been cagey about who will start under center in Atlanta. The last injury report is still to come out but I wouldn’t trust it anyway. So we will have no idea until the game is played if Trammell Jones or Philo will be taking snaps, or even if it will be both. Both QBs are capable, but they have different strengths. One beat Texas on the road, the other manhandled Ole Miss. And both are better than 60% against the blitz.

Georgia allowed the backup QB at Vanderbilt to look like a rock star, especially in the first 45 minutes. We’re fresh off Byrum Brown reminding everyone why he’s the NCAA career leader in offensive production. If you remove the gaffes, even John Mateer had a good game moving the ball on the Bulldog defense. Glenn Schumann’s charges have allowed steadily improving totals from the last 5 conference opponents, a troubling trend when strange things happen against the Saurians.

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late fordinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about an Outdoor Cocktail Party moved indoors due to inclement greed.  And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

The Parkview High School drum major conducting the Gator Marching Band in their fight song – squillian

“A healthy Frazier is a beautiful thing to watch.” – Mr. Squillian, as we watched the WLOICP.

You know what else is beautiful? Marching bands. Both Podunk and I participated in marching band in high school, both in the flagline/colorguard (different schools call them different things). You cannot understand the level of excitement I had at 7:49AM Friday morning, when one of our Assistant Principals sent out an email to the entire faculty, announcing that the Gator Marching Band would be practicing at Parkview High School from 3-6PM, open and free to the public.

Podunkpup commented on my Facebook post that he wasn’t “sure compliments to the Gators are allowed”, since his brother had gotten put out of the car for saying Go Gators one too many times. I reminded him that his brother would only have said that to irritate Podunk (one of his favorite things to do). However, I remain firmly convinced that if Podunk were with us today, she would have chosen to come for this game, and that she would have been just as excited to watch the Gator band as I was. I spent the entire time enthralled to watch (and wishing I were still in marching band).

However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.

Coach Kirby Smart coached his 146th game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 124-22 record and a 0.8493 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred twenty-fourth win overall in the indoor version of the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party against the jort-wearing, booger-eating, swamp-living gators.

At the identical juncture in their careers:

Vince Dooley’s 146th game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs loss to Pitt in the Sugar Bowl of the 1976 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 98-43-5 and a 0.6884 percentage.

Coach Mark Richt was 108-38 (0.7397) after a win over Mizzou in the 2nd game of the 2012 season.

One hundred and forty six games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is sixteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 26 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.

As always . . .

Go ‘Dawgs !!!!

The venue was different, but the result and feeling was not. For the sixth time in a row, Georgia-Florida went to the Bulldogs. While this game did have a corporate branding attached to it with a logo splashed across midfield and throughout the venue, that branding mention is not worth repeating here. It’s the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and on Saturday, the upper hand remained in the hands of Georgia.

Here are ten thoughts from another win over the Gators.

1. Was it glitzy? No. But does it have to be pretty? No. In other words, Georgia’s sixth straight win against Florida was gritty, not pretty. Could the offensive execution have been sharper? Yes, there’s no question about that. But was it an old-school-like game that likely have Vince Dooley and Erk Russell sitting up in ther graves and applauding? No doubt. This was a win of doing what you have to do on offense and letting defense lead the way by winning up front and forcing turnovers. And when it comes against one of your rivals, it should be more than enough to feel good about. 

2. Hopefully this does not sound too much like an ‘old man yells at a cloud take,’ but if you did not live through Steve Spurrier taking Georgia to torture city each year in Jacksonville with one exception, its hard to understand what winning this game time after time means. Going into this game each year, Georgia fans had to convince themselves that they had chance, and those false hopes usually fizzled out. Its an absolute script flip of how this rivalry is now. Georgia has the upper hand, and now Florida needs a chiropractor for its neck pain from looking up at the Bulldogs. It’s been said many a time since Kirby Smart came to Athens, but this is the golden era of this program. Oh, and its also a dark era of misery from Florida’s side…

3. Outside pundits may say that Georgia was gifted a bunch of points in this one. That’s fine if they want to carry on with that ill-conceived narrative. But its one thing to get chances, its another to be able to take advantage, and Georgia had a total of 17 points on Saturday either on or on scoring drives originated by turnovers. 

4. This is a safe space. You can also admit you felt like Kirby Smart when he collapsed to the ground when a penalty negated a stop that likely would have kept the shutout intact and given the Bulldogs their first shutout in this series since 1982…

5. On the note of that turnover, Braylon Conley was a prime example of being ready to go. Rosters are full of depth-role players that when the time comes have to step up. Georgia was in that exact spot when Ellis Robinson had to exit the game, and the secondary did not appear to miss a beat on that side of the secondary. 

6. Is it time to start worrying about Peyton Woodring? Having an automatic placekicker is a blessing. If they teeter toward unpredictability, its a curse.

7. The venue may have been different, but the tradition remained – Florida fans’ annual disappearing act just before the fourth quarter. 

8. Say this much for Florida head coach Jon Sumrall. He didn’t cheaply keep the consecutive games without being held scoreless streak intract with a half-clapped field goal try. So at least award the Gators an A for effort. 

9. Understandably, the pregame scene was slanted to Florida in terms of enthusiasm. Who can blame them – they likely drove in, stayed in hotels and got their money’s worth. Georgia fans have been to Mercedes-Benz so many times that they know all the different roads around here named “Peachtree.” You’d expect that sentiment to flip to Georgia next year in Tampa. 

10. It was fun to see the unique 50/50 fan seating split on Saturday, but otherwise, it felt basically like any other college football game. That’s a problem, because Georgia-Florida is not just a football game. It’s a whole event, whole experience. That is not to dispute how nice MBS is, because its a first-class venue. But in Jacksonville, the game is the centerpiece. On Saturday, the venue was. That’s why fans should start anticipating now for the return to the Banks of the St. Johns River. 

Go Dawgs!

Only two weeks ago I noted in this space that if your college football team goes -3 or so in the turnover column you’re going to lose just about every college football game you play.

I am absolutely delighted to report that is still true.

Florida needed to play a clean football game to stay in the game against Georgia and did the opposite of that, turning the ball over four times as the Bulldogs never really sweated.

The Georgia offense was not its most impressive. To be fair, the Bulldogs never felt like they needed to get the offense out of second gear, controlling the clock and field position almost from the outset. Still Georgia fans would have liked to see the Bulldogs never offense show a little more explosiveness.

The most explosive aspects of the Red and Black attack this afternoon were the explosive number of screen passes and the explosive number of Gunner Stockton keepers. I didn’t start counting the screen passes seriously until we got to 8, and I still don’t fully understand what was going on there. It was as if Mike Bobo saw the Gators’ beleaguered secondary and decided to give those guys a break.

Gunner Stockton carried the ball 12 times for 46 tough yards on the day, and was equally pedestrian in the passing game, going 13 for 23 for 101 yards and no touchdowns. When Stockton threw a shoulder into Gator Myles Graham to stop his return of a Talyn Taylor fumble he sealed a career first: the first game in which he has had more tackles (1) than touchdown passes (0).

I have every reason to believe the Bulldogs could have scored more points and showed more wrinkles had Coach Smart and Coach Bobo felt it necessary. It wasn’t, and they disn’t. But next week’s showdown with a high octane Ole Miss attack is likely to be different.

But on the bright side, the Bulldog defense uncorked one on the Gators for the ages. Only on their last drive did the Gators finally pass Gunner Stockton alone in rushing yards. The Athenians came close to ending Florida’s nation-leading streak of avoiding shutouts, which now stands at 481 games. That sort of thing is nice, but it really important in the grand scheme of things.

The Bulldog defense held Buster Faulkner’s offense to 236 yards of total offense, barely more than half their season average of 451 yards. We knew the Dawgs would need to bottle up outstanding Florida tailback Jaden Baugh, and they accomplished that mission with gusto, holding the Sunshine State Saurians’ leading rusher to an anemic 38 yards on 17 frustratingly bottles-up carries.

It was arguably Georgia’s best defensive performance of the season against an offense that’s shown the ability to move the ball on good defenses. The competition level goes up next week with a rematch with Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss, but this was a good step back after a frustrating defensive effort last week against Auburn.

The victory was Georgia’s sixth in a row against the hated Gators. I am on record is saying that there’s no such thing as a bad victory against Florida, and this one was pretty good. It was a nice way to get back in the win column after the Auburn debacle. It’s once again great to be a Gator Hater, especially when there remains little the Gators can do about it.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

I don’t know very much. But I do know this: Gators eat boogers and only weirdos wear jorts.

G

Chapel Bell Curve is back, and like a college football team battling its way through a tough SEC schedule, the team is down a key contributor. But the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party must be previewed, and preview ed it will be. In this episode:

• Nathan may not be your football stepdad. But he’s definitely your football dad who stepped up.

• To paraphrase R.E.M., “Everybody’s hurt, sometimes”

• Gather ‘round kids, so your Uncle Nathan can explain to you why us old folks really, really hate Florida.

• I don’t play fantasy college football, but if I did “Nate Frazier Statement Game” would be my team name. 

• It’s not taking your foot off the gas if you’re slowly but surely rolling over people and crushing them beneath the wheels. 

The key to life and football is this: just try to screw up a little less, and you’ll probably be okay. 

And so much more. If you do nothing else today….hate the Florida Gators. But if you do two things this week, make sure the second is to like, subscribe, and patreonize the show on your podcasting medium of choice. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!!

Get up, Dawgs. It’s game day! Cue the tailgate music, in honor of Captain Jean-Luc Picard:

Of all the games on the Bulldogs’ schedule this is the one that fires me up. Part of it is growing up below the gnat line where uncultured Gator fans are as thick as mosquitos. Perhaps it was watching Steve Spurrier’s smug mugtake pot shots at Ray Goff and Jim Donnan through my teens and twenties. Perhaps is my lifelong hatred of jorts. But there is no game on the schedule which provokes in me such fits of rage and emotional furor as this one.

But if you find yourself needing a little extra zing in your zany zany, check out this week’s hype video, narrated by DGD Ernie Johnson:

If that doesn’t melt your cheese, your

On the injury front, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that Chauncey Bowens has been moved to “out”, not great news in a game in which the Bulldogs will want to sit on the ball and keep the Gator offense off the field. It’s also not overly heartening that the Gators will have both quarterbacks Tramell Jones and Aaron Philip at their disposal. On the bright side, Nate Frazier is another week removed from the injury report. The real question we don’t have an answer on is how limited KJ Boldwn will be. I think he’ll play. But is he 100%? That I don’t know.

We’ll be back with more later. Until then…

Go Dawgs!!!

Yara and Nathan return, bloody but unbowed, to review the Georgia Bulldogs’ 27-24 loss to the Auburn Tigers.Are there feelings? Yes. Are there stats? Absolutely. And the dynamic duo make the case using those stats tha…maybe losing a rivalry game in quirky fashion once a decade isn’t the end of the world? Yes indeed they do. And they also note that:

• Sometimes you run the truck song, other times the truck song runs over you.
• It was actually a great day in Athens, in every way apart from the result.

• What transpired was a series of unfortunate events, except without Neil Patrick Harris, instead starring Gunner Stockton in the role of the forgotten orphan.

• To reiterate: we’re not saying it was a fluke. But, statistically speaking, it was kind of a fluke. 

• The middle eight: still important to the outcome of college football games.

• [Kansas 8 track plays over the stereo]…How long? How long? How long to the point of know return?

All that and a lot more to salve your wounded Bulldog soul. As always pretty please like, subscribe, and patreonize the show on your podcasting medium of choice. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!!

No Bulldog football?

No problem. It’s the most consequence-free Saturday of the year. While the Red and Black rest up and ready themselves for the World’s Largest Indoor Cocktail Party in Atlanta next week, you get to enjoy another day of fine midseason college football action. It’s a big day for games that matter in conference title races and for some teams’ CFP playoff hopes.

The noon slate includes Indiana traveling to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan coming off that tough loss to Ohio State. The Wolverines have experienced a week of turmoil with Bryce Underwood benched in favor of Tommy Carr, the grandson of legendary Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr.

In the SEC, the The Bayou Bengals of Lawsuit State University travel to the Loveliest Little Post-apocalyptic crater on the Plains to take on the Auburn Tigers (ABC). I expect the Cajun Tigers to remind the semi-illiterate Tigers how hard it is to win in the SEC consistently. You can also catch the Skycast+ broadcast of this one on SEC Network.

If you’re a fan of quality ACC football (no, not actually an oxymoron, we swear) you can turn over to the CW and catch Cal at SMU. Yes, Cal-Berkeley at SMU in Dallas is an Atlantic Coast Conference game. No, we’re not joking. Also not joking about the quality, as two competent, fun offenses square off.

We’ll be back later with a separate thread for a solid afternoon/evening slate. Until then…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

I could use an off week. I don’t know about you, but the last 3 Georgia games have not been easy to consume. (Okay, the 2H of Vandy was fairly smooth going down, but it took a while to get there). I may not be as bruised and battered as the Bulldog players, but I don’t see them with a corporate job, a mortgage, yard and house maintenance, food to cook, and be an Uber driver for kids. Let’s just say it’s not comparable.

Being a fan ain’t easy, and being a Georgia Bulldog fan has never been easy on the cardiovascular and digestive systems. So this off week comes at a very opportune time for all. With that in mind, I will allay the regular weekly Munsoning and remind myself why this weekend I can wear my heart rate monitor without fear of it alerting the paramedics of an impending medical emergency.

1. The Bulldog defense won’t miss dozens of tackles. No mobile quarterbacks to slip out of the backfield and elude sacks and TFLs.
2. Peyton Woodring won’t miss a field goal due to crappy field conditions or a FG unit that isn’t completely set and focused on the task at hand.
3. No balls will be thrown to someone attending another college or university (or Auburn), and no balls will be dropped to the ground, subject to the whims of a prolate spheriod made of pigskin amidst large powerful men covered with protective equipment engaged in physical combat.

It doesn’t just extend to me and you, the fans. The refs will have a break too, and can wash their well-used penalty flags. I’m sure they are tired of throwing their laundry on the field every time a deep ball is thrown and Ellis Robinson or Demello Jones is in coverage.

The stats and graphics staff on the broadcast team can take it easy, not having to worry if they forgot to push the Georgia Bulldog record against unranked teams graphic onto our screens.

What concerns are you freed of, thanks to the off week? Is it less shopping and logistics for a tailgate you don’t have to prep? Finally having time to take care of that leaky drain or clogged gutter that’s been bugging you? Maybe it is the chance to eliminate guilt from not spending quality time with family or some friends. Whatever it is, enjoy a Saturday where your Georgia Bulldogs can’t ruin your week because of an inexplicable loss.

Then again, these games are few and fleeting. And watching the ‘Dawgs play football is always a good thing, even when it’s bad. So as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Another week of carnage and mayhem in the SEC is behind us. It was a lot, but that’s won’t stop us from trying to put it all in perspective for every team in the span of a capital letter to a period. Yes, it’s the SEC in a Sentence.

Alabama: Crimson Tide fans continue to miss the days when a double digit win at home over Texas A&M provoked boredom rather than relief.

Arkansas: Arkansas heads to Missouri fresh off a bye week with a one game winning streak and Ryan Silverfield still at the helm, which is not something that was a certainty in mid-September.

Auburn: I’m sorry, I still can’t believe we lost to that team.

Florida: It’s fine, I’m sure Gunner Stockton will turn it over three times two weeks in a row, because that’s a thing that’s happened a lot.

Georgia: Can the Bulldogs put Auburn in the rearview and play within themselves in a game that perpetually screams for players to try to do too much?

Kentucky: “There’s an actual chance that Georgia and Kentucky could meet in the SEC Championship Game with the Wildcats a slight favorite” is one of a thousand completely true things you could have told me in 1998 that would have seemed preposterous at the time, right up there with “of course the backwards ball cap guy from MTV’s Road Rules is the current Secretary of Transportation!”

LSU: Don’t look now, but the Bayou Bengals could be coming off a bye week with the chance to knock Alabama and/or Texas out of the playoff picture.

Mississippi State: Will get their crack at the Longhorns before LSU, and amazingly don’t need a win to feel comfortable about bowl eligibility.

Missouri: 2026 Missouri is 2026 Florida for people who prefer their shirts with sleeves and their shoes with closed toes.

Oklahoma: Looked surprisingly competent once again in a tidy dispatching of Mississippi State on the road, but let’s not make a big deal about it just yet.

Ole Miss: 5-2 Ole Miss may be the SEC team I am most confident will be in the College Football Playoff, which both says something about the vicious parity that has gripped the conference and the vicious self-doubt that has gripped me ever since Gunner Stockton ran heedlessly into Drew Bobo’s unmissably large backside last Saturday.

South Carolina: It feels weird that I’m actually a little worried about South Carolina in the way I used to often be a little worried about South Carolina, and despite the familiarity I really, really don’t like it.

Tennessee: It’s okay, I’m told that many of the best teams of our generation have lost 27-24 on a walk-off field goal after a big win over Alabama.

Texas: The line between “Arch willed us to victory once again!” and “Arch very nearly cost us a winnable football game” is a thin one that zigzags jaggedly across the Lone Star State like the Brazos after a flood.

Texas A&M: Welp, back to the drawing board!

Vanderbilt: In a conference full of change and uncertainty it’s reassuring that Vanderbilt is back to needing an improbable series of late season upsets to have a chance of making a bowl game, almost like slipping into an old sweater and a comfy pair of slippers on a chilly evening.

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! And welcome to Tuesday of Hate Week, that of loathing all things reptilian, jortian, mulletian, and boogerian. So how does one reconcile our moral foundations with the role of healing divided societies?

F* it. It’s Georgia Florida. The World’s Largest Outdoor Luxury Sport Saloon Car Cocktail Party. Let it flow freely through you. If you don’t believe me, just look up the origins of Dark Mark Richt – a finer Christian man you will never find, but he knew when to let loose.

In the opening remarks of Head Football Coach Kirby Smart’s press conference Monday, he mentioned familiarity with both coordinators on Florida Coach Jon Sumrall’s staff. He specifically called out OC Buster Faulkner, speaking fondly of his offensive mind, scheme, and how proud and happy he was for him as his career has progressed. That’s all well and good Kirby, but you know he left UGA, went to Tech, before going to Florida, right? I mean, we have to draw the line somewhere, especially in this week of one-thousand suns-fueled hate (also fueled by another one-thousand suns).

The Bulldogs trip to Oxford November 7 was always going to be a big game, and was made even moreso by pre-season rankings. Then the shine came off a little when Ole Miss was run over by Florida in the swamp a month ago. But add in Georgia inexplicably gaffing up at home against Auburn, and almost the entirety of the mid-October top 10 teams also choking down an L, and suddenly the game has regained a lot of lustre. And as such, the welcomed overlords who decide things have made Georgia vs. the Rebels the 7:30 pm ET game on ABC. Great.

At least Ole Miss is also dealing with the grueling _8-game 9-game SEC schedule. And the Rebels will be without one of their most important weapons, as RB and athlete Kewan Lacy is expected to miss significant time dealing with a shoulder dislocation.

Let’s get back to hating Gators, shall we? Did you know they eat boogers? Sources say so, and that they wear jorts as a matter of fashion and not just necessity.

Is Georgia going to prepare for Yellow Jacket turned Gator QB Aaron Philo? Or Billy Napier holdover Trammel Jones? One put Ole Miss into the Swamp turf, the other beat Texas on the 40 acres. And UF head coach Sumrall is keeping mum on who wil get the start and how much each will play. Depending on news later this week, this might affect some Things To Worry About Florida.

Maybe just as important is who will be receiving passes from the unknown football thrower. And it appears Florida might be including the services of top wideout VB3 -Vernon Brown III. Though he’s missed the last 3 games, he still leads the team in yards per reception and yards per game receiving. #1 in some horrible combination of blue and orange is defintely a threat to a battered Bulldog defense.

Off weeks for both teams have fortunately left us bereft of significant team news. Neither team suffered quality player losses from the fortnight, neither seemingly bore the wrath of ACCPD E-bike patrolpersons. And because the NCAA is feckless, neither worries about academic progress. Yet the sentiment remains the same, and forgive me if you’ve heard this before…

Gators Eat Boogers!!! And GO ‘DAWGS!!!

It’s 6:00 am Athens standard time. Have you hated the Florida Gators today?

If not, what exactly are you waiting for?

It’s the hatingest week of college football season for those of us in the very specific demographic of “UGA fans raised below the gnat line in the 1990s and who consequently enjoy wiping that smug smile off Steve Spurrier’s smug face.”

It’s Florida week. And I hate those guys.

The Bulldogs will be traveling up to Atlanta rather than down to Jacksonville to review hostilities with the Gators this year. The Florida Times Union has a rundown of what fans going up for the game can expect. That seems fair, given that Gator fans don’t really have a lot of experience traveling to the Benz for SEC Championship games.

Georgia opens as a 10.5 point favorite over the Saurians, who have been one of the most unpredictable teams in America this season. That’s borne out in the Gators’ midseason report card from the staff at Swamp247. The Lizards have looked really, really good when they’ve looked good. But they’ve also looked really bad at times. Offensively they have struggled to run the ball against physical front sevens. Defensively, they’ve struggled in the secondary. Like Georgia, a lot of their effectiveness has hinged on who is available to play in any given week. But then, that’s just been life for everyone in the SEC this season.

On the recruiting trail, Georgia picked up a pledge Sunday from a fast-rising 2027 quarterback who is no stranger to bright lights on or off the field. Bo Bryan, the son of country music star and rabid Bulldog fan Luke Bryan picked the Bulldogs over offers from, well, not a lot of elite teams. Bryan’s other publicly reported offers were from North Alabama, UT-Martin, and Austin Peay. The 6’1, 200 pound senior took over at Nashville’s Battle Ground Academy this season, playing under well-known high school coach Bobby Bentley.

In his first and only year as a starter Bryan has completed 73.5% of his passes for 2006 yards, 30 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions.In short, he takes care of the football but can air it out when he needs to. That’s the kind of thing Mike Bobo loves. Also, Bryan has been a diehard Bulldog fan since he could walk, and probably doesn’t need a big NIL commitment. Can’t hurt in this day and time, right?

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

AP Poll

1. Miami
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia
4. Indiana
5. Notre Dame
6. Utah
7. UCLA
8. BYU
9. Kentucky
10. Alabama
11. Texas
12. Ole Miss
13. Texas Tech
14. Wake Forest
15. LSU
16. Tennessee
17. Florida
18. Houston
19. SMU
20. Boise State
21. Northwestern
22. Arizona
23. Missouri
24. Oklahoma State
25. Wisconsin

Georgia Update

Georgia had their customary bye week before the Cocktail Party against #17 Florida.

Despite being on a bye, Georgia rose to #3 in the AP Poll.

Newcomers

#25 Wisconsin

Dropped Out

#15 Iowa,

Ranked Matchups

#3 Georgia vs. #17 Florida

#22 Arizona at #13 Texas Tech

Upset Alert

Oregon is reeling and just fired their offensive coordinator, yet they remain a 3.5 point favorite at home against Northwestern. Give me that Chip Kelly Northwestern offense coming into Eugene and knocking off the Ducks.

Back during the very lean years of the Ray Goff era in Athens, a certain revered columnist for the Macon Telegraph joked in a weekly prediction column that Georgia would lose to “Open” during its upcoming bye week.

Thankfully, those years have passed by, and the outlook for Georgia during open weeks for what is ahead is much brighter.

And if what happened across college football is any indicator, saddle up and get ready for a wild five weeks on the way to the postseason.

1. First of all, this week is going to feel odd. I’m sure some ambitious Georgia fans could head down Tuesday to hang out on Fernandina Beach and leave at O’Dark Thirty Saturday to get to Atlanta for Georgia-Florida, but it still would not be the same. Sure, this is a game to get excited about, but placing it inside a sterilized Mercedes-Benz Stadium just does not say much to the way to thrilling college football atmosphere. At least next year in Tampa will be a place where Georgia fans have not traveled to since the days of the Outback Bowl. It’s also a reminder of the swing-and-miss of this game not being put on campus for two years, but that’s a point that’s been hammered into the ground ten-feet under.

2. At this point with the craziness of each week of college football, just getting to the CFP will be an accomplishment. Its become every bit of a survival mode each week. The 2007 college football season’s chaos was something that you felt could not be topped, but that may already be on the way to being surpassed this year.

3. I’m not sure who Georgia should worry more about – South Carolina or Ole Miss. You already know what Trinidad Chambliss can do, and the performance by Georgia against Byrum Brown’s mobility should cause some concern on that front. But if Lanorris Sellers can do similar to what he did against Tennessse on Saturday? That stands to be dicey, especially if its a night kickoff in Coumbia, and place that has at times been a house of horrors for Georgia.

4. On the note of South Carolina’s win, it also highlights this – as even as things are in the SEC, you cannot make multiple mistakes and win – yes, we are looking at you, Tennessee multiple touchdowns being called back. Or to quote Kirby Smart: “The dogs can’t beat the dogs.”

5. Speaking of the Palmetto State, Clemson is every bit of mediocre. That should sum up how silly any existing discourse is about Kirby Smart post-national title vs. Dabo Swinney.

6. At this point, Georgia Tech is bad that Clean Old-Fashioned Hate is going to be aired in between Bluey episodes on Disney Plus.

7. At this point, Lincoln Riley might be the next USC coach to get a tarmac firing. Losing to Oregon is one thing. Losing to Wisconsin, even if the Badgers are more respectable than they were in preseason is a whole other dynamic.

8. If the college football gods have a sense of humor, one of the conference’s at-best, average of time teams, Kentucky will be in the last SEC title game. It’ll be a week looking back of iconic plays and moments canonized in college football history, and right alongside of it will be Kentucky. There is irony, of course, in that this all goes on when basketball in the Bluegrass State has taken a step back.

9. Assuming Georgia does enough to be a top-four CFP seed, odds are very good that it’d mean a Chick-fil-A Bowl in the quarterfinal round. But as Georgia fans, and for the sake of the team, would the Rose, Fiesta or Cotton be better? Yes, Kirby Smart would likely prefer Atlanta due to less travel time. But as Georgia fans, Atlanta is not exciting as many times as you have played there.

10. The best draw for anyone in the CFP opening round? Other than a Group of Five team, it has to be Indiana. The Hoosiers look to be good enough snake into the postseason, but that may be their ceiling.

Go Dawgs!

It was probably inevitable after Saturday’s disappointing loss to Auburn that the ‘Dawgs were going to be the focus of the SEC Shorts crew’s razor sharp wit. Fortunately, there’s plenty of schadenfreude to go around after a weekend that was truly unprecedented in college football.

As I said yesterday, at least we’re not Alabama fans. Or Texas fans for that matter. Georgia played a generally decent football game but turned the ball over one time too many to escape. Some other preseason SEC front runners aren’t even sure which direction to run if they wanted to escape against medical advice.

Losing is never a good thing. But could that be a silver lining? There are stories aplenty about championship teams that got a stern awakening in an unexpected loss. This is not to say this team will unquestionably win a national title. But if this team meets very high expectations, the Auburn game could be a turning point.

For coaches like Kirby Smart, who like to simply see players get better, the combo of coming off a loss and an off week could be the sweet spot. Smart’s remarks said as much after Saturday’s loss.

There’s an overused saying on coaching and other places – you’re ‘either growing or decaying.’ and part of that growth is that as big of a letdown as the Auburn loss was, how that can help this team get better.

And that includes game management, as Smart delved into how the mishandled field-goal try could have been done different in the second quarter.

Another big upside of this week? There is no game to prep for in a few days. So in addition to healing up, the chance to what is now called ‘self-scouting’ arises. Georgia’s defense has a good bit more of that to examine via the Tigers.

“One of the glaring things to us is we want to tackle better. We’re higher in missed tackles than we’ve been in years past. That’s a big target area for us. We think missed tackles are up as a whole across college football, so we’re not immune to that. We’re part of that problem, but how do we do it better than they do it? That’s really what we’re trying to do this week. How can we get better incrementally and gain inches? When the margins are tighter, the inches are everywhere.” – Georgia head coach Kirby Smart

Speaking of looking back to Auburn. Many a fan pondered whether or not Gunner Stockton was concussed. Kirby Smart’s retort remains the same as it was just after the loss to Auburn. Stockton himself said the early hit didn’t impact him either. Remember – Stockton nearly turned it over twice against Alabama and was not so lucky last week which begs the bigger question – is Stockton all of a sudden being more loose and fast with the ball than he needs to be? Do you wonder why Kirby Smart seems to go to bat for his current QB more than others? Its because Stockton is perfect for what he feels this team needs – someone who makes the throws and minimizes mistakes. That’s a great plan as long as it works.

The Red & Black as always does a tremendous job covering all things red and black, and this fall is no exception when it comes to the latest on volleyball getting a pair of SEC road wins and women’s soccer ending the regular-season home slate with a shutout.

Tuesday of this week would have been the late, great Lewis Grizzard’s 80th birthday. Many of us for sure wonder about what he’d have to say about well…everything these days. Personally, I’d expect him to make a comment that this feels like the era of the televangelists scandals where he joked about offering not to take a paycheck with the AJC because it was so easy to write about.

Go Dawgs!

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! I admit the enthusiasm for attacking this day is lacking, likely the lingering effects of losing to an average Auburn team missing it’s best defender. The reasons for that loss are plain to see: giving the Barners 3 free possessions, extending their drives with huge chunk 15 yard penalties, and most importantly just not executing a game plan as well as they did.

But this is ‘Dawg Bites, news and notes about your Georgia Bulldogs, not deep cut game analysis. Plus you’re probably as sick of reliving Saturday afternoon as I am. So let’s see what we can dig up to discuss:

Fresh on the heels of do-everything Braylon Miller committing to the “G” this weekend, Bulldog DL Coach Tray Scott picked up his own good news. Forsyth, GA native and current Northwest Mississippi CC defensive lineman Christian Mays announced he was decommiting from Tennessee and coming home.

No Monday Kirby Smart press conference because of the off-week, so there’s very little news from the football offices. One can imagine what practice is like on Bloody Tuesday. Perhaps not quite so severe, based on the injuries piling up faster than Auburn students retracting their transfer applications to Grand Canyon University.

So we turn Beyond The Hedges, to the pitch, as the Women’s Soccer team finished the regular season home schedule with a much needed win against Missouri.

The Volleyball team visited Red Stick, and came away with a 5 set victory. The Spike Dawgs are 6-1 in conference, and 14-3 overall, and positioning themselves for a post-season run.

Let’s play 2 (times the normal amount of innings)! . The Georgia baseball team faced Clemson in a fall exhibition Sunday at Foley Field, and ground the visiting Tigers 16-4 over the 18 inning scrimmage. At least some Bulldogs defeated Tigers clad in orange in Athens this weekend.

Women’s Tennis are finishing up a tournament in Quebec before returning to the Empire State of the South, the Men’s Golf team are concluding a tourney in Mississippi, while the Women’s Golf Team are starting an event in Tulsa.

Maybe following one of these teams can distract you from the matzah ball hanging over our collective memories of Saturday. Yet and still, it’s always a great day to be a Georgia Bulldog. So use the off week to start hating Gators early. And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Good morning, Dawgs. Welcome to life among the once defeated. On the bright side, after the wildest weekend in recent college football memory we have plenty of company.

The Red and Black fall to #5 in the AP poll, which seems fair given what other teams did this weekend. A competitive last second loss in a rivalry game sure beats losing by 16 to Tennessee in a game that wasn’t really that close. As well as getting physically dominated by a 3-2 Florida.

SI’s Dean Legge has a good list of the things Georgia needs to do to get back to winning. As Dean notes, the main answer is to get healthier. This loss turned on turnovers and critical penalties. But Auburn stayed in the game in part thanks to rushing yards earned against a dinged up Bulldog defense. And the Athenians couldn’t rescue control of the game because their own run game faltered in some critical situations, again likely due to injuries to Chauncey Bowens (out indefinitely) and Nate Frazier (playing, but clearly not at 100%).

Georgia may not be quite as invincible as we thought after that Alabama win. But if they can get healthy over the bye they’re also definitely not as bad as that Auburn game would lead one to believe.

On the recruiting trail, the Bulldogs picked up a pledge from Newton County athlete Braylon Miller. Miller had been committed to Liberty and is not among the top 100 prospects in America . Heck, he’s not even among the top 100 in the state of Georgia according to the recruiting services. But Miller has been showing out for Newton this season, most recently on Friday night when he took over the game to lead Newton past powerhouse Grayson.

Miller has been making a lot of noise this season, and is one of those late bloomers who will likely rise in the rankings before Signing Day.

Go Dawgs!!!

AP Poll

1. Miami
2. BYU
3. Ohio State
4. Notre Dame
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Ole Miss
8. Texas Tech
9. UCLA
10. Utah
11. Tennessee
12. Kentucky
13. Alabama
14. Houston
15. Iowa
16. USC
17. Wake Forest
18. LSU
19. Texas
20. Florida
21. Boise State
22. Missouri
23. SMU
24. Northwestern
25. Arizona

Georgia Update

It’s a rivalry again. Georgia played uncharacteristically poorly for the majority of the game, leading to their first loss of the season 27-24 against unranked Auburn.

The loss saw the Dawgs slip from #1 to #5 in the AP Poll. They’ll have two weeks to address the poor play ahead of the Cocktail Party against #20 Florida.

Newcomers

#20 Florida, #25 Arizona

Dropped Out

#16 Mississippi State, #18 Oklahoma State

Ranked Matchups

#7 Ole Miss at #19 Texas

#14 Houston at #10 Utah

Upset Alert

Texas is a three and a half point favorite at home against Ole Miss? The last time I took Ole Miss as a surprising road dog, the Florida Gators routed them. Ya know what? I’m gonna do it again. Give me the Rebels to win outright in Austin.

Oh, you thought we wouldn’t be doing this one? Think again.

Get the picture. The final horn has sounded. A college football game has ended, and a college football coach has added a tick mark to the loss column, not the win column.

”Vince Dooley’s starched white dress shirt!“ you exclaim, ”“What must that guy be thinking???”

Folks, this is Kirby Smart yesterday evening.

What was Kirby thinking?

• “When Gunner told me he was gonna take that class in the philosophy department on “Buddhism and the Art of Generosity” I should have put my foot down.“

• This:

• “I gotta remember to tell the equipment folks to double this week’s battery order for the bullhorn. It’s gonna be a loud bye week.”
• “Could be worse. I could be Kalen DeBoer.”

As always, your suggestions are welcome in the comments.

Go ’Dawgs!!!

To quote the great philosopher Macho Man Randy Savage, Georgia finds itself today “unjustifiably in the position it’d rather not be in.” Now, after Saturday’s shocking loss to Auburn, the only thing left to do is bounce back and try and become the SEC’s Cream of the Crop once again.

Here are ten thoughts from a sour afternoon in Athens.

1. Losing to a rival stings. This one stings worse if you live in places like Columbus, Newnan or Macon since odds are very good that you will have to show yourself to Auburn fans in the morning…if not sooner. But beyond the rivalry aspect of things, how much does this loss really matter? Georgia can win out and likely still play for the SEC title. It can even lose one more time and still make the CFP. Does that sound defeatist to say after losing to a hated rival? Oh yes. But you can thank the current college football postseason structure for all of that. 

2. Does this team all of a sudden ball security problem? Not to look back again to last week, but Georgia went through a lot of near-disasters against Alabama with plays that could have easily been game-changing turnovers. But playing with fire can eventually get you torched, and that’s what happened to the Bulldogs with Saturday’s three turnovers.

3. One of the worst things about this loss for Georgia is that it almost, as Larry Munson would say, ‘saved its whatchamacallits!“ After getting a late-game defensive stop, you could almost picture, at the least, Peyton Woodring getting in position for a game-winning field goal, if not taking the game to overtime. And with how Georgia was moving the ball late, you had to really like Georgia’s momentum. All of that, of course, was undone with Gunner Stockon’s ill-timed fumble.

4. If you were a Georgia fan in the 1990s, Saturday should not be terribly unfamiliar. No, nobody expected this way the way a No. 1 team in the country would lose. But how many times between Georgia and Auburn did bizarre things happen? Even on Saturday, the Bulldogs’ gave up a touchdown with two defenders colliding on a trick play. When you have something happen like that, you do wonder if maybe it’ll be ‘one of those days.’ It was. 

5. Georgia has had these types of games before under Kirby Smart – against teams you felt like coming in should be a rollover win on paper. South Carolina, Mizzou, Kentucky and even Nichols State. The difference? This time Georgia stepped on its hand way, way too many times. It does not matter what level of football you are playing. You cannot extend opposing drives with undisciplined penalties. You cannot be minus-three in the turnover margin. Auburn deserves a lot of credit, but it sure got lots of help from Georgia. 

6. It was not just Georgia having problems on Saturday. Alabama also had a faceplant. Same for the national champs in their own mind at UT- Austin. Nobody outside the SEC will take this seriously, but it speaks to the fact that on any Saturday in this conference, an unexpected rock fight can happen, and sometimes those bruises are a lot more than just a slight flesh wound. 

7. Gunner Stockton was obviously not himself against Auburn. He was not hurt bad enough on Georgia’s opening offensive play to leave the game, and he was very good on Georgia’s next-to-last possession. There’s a reason why he was never pulled despite not playing his best, and without Stockton, Georgia has no chance to win late in the game. He still gave his team a chance to win in spite of one of his worst days under center at Georgia, and that may say more about Gunner Stockton than anything else. 

8. Pretty sure we know now what Lewis Grizzard would have written after a game like this…

9. Its been written here about the building feeling of zen that takes over when you make that turn northward from Madison toward Athens on game day. On the same token, Saturday also brought the opposite emotion – the feeling of dismal despair after a loss. On that road south of Athens, you feel like one, even in defeat. Basically every car in front and behind you is in the same emotional state, having been together as one. Multiple hours later, like a retreating army, you ride in vehicles cutting through the night with their LED lights, eagerly waiting for the next time that Georgia tees it up.

10. There should be zero worry about this team being laser-focused for Florida. Regardless of the Gators’ win at Texas, this Bulldogs team will have a week off to sit around, stew, get mad and be locked in before playing in Atlanta. It’s a focus that should be sharper than it would have been had Georgia won on Saturday.

Go Dawgs!

Welcome to Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like the strength of schedule to the College Football Playoff Committee. With that being the case, a 24 team playoff may not be the worst thing in the world.

I know, I know. I really don’t like it either. I think 12 is a fine number of teams, and i could even see 16 being ok. 24, however, is way too many… unless it’s not. And last weekend is a perfect example of why that’s the case.

With last weekend’s carnage around the SEC (and other places in across the country), only four teams remain in the SEC with one loss. Everyone else has two or more losses. It is October 21st, and almost half the season still remains. We’re easily looking at two two-loss teams playing in Atlanta for the conference title. This isn’t because the SEC is losing out of conference matchups; the league is 38-2 in out of conference play. The league is so deep and talent disbursed so wide that anyone can and truly will beat anyone.

Now, I don’t believe the SEC will have quite the same parity as the NFL, where just having a record above .500 is usually considered playoff worthy or just about. I am, however, starting to recalibrate my thinking about what constitutes a playoff worthy record in the SEC.

Gone are likely the days of going undefeated in conference play except on very rare occasions. 8-1 is probably an incredible season at this point too in SEC play. Moving forward, we’re probably looking at the league leaders being 7-2 and 6-3 in conference play.

That 6-3 mark may not be enough to get in a 12 team playoff as currently constructed. Is the Committee going to take a 9-3 SEC team with a gauntlet of a schedule, or an 11-1 or 10-2 Big 12 or ACC (or Notre Dame) team that plays 2 tough games a year and loses both of them?

With the 24 team playoff, 6-3 in the SEC gets you in the Big Dance… and yes it’d be the Big Dance like basketball. Overall, am I in favor of this? No, I wish we’d stay at 12 teams and re-evaluate strength of schedule as a metric for how the Committee views playoff teams. However, I no longer think the 24 team playoff is complete, 100% bad. Just mostly bad.

Anyways, thanks for coming to my TedTalk. A couple quick SEC hitters below:

• Auburn has dismissed linebacker Xavier Atkins, who has entered the transfer portal
• Despite his inconsistent play, Oklahoma QB John Mateer will remain the starter
• Despite his inconsistent play, Texas QB Arch Manning will remain the starter… for now. Backup KJ Lacey Jr. is seeing increased first team reps, and a QB change can’t be ruled out.

Perhaps you heard, the Georgia Bulldogs played a college football game last Saturday. Nathan and Yara are here this week to review it. That’s just how the world works, Dawgs. And for that we can all be thankful. Topics covered in this review include:

• We’re getting to the point in the season at which you are what you are. What some of the teams of the teams in the SEC are is bad. 

• Georgia and Alabama played a whole football game and if they played again we’d still have no idea what would happen. 

• Nathan rants a little about Chris Fowler’s ingrained natural (acceptable) and economically incentivized (not acceptable) biases. Also Kirk Herbstreit is just a yutz. My word, not Nathan’s.

• Yes, a team benefitted from some questionable calls in this game. Just not the team Bama fans think. 

• The Bulldog defense is “unexpectedly feisty.” Yara’s words, not mine. 
  
  As always we kindly ask that you like, rate, subscribe, and patreonize the show wherever you get your podcasts.Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Nothing helps you remember a special night like some souvenir apparel. And the folks at BreakingT’s, as you may recall, are our go-to contacts for in-the-moment souvenir apparel. Dis you think they would let the Bulldogs’ successful business trip to Tuscaloosa pass without a commemorative design? Of course not.

Like all BreakingTs products this shirt is officially licensed by Georgia’s NIL Player program, something not every teeshirt company out there on Torin Kirtsey’s internet can say.

Your Georgia Bulldogs BreakingTs product is also designed and printed in the USA, and comes with free returns and exchanges. You can’t go wrong. While you’re on the BreakingT’s site check out other awesome UGA designs like this Stockton/Frazier ‘26 number that remains one of my favorites.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Welcome to another edition of Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like the excuses and refereeing complaints from Alabama fans.

Oh How the Turntables

From 2008-2020, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program was the undisputed top program in college football. They rarely lost games, and when they did, they generally prided themselves on never making excuses. Now, in the year 2026, in the words of Michael Scott, “oh how the turntables”. Alabama fans are still very mad online and making every type of excuse. The Twitter/X account of youth football coaching legend and public notary Three Year Letterman has quote-tweeted several of these instances and is reveling in this transformation of the Alabama fan base. Was it pass interference? Absolutely. It’s just that Tyler Simmons, Aaron Murray, Mark Richt, and everyone else associated with the Georgia football program doesn’t feel sorry for you.

More Trouble in Gainesville

The 2019 LSU Tigers, err, I mean, the 2026 Florida Gators may be without their starting quarterback this weekend for their game against Texas. Aaron Philo is dealing with a shoulder injury that may see him miss this weekend’s game. Luckily the Gator offense is rolling and coming off back-to-back blowout games (note: no specification on who was blown out. Hat tip to SEC Shorts).

Apologies on College Station

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko has apologized for calling a large portion of his fanbase a “cesspool”. This is just incredible content. At this point you have to wonder if Elko is angling for one of those famous Aggie buyouts his predecessors are enjoying.

Hate Tennessee, Love Smokey

A New Jersey teenager has been arrested for vandalizing a statue of Smokey outside of Neyland Stadium in Knoxville. Now, Around the SEC is known to hate on Tennessee like Silky Johnson in the Playa Haters’ Ball, but Smokey is off limits. He is a mighty, mighty fine dog and far and away the best thing about the Tennessee football program. Better options would have been reminding Tennessee fans they haven’t won a title since 1998, that they really aren’t a football school, that their beloved offense has stalled out, or that they haven’t beat Georgia in a decade.

Time is, as they say in some places, an interesting circle.

In recent years, Auburn was able to use enough backroom muscle with the SEC office to have its schedule altered, so that it could avoid that good ol’ rigor of playing Georgia and Alabama in back-to-back games on the road. Even without mention of the venue, the reality is Auburn no longer plays its two biggest rivals back-to-back.

It got its wish…but in truth, the folks at Clemson without a lake have bigger problems these days…such as deciding that given their lack of football success, are they a basketball school? Or is that a gymnastics school? Maybe equestrian?

But speaking of playing teams back-to-back, its now Georgia with a schedule alignment of note, as it now gets to play Alabama and Auburn in consecutive games.

To quote the great philosopher Michael Scott, “How the turn tables.”

If you look back in recent history, Georgia shows no interest, on paper, in letting this rivalry turn its path anytime soon. That’s hard for anyone to believe who watched Georgia in the 1990s to the 200os, when every game between these two was an all-out war for 60 minutes and then some. How one-sided has it been between these two in Athens as of late?

The Tigers’ most-recent Classic City triumph was in 2005, and their most-recent time scoring more than two touchdowns in Sanford Stadium came in 2009. Auburn is still finding itself under Alex Golesh, and nothing seen so far this season indicates it will come this weekend. The Tigers strike you as a team that is banking on getting better as the season goes on. Ironically, Georgia would likely be on a greater upset alert in this game if it was still played in November as God himself intended.

Georgia’s job up front is a bit easier Saturday with one of Auburn’s top defenders, linebacker Xavier Atkins, out for this week.

With three sacks so far this season, it does certainly take away one of Auburn’s keys to defensive pressure.

More juice for this rivalry? On the week of this game no less, Georgia has flipped three-star cornerback commitment Nash Johnson from Auburn to Georgia. As the saying goes…“ABC: Always Be ‘Crootin”

It’s been almost like clockwork this season when Georgia is in the red zone. Need a score? Enter Chauncey Bowens. Saturday showed how this running back room can dig deep with both Dwight Phillips, Jr., Bo Walker and Nick Peal stepping up to carry the run game. But do either of them strike you as a battering ram like Bowens who is near-automatic inside the five? Even with some very good offenses, this team has struggled in short yardage…yes, even with the apparent greatest coach to ever call a forward pass, Todd Monken. For now, the status of Bowens going forward is at best…uncertain. We will find out more Saturday on if he is dressed or not.

If Nate Frazier continues to be unable to go, the running backs on Saturday night against Alabama may be who this team has going forward. And if these running backs continue going without this offense appearing to miss a beat, you may be looking at Mike Bobo’s finest work.

Go Dawgs!

sure, you saw him thread, the needle time and time again against the Alabama defense on Saturday night. You’ve seen him take off running, take a brutal shot from an opposing defender, and get up grinning. But there’s a numerical tell that Gunner Stockton may in fact be a 1-of-1 quarterback in Bulldog history.

To be sure we’ve been lucky to have some of the most talented signal callers in the game come through Athens. We’ve also had our share of gritty gamers who seemed to will their teams to victory. Stockton more and more presents as an amalgamation of the two. But a couple of stats show just how unbelievable he has been in his season and a half as a starter.

Carson Beck is the career completion percentage leader among starting quarterbacks at Georgia, completing 72.4% of passes across his time in the Classic City. Gunner is currently at 71.0%, but is hitting 76.6 percent of his passes in 2026. Say what you may about the Mike Bobo screen ‘‘em if you got ‘‘em offense. But that number, if it stays where it is, would give Gunner the highest passing percentage for a starting career and for a season in Bulldog history. While he’s a bit different passer than guys like Matt Stafford and Jake Fromm and David Greene, that’s still a heck of an achievement.

Another stellar achievement? Not turning the ball over. Gunner has thrown 14 touchdowns against 2 interceptions in 2026. For his Bulldog career he’s thrown 41 scoring passes and tossed 9 interceptions. That’s a ratio of 4.56 touchdowns for every turnover.

How good is that? There may soon be no one for him to compete with. No, seriously. The closest Bulldog signal callers in TD/INT ratio are Stetson Bennett (3.14 touchdowns per interception) and Jake Fromm (4.33). Unless he suddenly becomes an interception machine, Stockton will likely pull away from Fromm in that category as the year goes along.

In short, Gunner Stockton is playing the quarterback position as efficiently as anyone ever has while wearing a red block “G” helmet. That’s something to savor while we still have him around to so so. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

If you reflect back to most memorable wins in Georgia’s football history, there is at least some element of expecting success. No, that is not to say you expected the 2001 win at Tennessee with no doubt going in, that the 2007 Florida win was zero shock. You at least in those instances felt this team had some semblance of having a chance going in. Even the National Title win over Alabama with many experts nationally discounting Georgia’s chances had some degree of thinking Georgia had a shot.

That is what made the 2006 win at Auburn different. That season began as a transition year in Athens with Matthew Stafford eventually taking over the starting quarterback job, and with four losses in five games around the season’s midpoint, that’s about where things sat for the Dawgs. And with six wins, Georgia was barely bowl eligible, prospects unlikely to improve with Auburn, a team with BCS aspirations and outside national title hopes coming up, as well as Georgia Tech.

It’s safe to say, few stay coming what would happen that day on The Plains. By the time it was all over, one of the most stunning results of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry had unfolded. This game did not have the lead-up as other Georgia-Auburn games. With apologies to The Three Daves, this game was so discounted, it was the 12:30 EST Jefferson-Pilot game,

Stafford had shown lots of promise to that point, but also growing pains. On this day, Stafford looked like the seasoned veteran and Auburn’s Brandon Cox looking like the green newcomer overwhelmed. That, of course, came courtesy of one of Georgia’s best walk-on to standout stories in safety Tra Battle, who picked off Cox three times in the first half alone, one of which was returned for a touchdown. It was redemption for Battle, whose getting lost on defense late in the 2005 game in Athens allowed Auburn to get the win. That, by the way, is the Tigers’ last win in Sanford Stadium for those keeping up with such things.

Georgia did not just win this game – it was a no-doubter with the Dawgs up 30-7 at halftime. In the end, Stafford passed for 219 yards and Kregg Lumpkin ran for over 100 yards against one of the nations top-15 defense. It was costly for Auburn, too. It not only dashed its scant national title hopes, but it also took the Tigers out of both BCS Bowl contention and handed the SEC West title to Arkansas.

Go Dawgs!

It’s Vanderbilt review time on Chapel Bell Curve, and true to their mission statement Yara and Nathan have both some statistics and some feelings to offer, including:

• In the words of the great Mel Brooks, “tragedy is when I cut my finger, comedy is when Eli Drinkwitz jumps up and beats the living crap out of Florida.”

• What do Arkansas football and Swedish house music have in common? Apparently, they both make you want to do drugs.

• Gunner’s good game was even better than you think. 

• Apparently our anaconda does want some (chances to slowly asphyxiate your football team).

• Cry havoc, and let slip the Yara of stats! Just how explosive is the Bulldog offense, really? And Alabama, statistically at least, cannot keep getting away with this (and by “this” we mean a ridiculous turnover margin). Unfortunately, perhaps neither can Georgia.
  
  And as always pretty please like, subscribe, and patreonize the show on your podcasting medium of choice. Until later…. Go ‘Dawgs!!!!
  

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the fightin’ orange laundry detergent boxes (with the caveat that we even play the game):

1.    Neither team really knows how good they are. Both are deep and relatively injury free. Both have had opponents help them with bad play. And this 2026 Alabama is not a Nick Saban team – those players have moved out of the program. But Alabama is definitely more confident and comfortable in the DeBoer/Grubb/Wommack systems, and they’re executing it better.

2.  The Bama offensive line is not great but they are running the offense simply, quickly, and effectively. They have lots of gimmicks but aren’t doing lots of motion. It’s a big playbook, and I think they’ve simplified some of the eye candy and are focusing on the basics. Yet with the gaudy scoreboard numbers, the Tide passing offense is only 4^th in the SEC and has given up a dozen sacks – imagine those sack numbers if the guy with the ball wasn’t an athletic freak? And they’re middle of the conference pack in rushing offense – again, with an athletic freak occasionally carrying the ball.

3. At least UGA isn’t favored, and for the first time in forever. With the betting lines very close to a pick’em contest, similar metrics, and a lot of strength on strength matchups, a small but important difference between the teams is the quarterback. Not in statistical terms, or physical traits, but who has been here before and done the thing. Gunner Stockton has played Alabama twice, and been on the sideline for 2 others. He’s beaten Alabama handily, and the 3 losses in that stretch were 1 score games. So I’ll state that I do trust the signal caller in red and black more than the other guy.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about visiting Tuscaloosa while the wrath of the football and weather gods descends upon us:

1.  That is one opportunistic defense. They’ve scored 4 pick sixes, they’re 7^th in the nation in turnover margin and 2^nd in turnovers gained. The rush defense is especially good, surrendering less than 80 yards on the ground per contest – and that’s against run heavy teams like South Carolina and Kentucky. So they stop the run, score on offense, and force you to throw to play catchup. Which forces opponents into mistake. They’ve given up a lot of yards defending the pass, but again, they’ve made 8 interceptions on the year. So maybe there is a chance to take some shots, and maybe Mike Bobo has a scheme ready. Or maybe Gunner Stockton turns into Carson Beck and throws it to the wrong jersey.

2. We have to talk about Tide QB Keelon Russell. He’s averaging over 280 yards a game through the air, and 11 scores against only 2 interceptions. And his last 3 games are where most of the damage was done – 10 passing TDs, zero picks, averaging over 320 yards, and running in a score each game.

Russell can climb in the pocket and throw receivers open. Or take off and scramble over 13 yards per attempt. We’ve seen this before – go into a hostile Tuscaloosa against a 1^st year starter who is very mobile, and watch them rack up points early. He likes to hold on, move up in the pocket, and throw it deep. His ability to escape or  extend allows his receivers to get open, lose coverage, or find the soft spot. Georgia’s pass rush will have to maintain lane discipline, and whoever is spying on Russell will need to stretch those hammies to try and run him down.

3 . I may have poo-pooed the Alabama rushing attack above, but it’s still a dangerous set of backs. And it is very much by committee, similar to the UGA RB rotation strategy. Always able to move to the hot hand, always having fresh legs, always giving the defense different looks. The top 3 ball carriers are all averaging over 40 yards a game and basically 5 yards a carry. They got guys who will get the tough yards, and guys who can hit the homerun. It isn’t flashy, but it’s efficient, and it is putting points on the board. Our top ranked run defense will be tested frequently, and from a lot of looks to confuse them.

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late fordinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about crossing into the Central Time Zone to face the bane of Kirby Smart’s coaching record.  And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Welcome to another edition of Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like when the fans of Big Ten schools complain the SEC isn’t good or “they ain’t played nobody PAWWWLLLL”. Let them talk their talk. Yes, they are on a great streak of winning nattys, and their best teams are elite. But we all know who the better, deeper conference is at the end of the day.

Tropical Storm Isaias

As you may have heard, the Georgia/Alabama game may be a wash out due to the incoming Tropical Storm Isaias from the gulf.The latest models are now suggesting the rain may stop by kickoff according to meteorologist James Spann. Something to keep an eye on. A wet, windy game likely favors Georgia given the strength of the defense, run game, and screen game.

Kamario Taylor Update

After leaving the Bulldogs’ loss to Alabama with an injury, Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor is listed as day-to-day with a leg injury. Mississippi State has a bye this week, so keep an eye on his status leading up to next weekend’s game against LSU.

Change in Knoxville

Tennessee will start QB George MacIntyre for their game this weekend against Arkansas. MacIntyre will be making his first career start, having come in to replace struggling incumbent QB Faizon Brandon to lead the Volunteers’ comeback against Auburn.

New Unis in Oxford

Ole Miss will begin a seven-year deal with Adidas beginning on July 1, 2027, leaving Nike. Let’s hope eligibility guardrails get enforced or else we could see a player wearing that jersey for the duration of that contract.

It’s not every college football website that has a trained meteorologist on staff who spent years tracking hurricanes across the tropics. But we do here at Dawg Sports. Our good friend and Bulldog legend DavetheDawg has been tracking Tropical Storm Isaias, and has the latest on what the storm could mean for Saturday’s Georgia/Alabama game.

In the overnight hours TD#9 has strengthened into Tropical Storm Isaias and the weekend forecast for the northern Gulf coast has become more in-focus. The forecast is for a rapidly strengthening storm and the first hurricane to form in the Atlantic Basin is a virtual certainty. 

NHC is projecting “Isaias” to become a very strong category 2 hurricane (winds 96-110 MPH) on its approach to an early Saturday morning landfall. Once the sustained wind threshold reaches 111 MPH or greater major hurricane criteria has been reached. 

The exact point of landfall is still uncertain at this hour, but anywhere from the mouth of the Mississippi River to the extreme western Florida panhandle looks to be the most likely area with Mobile somewhere in the middle of the current forecast cone. This could change a little bit to the east or west but the bottom line is during the day on Saturday a tropical system will be moving rapidly north and encompass the greater Tuscaloosa area with strong winds (although in a weakening system), heavy rain and the ever present risk of tornadoes – especially if the system tracks a bit further westward thus putting that part of Alabama on the “dirty” side of the storm. As the system weakens, the wind field is expected to expand with the timing of this expected to occur late Saturday afternoon into the evening hours. 

Alabama has a bye on 10/31. Our bye is on 10/24. There goes that possibility of postponing the game but in the grand scheme of things this isn’t that important. 

I was in grad school at Alabama in 1988. A similar scenario played out when Hurricane Gilbert smashed Jamaica on its way to the Texas gulf coast. The computer modeling and forecast tracks were not nearly as good as they are today but out of an overabundance of caution the Alabama @ Texas A&M game that year was rescheduled from a September date to December 1. Gilbert ended up not affecting College Station, but the call was made, the game was postponed with much teeth gnashing as I recall. 

This is a progressive storm and will move fairly rapidly to the north with improving conditions beginning early Sunday. Unfortunately it looks like Saturday is going to be an all-day weather affair for the Yellowhammer State. 

Will the Conference make the call later today? Probably. This game either gets moved (to where I haven’t a clue) or postponed to the next available date – probably in December. I’ve got an idea: How about an SEC Championship Game double-header? Just kidding.

Go Dawgs!

So, there’s really no better way to say this.

It’s going to be wet on Saturday. Very wet. And possibly worse depending on what this tropical system does.

And if the forecast really takes a turn…could the game be postponed? This is not a plea to not have the game played, that’s for consult with Tuscaloosa-area EMA experts to determine. But the fact of it is that we may very well see this game played out in torrential rain.

As of now, there are no plans to postpone….but if the current timeline teaches us anything, it’s never a good idea to rule out anything. Someone did, after all, approved a TV ad campaign for Liberty Bibberty.

It would not be the first time for this between Georgia and Alabama. One thing that made the 2015 debacle in Athens even worse is that Georgia was embarrassed…and fans endured feeling cold, wet and miserable in the process. But it certainly changes the perception of this game. If the field conditions are borderline unplayable, does the result get considered different if one of these teams is borderline for a seed selection by the CFP? Who knows, since that group of kindmakers makes up the rules as they go along…

When you are a 310-pounder like Elijah Griffin, you are not expected to back down from a challenge. That’s especially true going into Saturday’s game against Alabama. Will the game be physical? Likely yes. Is Georgia welcoming the challenge? That’s also a yes. To hear Griffin talk up this week, it may be shaping up to be an old-fashioned bruiser, and the expected weather only adds to that.

The folks at the Banner-Herald had a video visit with Georgia placekicker Peyton Woodring that could be relevant – as he discussed kicking in bad weather.

Speaking of games in Alabama, a salute to one of the greatest names in Georgia football lore – Andre “Pulpwood” Smith.

Go Dawgs!

Yara and Nathan (address all formal dinner invitations to “the Bell Curves”, please) are back and remain very respectful of the Alabama Crimson Tide in this latest episode of Chapel Bell Curve. Among other topics of conversation your intrepid cohosts get into:

• It’s okay to admit this week makes you miserable.

• We actually do have a dog in this fight. But so does Kirk Herbstreit, and that’s kind of the problem.

• If talking about Keelon Russell doesn’t make you nervous, then you’re not paying attention.
• Oh, you thought Yara’s longstanding feud with Jameson Williams was over? Think again.
• The Kalen DeBoer/Kirby Smart mutual admiration society comes to order, and they’re probably correct?
• The Alabama offense: why it’s better to be lucky AND good.
• Your hosts engage in a truly uncomfortable degree of optimism. Like, it fills me with dread even if I can’r conclusively refute it. But draw your own conclusions.

As always we ask that you like, rate, subscribe, and patreonize the show wherever you find quality podcasts. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Are your Georgia Bulldogs heading to Tuscaloosa this weekend, looking for their first win there since 2007?

Is Georgia’s head coach 2-7 against Alabama in his tenure in Athens, making the Tide the only college football team against whom he hasn’t exhibited utter domination?

Is Chauncey Bowens out of a game in which we could really, genuinely use a strong downhill running threat?

And oh yeah, is there a hurricane bearing down on the whole proceeding?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions you could probably use a drink. I can help with that.

For me, it’s always a miserable experience playing the Tide. It’s been a horrendous experience more often than not. I take the position that I will expect the worst, and then if it doesn’t occur I will be pleasantly surprised.

Some men are Baptists. Others Unitarian Universalists. I am a Munsonian Pessimist. Yet even for an inveterate dark cloud spotter like me there are some reasons for optimism in this weekend’s tilt. For one, the Tide have benefitted from some extraordinary turnover luck this season. Last week against Mississippi State Kamario Taylor had two fumbles that were essentially just drops, and a bad interception, before being forced from the game. That kind of turnover luck has a way of reversing itself just as suddenly as it flowed in.

The Red Elephants have also given up 12 sacks, near the bottom of the SEC, and at 2.40 per game on pace to be a higher total than the 2.13 sacks per game they surrendered in 2025. Timely sacks have been the stock in trade for Kirby Smart defenses in big games.

The Crimson Tide, in my estimation, probably have better receivers than the ‘Dawgs, and as good a running back group if for no other reason than theirs are (as far as we know) relatively healthy. The Red and Black may have a slight advantage on the defensive line, as well as in the linebacking corps. Though I could be persuaded otherwise.

But from what I’ve seen the Athenians have two big advantages, advantages which I believe could be decisive. One is in the defensive secondary, where KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson may both be postseason first team All-SEC selections.

The other is at the quarterback spot. Keelon Russell is an excellent quarterback. I think one day he will be a Heisman finalist, and an early NFL draft pick. I am not certain that Gunner Stockton will be an NFL star, but he was already among the top vote getters for the Heisman last season. I think there will be a day when Keelon Russell is a better quarterback than Gunner Stockton, but I don’t believe six starts into his college career that were quite there yet.

The key to this one is to make Keelon Russell, freshman quarterback, look like a freshman quarterback. And for Gunner Stockton, senior quarterback, to continue to look like a senior quarterback. The key to that will be smart pressure, judiciously applied. But also not losing discipline in pursuit. Russell can take off in a straight line as well as anyone, and Georgia’s defenders, who pursue sideline to sideline as well as anyone, struggle against that type of scrambler.

The key is to key on Russell. The cocktails for that assignment?

The Key On Russell.

It’s a twist on the classic Negroni, a sophisticated traditional cocktail that, while not wveryone’s thing, is a true joy when done right. You’ll need:

• 1 and 1/2 ounces bourbon (or rye whiskey, your choice)

• 1 ounce Campari

• 1 ounce sweet vermouth
• A splash of orange juice (literally squeeze one small wedge in)

• orange twist for garnish

Add the bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth to a mixing glass with ice and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Squeeze in the orange juice. Garnish with the orange twist and enjoy. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Poor Mike Patrick.

When you think about the 2007 Georgia-Alabama game, there are a lot of things that should be remembered. It was after all, a road win for the Bulldogs on Matthew Stafford’s walk-off touchdown pass to Mikey Henderson.

But that is not the case.

Instead, it’s one sound byte from the ESPN broadcast that happened mere seconds before the game-sealing score:

Milli-moments later, Matthew Stafford struck gold on a deep route to the end zone corner, and Georgia won in overtime.

Between the 2012 SEC Championship and everything that has happened with these two programs since 2017, games like this can get easily lost. But it still ranks as one of the classic showdowns between two of the SEC’s deepest-dyed blue bloods. How even were the two teams this night? Consider that Georgia had 377 yards of offense to the Crimson Tide’s 349.

Both teams began 2007 with expectations to be on the upswing. When Georgia hit its stride to end 2006, capped off by the Chick-fil-A Bowl win, the dynamic was that with Matthew Stafford settling in under center, that the Dawgs were on their way to being among the SEC’s elite again. In Tuscaloosa it was simple – the Crimson Tide needed someone to restore the program’s glory, and Nick Saban was talked into hanging up his NFL whistle in favor of Alabama.

Georgia stumbled in week two, losing 16-12 to South Carolina, but the season was hardly lost – but few other losses could be afforded to win the SEC East. The Crimson Tide entered 3-0, the big win being a 41-38 offensive slugfest against Arkansas.

Georgia found success early, going up 10-0 less than six minutes into the game on a quick pass from Stafford to Thomas Brown later followed by a Brandon Coutu field goal. But after Alabama tied 10-0, the Bulldogs put together another 10-point swing, leading 20-10 after a third-quarter touchdown by Knowshon Moreno and another Coutu field goal. That’s when Alabama rallied for ten points in the final 6:10, sending things to overtime.

There, after Bama led 23-20, Georgia made sure that the Crimson Tide didn’t come back again.

Nobody knew it then…but it’d end up being the first of many instant classics to come between these two teams.

Go Dawgs!

Good day, err’body.

As of Thursday morning’s NHC advisory there has been no significant changes to the track of what is now Hurricane Isaias – an intensifying storm right. Upon approach and eventual landfall along the northern Gulf coast – near Mobile Bay or perhaps closer to the Pensacola/Perdido Key area in the Florida panhandle – increasing wind shear is forecast to weaken the storm prior to landfall but Isaias is still projected to remain a strong category 2 hurricane (96-110 MPH).

This is what the Conference and the University of Alabama and Alabama Emergency Management still must consider: Although Isaias is forecast to weaken fairly rapidly and accelerate northward after crossing the coastline, folks still have to travel to get to the game early enough in the day while the storm is still hazardous and on the move very close to Tuscaloosa and vicinity. And a storm like this isn’t a simple point on a map. It’s a large area of circulation with multiple hazards within that will extend for miles. A weakening tropical cyclone is still capable of producing enough wind to knock down trees, powerlines and other structures and the wind field is forecast to expand which is typical as a storm begins to spin down. This is going to be a tough call.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

It’s about time to put toe to leather in Athens, Georgia.

We’ve got a good idea who’s actually playing. We know what we should be worried about. And we know a little rivalry history. Heck, we even have a handle on the things we still don’t know.

At this point there’s nothing left to do but play solid football. The Commodores are going to take some shots downfield, and they’re going to sell out on defense to get to the quarterback. If the Bulldogs can make them pay for both of those it should be a pleasant afternoon.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Look, the goal is to win football games and the Georgia Bulldogs won this one. Beyond that, well, I’ll have more thoughts shortly. For now, let’a turn our attention to some solid football taking place for the remainder of your Saturday.

If you’re not turning over to watch the Braves and Dodgers in the NLDS, you could take in Ohio State traveling to Iowa on CBS. Also Florida travels to Missouri on ABC looking to avoid a hangover after their big win over Ole Miss. The SEC Network has Kentucky going to Columbia to take on South Carolina in a game that could see a changing of the guard in the lower-middle of the SEC.

The evening slate is filled with games that shouldn’t be incredibly competitive but just might get really interesting if they are. Miami travels to Clemson on ABC, with the Hurricanes a prohibitive favorite. The Washington Huskies will take on USC on NBC. If you’re a bit of a degenerate you may enjoy the 7:00 ESPN game between Arkansas and Texas A&M, a matchup of coaches who both really, really need a win. Like, in a “honey, don’t put up the Christmas decorations quite yet” kind of way.

So let’s enjoy another evening of college football action. Every one is special in its own way, and you only get so many of them in a year. Let’s make this one count.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There was some causes for concern. But in the end, Georgia did what you’d expect – eventually overpower Vanderbilt 38-17. Now, everyone officially can do what they have been secretly doing since August – focus on Alabama.

Here are 10 thoughts from how everything shook out on Saturday Between The Hedges.

1. There’s no telling whether or not Kirby Smart is the hand-written letter type. But he should at the very least have a thank you card sent to Vanderbilt’s athletics department, attn: Clark Lea for doing the Bulldogs a great service on Saturday. Talk to anyone in this program and they will quickly tell you that there is plenty of adversity to be encountered during game weeks at practice, but that run into during actual games is different. Saturday may not have been an “identity game,” but it was a moment of sweating things out with a sack being given up near the goal line and multiple defensive secondary leaks. It’s much better to have these pop up now than next Saturday in prime time.

2. So what was actually said during halftime? We’ll have to wait on ‘leaked audio” more than likely. But there was an apparent intent to take control from a one-touchdown lead, as seen from Gabe Harris’ sack being the first of the day for Georgia’s defense and a scoring drive of more than 6:30.

3. Thank goodness for this team’s running back depth. Nate Frazier entered the game for a handful of carries due to a possible injury to Chauncey Bowens, otherwise, he likely does not play. Then again, with the way Dwight Phillips has run..and caught the ball as of late, there is less concern if this group gets banged up. And given the nature of the season, that will happen.

4. Does this team really have a go-to receiver? The results say no. If you look at receivers and tight ends alone on Saturday, seven were targeting at least twice and none were thrown to more than five times by Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. That says two things – one, that plenty of players at a position that was a preseason worry can step up and two, that hopefully Stockton does not lock down heavy on one single receiver and not cycle through his secondary options. 

5. On the subject of running backs – the long screen to Dwight Phillips is a feature of this offense as the year goes on – that when you have a guy with Phillips’ speed, you wrinkle in multiple ways to use it. 

6. No Jared Curtis on Saturday. But Vandy quarterback Blaze Berlowitz still presented plenty of capable things, though not as much as Junior Sherrill. This Commodores team is not a bad club, and odds are solid that they will be bowl-bound thanks to those playmakers and how they mix things up defensively. If you need some good schedule fortune, this aligns well for Georgia head of its by-far toughest game coming up.

7. Speaking of Curtis – will Nate Bargatze be asking for a refund after coming to Athens and not even seeing Curtis take the field. Hopefully, he found some means of entertainment in downtown Atnens.

8. As you go into any season, there is a temptation to look at one element and say ‘this might bite us when it matters.” Placekicking is not one of them, with Peyton Woodring still being basically automatic (hopefully this is not a jinx). The last thing you need going into a big game is worrying that your kicker is jumpy, and Georgia is avoiding that as of now. 

9. So the good news for Florida is that it can consult its SEC East-era rival Tennessee on publishing a coffee-table book on a single-win during a season before having your shorts run up the flagpole a few weeks later.

10. You know that line in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when he says “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”?

That apparently was talking about the college football season. With all its faults, this is a greatest sport in America…and the regular season just shy of halfway over. Time is a thief, indeed. 

Go Dawgs!

Is it possible for a 38–14 victory to be….unsatisfying?

Maybe. That is the question confronting Bulldog fans after they watched Georgia put in a solid, though not dominating victory over the visiting Vanderbilt Commodores.

Let’s start with the positives. The Red and Black offense racked up 471 yards of total offense that felt like it very much could have been more. Gunner Stockton’s remains one of the most efficient quarterbacks in college football, today hitting on 25 of 32 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns.

Mike Bobo took some of those shots downfield we said in the pregame that he should against a Commodore defense that blitzes more and harder than just about anyone else in the SEC. The Dawgs didn’t hit as many of them as perhaps they should have, and that made the offense perhaps feel a tad more anemic than it really was. But the Bulldogs came away with points on six of their eight drives excluding the short drive before the half and the one to kneel out the game (when Bo Walker very nearly took the ball to the house). That’s pretty solid efficiency.

We saw Nate Frazier, albeit only on 2 rushing attempts for 9 yards. The downside of that is that it was because Chauncey Bowens got banged up. Bowens did return, but we again find ourselves with a running back corps full of Ferraris: the fastest thing on the road when they’re not in for repairs. I would expect Frazier to try to go next Saturday in Tuscaloosa. But in a game in which we may need to control the ball and keep it away from the high-powered Tide offense, I’d really like to have a full complement of tailbacks. We may have everyone available, but not 100%.

It also remains to be seen what the receiving corps look like heading into next week. In the absence of Isaiah Canion Thomas Blackshear caught 3 passes for 33 yards before himself exiting the game with an undisclosed injury he was on the sideline in a shoulder sling in the second half, which isn’t a promising sign going forward. He was one of ten receivers Stockton hit on the me day, with Dwight Phillips leading all receivers with 5 catches for 75 yards an a touchdown (and what would have been another but for instant replay). Coaches have talked all fall about trying to get the ball in Phillips’ hands, and today was a solid step in that direction.

And then there was the defense. The Commodores only totaled 293 yards of offense and were a pedestrian 5 of 12 on third down conversions. But in the moment it felt like both those totals were much higher. Some busted coverages on the back end allowed the Nashvillians to convert some third and longs that extended drives in frustrating fashion.

I don’t want to excuse the performance, but would say that there were extenuating circumstances. With Jared Curtis’s last minute totally legitimate “injury” the Bulldogs found themselves defending Blaze Berlowitz, a more mobile QB who in fact led Vandy in rushing. With a whopping 37 yards. Again, it probably seemed worse to the viewing fan than it was in reality. But the fact that Berlowitz looked serviceable doesn’t inspire confidence with Keelon Russell up next.

It’s also worth noting that the Athenians allowed only 59 yards of offense in the second half. Part of that was the Bulldog offense going into ““anaconda mode”, in which Kirby and Mike Bobo just slowly constrict opponents into oblivion. But part of it was also better execution, especially in the linebacking corps and secondary.

Vanderbilt also executed well on third down, finding some plays they haven’t found at key times this season. Hilariously, Jared Curtis could find himself getting Wally Pipped by Berlowitz after that performance. The UGA defense held the SEC’s 14th ranked offense 70 yards below its season average, but compared to what we’ve seen previously this effort looked a little like a team looking ahead.

And what a game to look ahead to. The Bulldogs will travel to Tuscaloosa, where they haven’t won since 2007, to face a Crimson Tide team that’s suddenly looking like it can’t be stopped offensively unless it stops itself. We’ve more than once seen a Kirby Smart team show up big in a big game after this sort of adequate but not spectacular warmup.

It doesn’t feel even nearing the halfway point of the season like we yet know just how good this team can be, and as if they’re still a work in progress.But we’re about to learn if this team is an apex predator in the SEC or just a member of the pack.

Go ‘‘Dawgs!!

AP Poll

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Miami
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Indiana
8. BYU
9. Ole Miss
10. LSU
11. Texas Tech
12. Utah
13. Oregon
14. Missouri
15. Tennessee
16. Florida
17. Mississippi State
18. Oklahoma State
19. USC
20. Iowa
21. UCLA
22. Houston
23. Boise State
24. SMU
25. Pitt

Georgia Update

Georgia took care of business on Homecoming, defeating Vanderbilt 38-14.

The Bulldogs stayed at #2 in the AP Poll as they prepare for their game in Tuscaloosa against #6 Alabama. College Gameday will be in Tuscaloosa for the game as well.

Newcomers

#25 Pitt

Dropped Out

#24 Kentucky

Ranked Matchups

#2 Georgia at #6 Alabama

#21 UCLA at #13 Oregon

Upset Alert

I could be a homer and pick Georgia +1.5 against the Tide… but I’m going to go elsewhere. Nebraska, 5-0 and unranked, is a 7.5 point home underdog against Indiana. This would be the C0rnhuskers’ biggest win in years, and I think they have an excellent shot at getting it done.

You probably don’t remember, but my plus one last year for the home opener was my eldest great-nephew. He’s now 15 (with his permit!), and a freshman in high school. Watching him watch the game was every bit as entertaining as the game itself, because he was studying the game. He has played for a few years now (I’m not sure exactly how long), and thoroughly enjoys playing. He clearly was looking to see what he could learn to improve his own game. 

When the family met for Easter, his uncle (my youngest nephew) asked about coming to a game again (he got to attend the Texas game last year after narrowly surviving an ICU visit brought about by vaping. In case you don’t know my feelings about vaping, I’ll be short here – DON’T). When I agreed he could come again, we discussed which game (he chose Mizzou). The GN asked if he could attend an SEC game this year, and he chose Vandy.

We weren’t early enough to get my preferred spot for the Dawg Walk, but we were early enough to get a spot near the Redcoats! I promise, at any football game, the band is having a great time!

We stopped at the endzone corner nearest the UGA crypts, where GN watched players practice. We even got to watch receivers practicing catching the ball in the back corner and make sure to get a foot down (and we saw that at least once in the game, too).

One of my annual plus-ones (a former colleague) had texted me that she was there with her family, so we made sure to meet up with her for a moment in the 3rd quarter.

We even discussed him coming back during our Fall Break (his aligns with mine this year) so we could go explore the cemetery and the marker that bears our name. That will likely depend on his mama’s ability to transport, so stay tuned…

However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.

Coach Kirby Smart coached his 143rd game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 122-21 record and a 0.8531 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred twenty-second win overall in the fifth game of the 2026 season against the Commodores of Vanderbilt.

At the identical juncture in their careers:

Vince Dooley’s 143rd game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs win over Floriduh in the eighth game of the 1976 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 96-42-5 and a 0.6888 percentage.

Coach Mark Richt was 106-37 (0.7413) after a loss to LSU in the 2011 SECCG.

One hundred and forty three games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is sixteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 26 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.

As always . . .

Go ‘Dawgs !!!!

You don’t tune out the noise of an upcoming tilt with Alabama, Jared Curtis’s return (or not) to Athens, and general Homecoming distractions to romp over the vaunted Vanderbilt Commodores without a total team effort. Yet even then, some players are bound to rise above the noise and confusion, to get a glimpse beyond this illusion, and soar ever higher than the rest. Those stalwart sons of the gridiron are your MVDs: the Most Valuable ‘Dawgs from Georgia’s 38-14 win over Vandy.

Offense: Dwight Phillips, Jr. Look, Gunner Stockton had a wonderful day throwing the ball. And Landon Roldan had a pleasantly productive afternoon with a touchdown and a long catch to set up another. But Peanut the Destroyer was the one who spread the Commodores too thin to recover. He had 75 yards receiving and 27 on the ground, scored one touchdown and all but scored another, and had a run for a key third down conversion.

Defense: Ellis Robinson, IV. The secondary in general gave Bulldogs fans some reason for concern in this one. But Robinson remains very difficult to throw on, and his third quarter interception shut the door on the ‘Dores and paved the way for the Red and Black’s final touchdown, putting this one definitively out of reach.

Special Teams: Peyton Woodring. Drew Miller had a nice punt to get the Bulldogs out of the shadow of their own endzone. But Woodring hit a 39 yard field goal to extend the second half lead to three scores, and his 5 for 5 performance on extra points put him even further in the lead for the most consecutive extra points in Bulldog history.

As always, we’d welcome your nominations in the comments. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Obviously, after this weekend, it was difficult for the crew at SEC shorts to figure out which formerly top 10 SEC football team to set their sites on. So they decided to take a jab at all of them. Obviously, after this weekend, it was difficult for the crew at SEC shorts to figure out which formerly top 10 SEC football team to set their sites on. So they decided to take a jab at all of them.

My only regret in the Georgia/Vanderbilt seque is that we didn’t pull out the battery and jumper cables.

Thanks to help from opposing adversaries, Georgia got what at least appeared by the final score to be a 41-13 win against Oklahoma on Saturday.

here are 10 thoughts from an afternoon of handling business.

If there is a legacy game for Roquan Smith at Georgia, it’s the 2018 Rose Bowl. Ironically, Chris Cole’s version may have also been on Saturday against the Sooners.

Speaking of Cole….his scoop and score does not happen if not for the immaculate condition of the Sanford Stadium Turf.

Georgia was better than Oklahoma, but how much? Total yards were mostly even, but Georgia did what good teams do – take full advantage of a short field. The offense may have misfired in the second half, but the second quarter nulled that out.

Between the White Out and Stripe Out, can we please get back to simplifying things? Red or Black? Just wear what you desire.

There was no begging for it this week, but the crowd rattled Oklahoma on offense. See the multiple delay of game penalties and two burned timeouts barely into the second quarter.

There was concern at this time a week ago about how a possible absence of Nate Frazier would impact the offense. The answer? Not much. With what Chauncey Bowen was able to do and Dwight Phillips stepping up, Saturday showed how deep this position is for Georgia.

maybe in retrospect, it was a bad idea to reference Shane Falco in the Sugar Bowl to John Mateer.

The biggest break so far for Georgia? It’ll avoid Mississippi State and Kamario Taylor.

Hopefully, Georgia Tech being bad makes that game in November at 7 pm SEC Network kickoff.

Florida could be the toughest opponent on the schedul…so naturally this could be in a year with the game not in Jacksonville.

Go Dawgs!

.

You know the scene. You’ve seen it a thousand times. A college football coach stands alone on the sidelines, his players and assistants looking to him for answers that he doesn’t have. They’ve lost this football game, and lost it badly.

“Charley Pell’s off-the-books slush fund!” you think, “what must that guy be thinking in this moment?!?!”

As usual we have some ideas. Friends, this is Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables in the waning moments of Saturday’s 41-13 loss to your Georgia Bulldogs:

What was Brent Venables thinking?

A) “‘Defense wins championships’ my butt.”

B) “Thank goodness Lincoln Riley’s stinking it up at USC, that should buy me a little time.”

C) “Let me just set this Google news alert for ‘Dabo Swinney fired.‘ Just in case.“

D) “????There’s Mateer, I need beer, ‘cause to the playoffs we ain’t near…..????

As always, your speculation on what was going on in Coach Venables’ head are welcome in the comments.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Good morning, Dawg Nation. We’re a third of the way through college football’s regular season (boo!) and your Georgia Bulldogs remain undefeated (yeah!). The journey continues this Saturday with the Bulldogs taking on the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The Red and Black open as a 24.5 point favorite over the “Dores, roughly the same margin by which they were favored over Arkansas. A weird thing that has occurred this season? The Bulldogs have covered the Vegas thread in each of the first four weeks of the season. I’m not sure the last time that happened, I just know that I haven’t seen it I. Awhile. It’s symptomatic of a Bulldog team that just hasn’t had a misstep all season. That’s a really rare thing in college football.

Vanderbilt will of course be quarterbacked by freshman Jared Curtis, last seen flipping his commitment from Georgia to Vanderbilt the day before Signing Day. Coaches who have faced Curtis have confirmed that he is a special talent.

I suspect an inordinate amount of attention is going to be focused on Curtis’s decision this week, and that if asked about Kirby Smart will call it an non-issue. And perhaps he’s right. But it will be the subplot of this game much to Kirby’s consternation.

Personally, I’m not too broken up about Curtis’s decision. Everyone has a right to make their own life decisions based on their own priorities. Some want to be developed, compete against the best every day, and be in the running for national championships. Others want to be told they could start as a true freshman and get a cameo in a Nate Bargatze movie. Life’s all about priorities, you know?

Dean Legge at SI has a good summation of the good, bad, and ugly from Georgia’s win over Oklahoma. Personally I’d like to focus on the third quarter slumber that the Dawgs fell into, playing probably their worst football of the season. As Kirby said postgame, great teams just don’t have those performance gaps. Because if you let up against another great team you can see the entire momentum of the football game change just like that. Ask Ole Miss during the LSU game or Ohio State after their loss to Texas. College football is truly a four quarter game. Kirby Smart’s challenge with his team remains getting them to play all four quarters against opponents they can beat to a pulp in two. Until later…

Go Dawgs!!!

AP Poll

1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Notre Dame
4. Miami
5. Ohio State
6. Indiana
7. Alabama
8. Florida
9. Ole Miss
10. BYU
11. LSU
12. Texas Tech
13. Utah
14. Iowa
15. Oregon
16. Mississippi State
17. Tennessee
18. USC
19. Oklahoma State
20. Houston
21. SMU
22. Boise State
23. UCLA
24. Kentucky
25. Missouri

Georgia Update

Georgia welcomed Oklahoma to Athens and immediately took a 28-0 lead before beating the Sooners by a final score of 41-13.

The Bulldogs maintained their #2 ranking in the AP Poll ahead of their clash with Vanderbilt at Sanford Stadium

Newcomers

#19 Oklahoma State, #22 Boise State, #23 UCLA, #24 Kentucky

Dropped Out

#13 Penn State, #16 Louisville, #18 Michigan, #23 Texas A&M

Ranked Matchups

#7 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State

#5 Ohio State at #14 Iowa

#8 Florida at #25 Missouri

Upset Alert

Everything is telling me that Alabama will soundly beat Mississippi State… everything but one. Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor is maybe the most entertaining and electrifying player in college football. If anyone is going to repeat Johnny Manziel’s performance against the Tide, it will be him. Give me the Bulldogs at home against the Tide as 6.5 point underdogs.

Mateer has led Georgia to a 28-0 halftime lead over the Sooners. Oops. My bad…..forgot where I was for a moment.

Yesterday was a perfect day for football. You may remember that DS (Dear Son) applied to UGA back in the day, and was accepted. Because UGA’s Engineering program was new back then, he opted to go to Death Valley by the lake. When he was there, we attended a couple of days during Parent’s Weekend, but this is the first time since he was in school that we’ve been able to attend any game together. He was supposed to come for the season opener in 2024 (UGA vs. Clemson in Atlanta), but ended up being unable to come. When this year’s schedule was announced, he insisted that he wanted to come for the Oklahoma game, since he’s now living on Tulsa Time.

He arrived Friday while I was still at work, having flown TUL-ATL wearing his Etienne jersey (Clemson, not UGA), since they drew the Pac12 After Dark game Friday night. We all took naps (since none of us are spring chickens anymore), and watched the Clemson game (full disclosure: Mr. Squillian & DS watched the whole game, I had to opt out when the score was tied 10-10). 

We planned to leave by 9:30, but ended up leaving just after 10AM. A quick stop by the local CFA, and a stop for gas, and we were on our way to the Classic City. We arrived at the deck before the busses started running, so we walked to the Dawg Walk. I hadn’t realized DS had never been to the Dawg Walk, so this was a new experience for him (*he had friends who went to UGA so if Clemson was away, he spent the weekend in Athens*). We entered there so I could show him where the UGAs are buried and get pom poms. I was very excited that they had put out black pom poms on the home side (part of the stripe Sanford initiative – there were black poms on the home side, red poms on the visitor side, but the end zones only had white poms in certain seats – they weren’t in our seats (but I had white poms from last week’s whiteout)). So now I have many, many red poms, but now I have black poms AND white poms!

I told DS he could have as much beer as he wanted, and he took full advantage. We got our souvenir cups, our CFA sandwiches from the same place I get them every game, and then I showed him:

This marker is directly across from the tunnel that leads to our seats. Podunkdawg chose these seats in May, before we lost her in August. She didn’t know this marker was there. She couldn’t have known. It was an emotional moment for us both, because the only people that could possibly miss her more than the two of us would be her husband and sons.

However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.

Coach Kirby Smart coached his 142nd game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 121-21 record and a 0.8521 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred twenty-first win overall in the fourth game of the 2026 season against the Boomer Sooners of Oklahoma.

At the identical juncture in their careers:

Vince Dooley’s 142nd game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs win over Cincinnati in the eighth game of the 1976 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 95-42-5 and a 0.6866 percentage.

Coach Mark Richt was 106-36 (0.7465) after a win over Yech in the final regular season game of the 2011 season.

One hundred and forty two games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is fifteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 26 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.

As always . . .

Go ‘Dawgs !!!!

If the Georgia Bulldogs played a football game last weekend then Nathan and Yara are here this week to review it. That’s just how the world works, Dawgs. Topics covered in this review include:

• Casting our gaze around the SEC: is it possible that Florida is actually good? And how is Ole Miss this bad?

• Nathan goes all “Memento Mori” in regard to Kirby Smart’s tenure at Georgia, and provides perhaps the most impressively specific sandwich order I’ve ever heard.

• Chris Cole, bestriding the narrow football field like a Colossus.

• Statistical truth: Two football teams in Athens got to very similar numbers on the stat sheet in very, very different ways.

• Like you and me, Demelo Jones and the rest of the UGA defense are apparently vulnerable to good Beers.

• Wait, has Yara now been officially converted to the Church of Bobo?

• Ask CBC: White out, black out, stripe out, all good as long as the Dawgs are playing all out.

As always we kindly ask that you like, rate, subscribe, and patreonize the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Welcome to Wednesday, also known as halfway to the Dawgs getting ready to face a fairly-common Homecoming opponent in Vanderbilt.

That’s not to discount the Commodores…its truthfully how the schedule has fallen. Vandy is not to be taken lightly, even if the late, great Lewis Grizzard did quip that “Spain couldn’t beat Vanderbilt!” When talking about the darkness of the Ray Goff era, it was perhaps at its darkest in that infamous Homecoming loss…but that’s enough of that trauma.

Thanks to the power of social media, ESPN’s SkyCast angle of Chris Cole’s fumble return is making the rounds. Simply put – its a masterpiece. In terms of crowd pops, it might be the biggest since the start of the Arkansas noon kickoff in 2021.

Speaking of the interwebs, here’s the reminder that there is wrong, and then there is Colin Cowherd wrong. Pro tip: Don’t let any of your Georgia Southern friends see the below…

I guess imitation is the most sincere form of flattery? A trademark of Jon Sumrall’s weekly regimen in Gainesville is “Bloody Tuesday.” If that sounds familiar – it is – as its a phrase that Kirby Smart made famous at some point after coming to Athens. Look, coaching is a lot of monkey-see, monkey-do. There are NO secrets. So you really think play designs are all devised on some secret cave? It happens through someone seeing something and saying, ‘hey, we should implement that.“ These coaches text back and forth and are going to know what one another does.

The always dialed in updates of UGA covered from The Red & Black include some NFL Dawgs updates

In terms of defensive players, one of the more famous European Bulldogs is Richard Tardits, aka Le Sack. He held the school’s sack record until David Pollack shattered it. The next one may be defensive lineman JJ Hanne of Germany orginally (Insert a Buford T Justice reference here if you wish). Hanne had to actually beg his mother to let him play football…that has ended up being a win for Georgia.

Go Dawgs!

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog Fans! Your Bulldogs are 4-0, and undefeated in conference play. 40+ points in each win, each by 4 touchdowns, ranked #2 in the land, and yet (we know, we know). These are the first world problems UGA fans face in this golden era of Georgia football. A wise man once told me, “in the absence of results, you’d better show effort”. And it seems to applicable to Bulldog football.

In the regular Monday press conference headlined by the UGA Head Football Coach, Kirby Smart stayed the course, giving the assembled personages such insight as how hard a player has worked in the offseason, that several players continue to grow and get better, that he likes tough, physical play, and that “effort counts twice” (See: Humphreys, Landon). Since I’m merely a grey-shirted preferred walk-on scout team member with no hope of scholarship in the world of college football bloggers, I’ll give this my best effort.

And if you want to know if a particular Bulldog is injured, practicing, rehabbing, questionable, or any other possible status ahead of this Saturday’s tilt, I have 3 words for you: check the availability report that comes out Tuesday at 8:10. Okay, that’s more than 3 words, but Kirby Smart will give you nothing else. That seems to be our M.O. going forward – wait until the conference mandated availability report. On brand, to be sure.

Not only did Chris Cole win the coveted and much sought-after defensive MVD award for his play against Oklahoma, he also received the slightly less coveted and minutely less sought-after SEC Defensive Player of the Week. Quite a 48 hours for the Junior Linebacker from Salem, VA.

They’ve finally decided that a 24+ point underdog visiting Athens is commonplace, so this weekend’s Vanderbilt game will be broadcast Saturday at 12:45 pm ET on the SEC Network.

But they also decided that current #2 Georgia visiting current #7 Alabama is worthy of a few more eyeballs. And that yes, Georgia football under the lights is truly electric and merits a night game. But not in Athens anytime soon. Thus we will see our Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa at 7:30 pm on ABC.

The good news is that no less than Pat Forde already has UGA beating the Tide in their house October 10. The bad news is that we lose in the Benz to the resurgent Gators. No matter your feeling of his prognostications, he makes a good point that the November 3rd initial CFP ranking show will be preferred watching to the mid-term election coverage.

We’re Number 1! We’re Number 1! According to the ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) is concerned. Frankly I hadn’t paid this much attention. So as I ponder, do I think UGA is the best college football team? I guess. We have our flaws, and I tend to find them in Athens a little quicker than at other programs. #JustBeatVandy.

No internal handling of player punishment, no conference mandated suspensions, no ACCPD reports (that we know of), no disappointing news to report here. Only positive vibes on this Tuesday of the second third of the Georgia Bulldog football regular season. Have a day friends, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Welcome to the SEC in a sentence, in which we attempt to distill yet another wild and crazy weekend of SEC football into, but a single sentence for each of the leagues 16 combatants. It was another wild one, perhaps wilder that some teams (lookin’ at you, Aggieland) would have preferred. But that’s why we say it just means more, right?

Alabama: Continue to play with their food in the first half, which as a few Kirby Smart teams will confirm is a lot of fun until the food refuses to lay down on the plate after halftime.

Arkansas: Rutgers football fans love hanging out with Arkansas fans because it makes them feel smart and optimistic.

Auburn: Found out that the outer limits of the Alex Golesh rebuild may not extend as far as a win over Baylor would lead one to believe, as we’ve been saying for the past two weeks.

Florida: I don’t mean to alarm anyone, but the winner of Florida/Ole Miss this weekend may have a solid two game cushion in the race for a playoff spot and you better be on your knees praying that isn’t the Gators, because they’ll be insufferable for five weeks until we teach them better.

Georgia: Mike Bobo’s hobbies as he slides gracefully into middle age have become wood working, fishing, and spending an entire game diligently setting up a garbage time play action touchdown pass against a 24 point underdog.

Kentucky: Hey Coach Stein, how was your weekend?

LSU: Lane Kiffin is now the opposite of that old Bum Phillips quote about Bear Bryant: he take take his and lose to yours or take yours and lose to his.

Ole Miss: That win was more satisfying than slipping on a well-worn pair of Martin Donnan bit loafers, which any Ole Miss fan will tell you is just like Heaven.

Oklahoma: I sort of wish the Sooners hadn’t won a rock fight against the New Mexico Lobos because the last thing I want to face is a Brent Venables defense that’s been brushing up on its rock fighting.

Mississippi State: I would appreciate it if one of you would show me where the glass is that I’m supposed to break in case of “playoff contender Mississippi State” because to be honest that’s information I never thought I’d need to use.

Missouri: Took a week off before traveling to Starkville, which alarmingly no longer looks like a week off in its own right.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks haven’t fired Shane Beamer but that doesn’t mean he won’t keep trying.

Tennessee: Built on their 45-24 win over Georgia Tech by polishing off the Jackets’’ larger, more successful Atlanta area rival Kennesaw State, and yes as a matter of fact when I say “successful” I am referring strictly to the field of CBD/Kratom marketing.

Texas: Survived the chance to let Ohio State beat them a week later, but don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time for Arch to do some Arch things against a team with a real pass rush.

Texas A&M: Did precisely the thing they hired Mike Elko to stop them from doing.

Vanderbilt: Got the highest grade in remedial basketball weaving because unlike NC State they remembered to write their names on the paper, even if they did misspell it.

Have your own one sentence summation of an SEC team’s current situation? We’d love to see those in the comments.
Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Congrats, Dawg fans. It’s no halfway through Oklahoma game week.

First of all, in case you missed it…plans for a future series between Georgia and Clemson are officially waved off. It’s shameful and disappointing to see the current college football landscape render one of college football’s greatest rivalries as useless, but it’s simply something that fans will have to accept, not matter how much its disliked.

But as to the present…there is the allure of Oklahoma in Athens for the first time this weekend. The Banner-Herald has a video visit with the Bulldogs tight end, touching on a mix of topics.

A common theme for this Georgia team is that it is not really known how good it is. It’s easy to look very good against WKU, Tennessee State, and Arkansas. And Georgia’s offensive line has simply pushed the opposing side around so far. But Oklahoma should test that majorly. The Sooners may be sputtering on offense, but this team rode defense and special teams to the CFP last year, and that’s why as far as the trenches go, Saturday could be a fight in a phone booth.

Without question, this Saturday, in some respects will the closest thing to a challenge for this team to have faced so far. Does the game lose some buzz due to Oklahoma being upset already? Sure. But that does not take away from the fact that the Bulldogs get their first ‘show me’ game of the season.

Clearly, there will be lots of throwbacks to the only other Georgia-Oklahoma matchup, in the 2018 Rose Bowl. One of many is this:

Go Dawgs!

The intrepid Marc Weiszer of the Banner Herald has the news that Georgia and Clemson have scrapped the four game home-and-home football series that had been scheduled for 2029 through 2032.

Weiszer obtained a copy of the agreement which the schools actually signed back in March in which they mutually agreed not to play the series of interconference matchups, which had been rumored later to still be an option in a neutral site format that made one Georgia writer really mad. Turns out he didn’t have anything to worry about, other than whether those games will be replaced with Charleston Southern, the Citadel, or the Monck’s Corner School for Kids Who Don’t Read Good.

This series is just the latest victim of the SEC’s push to nine conference games. Given that Georgia already has an I state ACC rival in Georgia Tech the Dawgs are now guaranteed ten Power 4 games per year. Add in the specter of an ever-expanding playoff, which could force a team to play as many as six playoff games to win a national title, and there’s every reason to treat the regular season as a necessary annoyance rather than the main event.

While that ninth SEC game every year is likely to be a quality football game, it certainly won’t always be against a team with which Georgia has a long and rich history like the Country Gentlemen. I have nothing against the University of Missouri, but the fact is there’s still nothing particularly special about a matchup between the Dawgs and those Tigers, unlike the ones from Lake Hartwell.

Don’t worry through, the tickets you’ll be purchasing for the makeup game against Tennessee Tech will cost you just as much as the Clemson vouchers would have.
Go ‘‘Dawgs!!!

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! We’ve entered that limbo period where certain fanbases are still basking in the glow of Saturdays victory, and others are still steaming from a frustrating loss that exposed expectations like telephone poles in winter when the kudzu dies off.

Clemson has had as many lightning delays as rushing touchdowns this season (that’s “3” if you’re tracking it). If Dabo Swinney is looking for divine intervention, he doesn’t have to look very far for signs of what he should do. Unfortunately, the “storming” back and getting a win after last Saturday’s delay might cause the Clemson coach to misconstrue what everyone else plainly sees.

NC State is back doing NC State s***, uh, “stuff” (you only have to read the comments to get the gist). The bad news is that Saturday’s game-ending debacle in Nashville only pumps up the Commodore pluckiness so we’ll have to hear more about them instead of swatting them away like so many mayflies. The good news is that it only helps Georgia’s resume’, since we face Vandy after a 2 year hiatus of the matchup.

Before we turn our attention to a suddenly vulnerable Oklahoma, let’s break down the Arkansas game one more time. The Red & Black graded each position group (It’s Baaaaack!!!) on their performance in Fayetteville, and the grades look pretty fair to me. Then again, if you’re up 38-3 in a road SEC game in the 4th quarter, how can you not pass out good grades?

This week the Bulldogs will welcome the Oklahoma Sooners to Athens for the first time ever. With such a storied matchup against brands, and two CFP participants returning their starting QB, you’d think the stadium would sell out. Of course it did. Yet the secondary market has softened a little for tickets… I wonder why? Maybe this is the reason:

Yikes. It doesn’t appear the Sooner fanbase is satisfied with the early results, especially compared to expectations. Well, I’m sure I can still conjure up a thing or 3 to worry about, but that’s for another day.

Head football coach Kirby Smart held his weekly press conference Monday afternoon. You might be surprised to learn he is impressed with Oklahoma’s defensive intensity, technique, and fundamentals. And that John Mateer is dangerous with his legs, and that SEC conference games are tough. When asked about water, Coach Smart responded postively that it is wet.

On the injury front, Nate Frazier is day to day, but looks promising to be available Saturday. Tyriq Green, Chase Linton, and Isaiah Canion were all categorized as to “be back soon”. And word is that center Drew Bobo will have the elephant q-tip removed from his left hand.

There is a call to “Stripe Sanford” this Saturday. As someone who doesn’t make many games in person, I’m asking if this is a real thing? And do we like it?

Next week’s Georgia/Vandy tilt is now scheduled for 12:00 pm. Or 12:45 pm. Who knows? And nobody knows which network will carry it. It might be SEC Network. Or ESPN. Or ABC again. I’m sure the Mousey executives love having this flexibility, I’m not sure the fanbases do.

I hope that gets your day off to a great start. Let us know in the comments of any nuggets, strips, or dino-shaped chunks of news you hear about, and have yourself a Tuesday. As always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the fightin’ Chuckwagons:

1.    Oklahoma thrived on turnovers last season. They won 1 score games on the road at Tennessee and Alabama in 2025 picking up 3 turnovers in each contest. Without those, does Oklahoma win those close away games? And if they don’t, they don’t make the playoffs. Maybe OU was blessed by Lady Luck more than they were a top 12 team.

So far in 2026, they’ve lost 3 fumbles and thrown 3 interceptions. And they’ve picked off no passes and only recovered 2 fumbles for a -4 turnover margin. Does the law of averages mean Georgia gifts them free possessions? Or more likely does it mean they aren’t quite as good as one would believe?

2.  You can’t say Georgia is one-dimensional. In just a quarter of the season, the Bulldogs have scored via the run, the pass, the defense, and returning a kickoff. There’s also a blocked punt (by a starting wideout, no less). What else is there?

I guess we need to block a field goal, return a punt to the house, and get a safety. Any of those 3 would be nice this weekend to keep the momentum.

3. You have to be able to run the ball to win in the SEC. Not necessarily all the time, but unless you have Dan Marino or Matt Stafford under center, you’d better have a semblance of a ground game to keep the defense honest. Oklahoma really doesn’t.

The Sooners rank 123^rd (of 138) in rushing offense a quarter of the way through the season. They were 112^th in 2025 with a mobile quarterback who likes to scramble. OU OC Ben Arbuckle hasn’t really gotten the rushing attack going, averaging only 118 yards a game thus far. By contrast, the Georgia defense is allowing a paltry 45.7 yards on the ground this season, thanks to opponents having to play catchup after establishing early leads. If we can continue that, I like our chances of seeing if they can beat us through the air.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about hosting a historical powerhouse looking for a bounceback on national televsion:

1.  The Bulldog Offensive Line have got to clean up the blocking assignments, especially in pass protection. Arkansas has some dudes, and the busts and 1v1 wins by the Hogs up front were evident. Six different Razorbacks logged a stat in the UGA backfield last week. And one of the sacks was 3 of them converging on Stockton at the exact same time.  That is troubling.

Oklahoma has some dudes too, and will apply even more pressure and give Stockton even less time to scan the field. Even without standout DT David Stone, they have 10 other players with at least a full TFL, and 6 other guys with a full sack through 3 games. This isn’t one guy you need to doubleteam – it is scheme, fundamentals, and a lot of players on that Sooner defensive front 7 who know how to get off blocks. If the OU secondary does a serviceable job, the big guys up front will have a field day at our expense.

2 .  #10 to #1. Individually they’re not big, but together they can be huge. The 6’1” John Mateer may not have gaudy numbers compared to the Jayden Maiava’s of the world, but he can throw, and he can buy time to find receivers who get separation.

And the 5’10” Isaiah Satenga is him. He’s again leading the Sooner wideouts in both receptions and yards, where he averaged over 5 catches a game last year and a hair shy of 1,000 yards. Most of his career was also spent returning punts, so you can imagine his speed and shiftiness. Satenga can hit the homerun on the post, and break one from a short-medium cross.

After watching Arkansas stud receiver Chris Marshall torch the Bulldog secondary just a few days ago for over 100 yards from an offense that can’t even decide on a quarterback, this has me worried.

3 . Oklahoma has been underwhelming in the early season after a typical beatdown of UTEP, then a loss 17-10 at Michigan, and squeaked by New Mexico 14-6 at home. So will they come into Athens and roll over? HA!!! Hardly.

Not only is head coach Brent Venables a pretty good motivator, but he has a top notch staff and the team is loaded with elite athletes and football players. Then there is the UGA effect: this game has been circled on calendars in Norman for months now, as Sooners and their faithful wish to knock off the 2 time reigning SEC champ. And the added factor that Georgia can bring out the best in any opponent, sometimes to our collective detriment. Our boys better be ready for a battle into the fading light Saturday.  

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about hosting the Oklahoma Sooners for a historic first visit to Sanford Stadium.  And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Welcome to another edition of Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are like blue bloods throwing the bag at Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor. The kid is a baller and from just outside of Starkville. By all accounts, he loves Mississippi State and has a great relationship with head coach Jeff Lebby. In a day where most jump at the brightest, shiniest thing, it seems Taylor wants to stay in Starkville and become a campus legend, which I absolutely love.

Bama OC vs. Fans

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb made waves at his press conference this week when he applauded his players for not giving up after getting down early against Florida State; however, this praise came at the expense of Alabama fans, who Grubb said did give up on his team. The fans in Tuscaloosa are known to be chill and practical and won’t take offense to this sort of comment whatsoever. Grubb has since apologized for this remarks.

Lacy a Game Time Decision

It was feared that when Ole Miss star running back Kewan Lacy exited the Rebels’ game against LSU that he would miss a significant amount of time. Luckily, that does not seems to be the case, as head coach Pete Golding said that Lacy’s injury was not long-term and that he is a game time decision for their clash with Florida this weekend.

Revisiting the Music City Miracle II

Ya, this one was so crazy, I want to bring it up even though it isn’t news. Vanderbilt’s last second win against NC State, where the caused a fumble during an attempted intentional safety to run out the clock saw the Commodores go to 3-0 in this generation’s version of the Music City Miracle. This was maybe the wildest, most improbable win since Michigan State took a Michigan punter’s mishandled snap to the house back in 2015.

Welcome to the Morning Five, five numbers you need to know to be ready for this weekend’s matchup between the Georgia Bulldogs and and Oklahoma Sooners. Let’s jump right in:

1. 3,187. That’s how many days have passed since Georgia and Oklahoma played what remains, for my money, the best college football game in history. At least the best one that I have ever seen. The fortunes of the two programs have diverged somewhat since that evening in Pasadena, with Georgia playing for three national titles and winning two, while Oklahoma has remained competitive, even playoff worthy in 2025, but not a serious threat to win a national title in anyone’s estimation. That being said, I still think this is a pretty dangerous team.A Brent Venables defense is generally capable of keeping his team in the game even when the offense isn’t pulling its weight. Which brings us to…
2. 16. That’s Oklahoma’s current SEC rank in total offense. Unfortunately for the Sooners, there are only 16 teams in the league. The Sooners have only topped the 300 yard mark in total offense once, in their opener against UTEP. It’s still early in the year, but three games in is far enough to establish an identity. The Sooners’’ identity on offense this year may be that they don’t have one.
3. 84.4. That’s the percentage of his passes that Gunner Stockton has completed so far this season. It’s the highest percentage among SEC quarterbacks by a pretty significant margin. But the Oklahoma defense, with a wealth of disguised coverages and bait-and-switch blitz packages will be a whole different animal from the units he’s faced so far.
4. 0. That is the number of interceptions Stockton has thrown this season, against 9 touchdowns. It may be the most important of the numbers this week. If there’s a path for Oklahoma to pull the upset in this one it almost certainly involves stealing some possessions and being gifted a short field or two via turnovers. If Georgia takes care of the ball and forces John Mateer to drive the Sooners offense 70+ yards on every possession, it should be a good day for the home team.
5. –4. The flipside to that number above is Oklahoma’s current -4 turnover margin, dead last in the SEC. The Land Thieves have 6 turnovers so far on the season, 3 interceptions and 3 lost fumbles fumbles. If the Bulldogs can get the Sooners to their 2.0 turnover per game average it should be a good day for the home team. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Welcome to the Morning Five, a brief rundown of a few of the numbers that will shape the outcome of Georgia’s upcoming SEC opener against the Arkansas Razorbacks. We’re still at the point in the season at which the sample size is too small to draw any real conclusions. These are less reliable statistics and more discussion points. Nevertheless, there are a few data points that may prove instructive, like…

1. Zero. That’s the number of Razorbacks fans who will be in attendance if some Arkansas folks have their way. Ryan Silverfield was not an overwhelmingly popular hire in Fayetteville, and it appears a closer-than-expected win over North Alabama and a beating at the hands of the Utah Utes haven’t endeared he or athletic director Hunter Yurasek to some Hawgs.
2. 12.70. That’s how many yards per carry Nate Frazier is currently averaging on the ground. Clearly this weekend brings a step up in competition, but this also feels like one of those games where Kirby could build a 24-0 lead on somebody and then just decide to slowly suffocate them by running it left, right, and up the middle 12 plays in a row. I could see an 18 carry, 120 yard day from Nate the Great.
3. 90.0 That’s the number of rushing yards per game given up through two contests by the Hawgs, 40 to North Alabama and 140 to Utah. Again, small sample size, but those are not awful numbers. And the 3.33 yards per carry they’re currently surrendering is grossly respectable, if not necessarily outstanding.
4. 37. That’s the number of points the Bulldogs have scored in each of their last two meetings with the Arkansans, a 37-0 win by the ‘‘Dawgs in Athens in 2021 and. a 37-10 victory over the ‘Hawgs in Fayetteville in 2020. I expect the Bulldogs to score about the same number this time out. My score prediction remains 34-20 Georgia, with the Razorbacks scoring in the 4th quarter to make it look closer than it really will be.
6. 
   
   5. 900. That’s the number of miles per hour Ryan Silverfield quipped last year that a Georgia wide receiver was arrested for driving. He says he’s apologized, Kirby says it’s all forgotten. I tend to think that Kirby doesn’t want to be seen to be publicly sticking up for players pinched for reckless driving. Because reckless driving is dangerous and bad and neither you nor a blue chip football player should ever do it. But privately I’m not certain there won’t be a little extra juice from the Bulldogs, because Kirby also loves mining every available avenue motivation.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Comparisons to greatness can be dangerous.

Georgia fans have gotten a degree of ridicule…or a segment have…for comparing multiple unproven highly-rated running back to Herschel Walker. Now, as the Brock Bowers era has passed in Athens, any generational tight end stands to be compared, fair or not, to Bowers.

Enter Jaden Reddell…as in his breaking of six tackles against Tennessee State.

For his part, Reddell seems intent to write his own tale..not that of Bowers. DawgNation takes a closer look.

Meanwhile, how are Razorback fans handling things these days?

Not well…

But as Steve Jobs said…“and one more thing…”

The true test of Saturday’s White Out repeating? How well it resonates with recruits. It’s a known fact – to coach under Kirby Smart, you have to be a relentless recruiter. And if that wardrobe from last weekend generates enough buzz…yes, prep for another White Out.

What excites Kirby Smart about SEC play after two straight walkover wins? The Red & Black takes a deeper dive at what the Top Dawg has had to say this week.

Here’s what recruits thought of it…

Go Dawgs!

Brilliant investor and all-around wise man Warren Buffett once remarked that “Investing is simple , but it isn’t easy.”

it is a sentiment which finds validity in a variety of walks of life. Losing weight is also simple: you just need to burn more calories than you take in. The math is simple, the behavioral adjustment is not easy. One can also build a nice nest egg by simply earning more money than they spend and socking away the difference. Again, simple but not easy.

Bulldog and NFL legend Benjamin Watson today noted a similar phenomenon with relation to football defenses. Many commentators and fans have noted over the past few years that with an increased concentration on player safety and welfare the game has changed and defenses simply aren’t as tight as they once were., with a few notable exceptions.

Watson has the simple reason.

You can’t tackle if you don’t do a lot of tackling. Seems fairly self-explanatory. But again, the solution isn’t easy. Kirby Smart is well-known for his “Bloody Tuesday” full contact practices, and his former players have credited them as a difference maker.

Those Tuesday practices are simple, but they aren’t easy. Coaches worry about player fatigue. They worry about injury. Can you imagine the hew and cry if an All-American defender broke his collarbone in a full pads scrimmage at most schools during a game week?

But ultimately the game of football isn’y about looking good coming off the bus before the game. It’s about performance during the contest. And as the old adage goes, you play like you practice. unshakable faith in the methods he’s built over the past eleven seasons in Athens, and he’sgotten good at identifying and recruiting players who buy into doing the simple things that are nonetheless hard, like Bloody Tuesday. That’s a big deal. So on this Tuesday, be thankful that you’re fan of a college football team whose coach is a super-intense perfectionist who’s willing to make everyone around him more uncomfortable today so that they can celebrate on Saturday.

Go ‘‘Dawgs!!!

Are your Georgia Bulldogs going on the road to open SEC play in the central time zone against a team with its back up against the wall two games into the season? That sounds worrisome, and you could probably use a drink to steady your nerves. I can help with that.

A lot has been made this week of the general malaise that appears to have permeated the Arkansas football program. Yes, the Razorbacks lost last week by four touchdowns to Utah. Yes, Ryan Silverfield is talking about people trying to write his obituary two weeks into the job. And yes, fans are seriously talking about boycotting the game to show their displeasure with the athletic director. It’s as if a black cloud has settled over Fayetteville and looks like it plans to hang around awhile.

But here’s the thing: I seriously doubt that the players in the Razorback locker room care about any of that. That sort of outside noise sometimes can galvanize a locker room.I’m not saying that the criticism and negotiate going to turn this team into the 1985 Chicago Bears. But I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the Hawgs come out snorting at home. And I’m pretty sure the home crowd will get behind them loudly if there’s a whiff of good news to rally around. To paraphrase Charlie Daniels, the Uneasy Rider himself, the last thing you want is to get in a fight in Fayetteville, Arkansas on a Saturday at lunch.

So what the Bulldogs need is to come out with the same ruthless polish we’ve witnessed against two inferior opponents so far. But then they’re going to need to do that for more than four or five series. To really put the home crowd back in its cage and send them back to throwing overripe fruit at AD Hunter Yurachek’s house. The Red and Black are going to have their hands full next week against a stout Oklahoma team. And I’d rather we not have to watch them claw their way out of Fayetteville with bloody knuckles before hand. Let’s crush those Hawgs and move on.

So what’s the ideal cocktail for ginning up a crushing defeat of the Hawgs and getting the heck out of the Natural State?

A gin and jam.

• 2 oz. of dry gin

• 1 tablespoon of fruit jam, blackberry is my favorite, but raspberry or strawberry work as well. I’ve even used cinnamon pear, which was a pleasant surprise.

• 3/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

• 1/2 oz. simple syrup
• a splash of club soda
• a lemon wheel and mint leaves for garnish if that sort of adornment is your thing.

Place the gin, jam, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker, along with an handful of ice cubes. Seal and shake vigorously until outside is frosted,(maybe 20 seconds). Fill a glass with crushed ice; strain cocktail into the glass. Top with a splash of club soda. Garnish with mint lea and lemon if desired. Enjoy responsibly, and…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There’s college football on all weekend, and we expect you to watch the bejeebers out of it. And we’re once again willing to help you figure out the best of your viewing options. As always, the full (and we mean full, because you might want to find out what time the Pacific Lutheran game kicks off) schedule is below. It first here are the highlights in each viewing window.

Thursday night: Back in my day we watched mid-tier ACC football and dadgummit we LOVED it!

In these modern times college football fans have become a little spoiled in terms of viewing options. Even a midseason Thursday usually brings some choices for how to invest your viewing time. Not this Thursday, buddy. If you’re watching college football while you wait for Grey’s Anatomy to come back from its summer hiatus then you’ll be watching Syracuse at Pitt on ESPN. Thrill to a Fran Brown coached team doing something freaky deaky on special teams to extend a drive then punting from the 45. Enjoy the spectacle of 5,300 fans enjoying the crisp mugginess of Pittsburgh in mid-September (it’s a particular thing, trust me). Yinz are in for a treat.

Friday night: Old rivalry, new juice.

Houston and Texas Tech have played 36 times going back to 1951, with the Cougars holding a slim 18-17-1 margin over the Red Raiders. But this matchup between #22 ranked Houston and #13 Texas Tech is only the third time they’ve met as ranked opponents. The last was in 1989 when the Houstonians were quarterbacked by Andre Ware. For low key hate and offensive hijinx, this game is your best bet. The game kicks at 8:00 Athens time on FOX.

Saturday early: There is, for the third week running, but one correct answer. But query me this: now that we know the Oklahoma game next week is a 3:30 start, is it possible Georgia won’t play a night time kickoff before Georgia Tech in November? I believe it is.

Also, for reasons I don’t fully understand, Arizona State and Kansas will be playing at noon eastern/5:00 pm local time in London, England. Again, I don’t understand. And I don’t know that anyone affiliated with Arizona State football owns any clothing appropriate for a drizzly London fall evening. But I guess we’ll see?

Saturday afternoon: Don’t get cocky, unless you’re Kamario Taylor, then it’s fine.

You could watch Florida State play Alabama at Tuscaloosa on ABC at 3:30, but Mike Norvell probably wishes you wouldn’t. You’ll learn little or nothing from this one other than that Keelon Russell has the potential to be Kalen DeBoer’s savior or his downfall. And that Mike Norvell probably shouldn’t bother making reservations for the New Years brunch at the Tallahassee Country Club.

You could also catch Kentucky traveling to College Station to play Texas A&M, a thing which is apparently possible. Who knew? But again, not sure there’s much to be gleaned from this one. Instead after watching the Dawgs make pulled pork of the Arkansas Razorbacks I’m turning over to SEC Network at 4:15 to catch Mississippi State at South Carolina. Normally this wouldn’t be a compelling matchup. But the Gamecocks are back on the Bulldogs’ schedule and Mississippi State features the SEC’s leading passer (290.0 yards per game, 7 TDs, 0 interceptions) in Kamario Taylor.

Saturday night: Ole Miss fans dream of rearranging Lane’s chakras.

Again, I think there’s only one answer here.

Lane returns to the Grove as #7 LSU visits #8 Ole Miss. I think the Lane hype has gotten a little over its skis in Baton Rouge, but paradoxically I also think this is the high water mark of the Pete Golding era, as the talent Lane found and brought to Oxford (but don’t take with him to Baton Rouge) may be enough to beat the Bayou Bengals.

FULL COLLEGE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Sept. 17

Syracuse at Pitt | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Friday, Sept. 18

No. 5 Miami (Fla.) at Wake Forest | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN
No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech | 8 p.m. | FOX
Portland State at No. 21 Oregon | 10:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network

Saturday, Sept. 19

Coastal Carolina at Delaware | 11:30 a.m. | CBSSN
No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas | 12 p.m. | ABC
Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State | 12 p.m. | FOX
Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Tulane at Kansas State | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
Bowling Green at Iowa State | 12 p.m. | ESPNU
Arizona State at Kansas | 12 p.m. | FS1
Mercer at Georgia Tech | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
North Carolina at Clemson | 12 p.m. | ESPN/Disney+
Akron at Minnesota | 12 p.m. | Big Ten Network
North Texas at Texas State | 12 p.m. | USA Network
Lafayette at Columbia | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Dartmouth at Lehigh | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
West Georgia at East Tennessee State | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin | 12:30 p.m. | Peacock
NC State at Vanderbilt | 12:45 p.m. | SEC Network
Wyoming at Central Michigan | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Chicago State at Butler | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Cornell at Colgate | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Valparaiso at Indiana State | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
VMI at Davidson | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Benedict College at Fort Valley State | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Adrian at Mount St. Joseph | 1 p.m. | YouTube
Maine at Boston College | 2 p.m. | ACCNX
Southern Illinois at Illinois | 2 p.m. | Peacock
Yale at Holy Cross | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Rockford at Concordia Chicago | 2 p.m. | YouTube
Lakeland at Wisconsin Lutheran | 2 p.m. | YouTube
Presbyterian at Western Carolina | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Temple at Toledo | 3 p.m. | CBSSN
Eastern Illinois at Illinois State | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Connecticut at Montana State | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Penn at Bucknell | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Florida State at No. 10 Alabama | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 12 USC at Rutgers | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2
Utah State at No. 17 Utah | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
UTEP at No. 19 Michigan | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Miami (Ohio) at Cincinnati | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Wagner at Cal | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Duquesne at Washington State | 3:30 p.m. | USA Network
Stonehill at UMass | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgetown at Richmond | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana | 4 p.m. | Peacock
UNI at No. 18 Iowa | 4 p.m. | FS1
Stanford at Duke | 4 p.m. | CW
Ball State at Liberty | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Louisiana Tech at Baylor | 4 p.m. | ESPNU
Abilene Christian at Idaho | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
Mississippi State at South Carolina | 4:15 p.m. | SEC Network
SE Louisiana at UL Monroe | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+
East Carolina at Old Dominion | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Florida International at Florida Atlantic | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Charlotte at Appalachian State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
North Carolina Central at Gardner-Webb | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Fordham at William & Mary | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Dayton at Eastern Kentucky | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Point University at Charleston Southern | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Wofford at Chattanooga | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Marshall at Missouri State | 6:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Troy at No. 20 Missouri | 7 p.m. | SECN+
Florida at Auburn | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Georgia State at UCF | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Murray State at Oklahoma State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UConn at Southern Miss | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UT Martin at Memphis | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Western Michigan at Rice | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Delaware State at South Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Nevada at Middle Tennessee | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Ohio at South Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Georgia Southern at Jacksonville State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Nicholls at Sam Houston | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Youngstown State at South Dakota State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
South Carolina State at Furman | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Austin Peay at West Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Arkansas at SE Missouri State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Alcorn State at North Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Morehead State at Western Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Merrimack at Tarleton State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston Christian at UIW | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
North Dakota at Nebraska | 7:15 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Eastern Washington at Washington | 7:15 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. | NBC
No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 11 BYU at Colorado State | 7:30 p.m. | CBS
New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN2
West Virginia vs. No. 25 Virginia (in Charlotte, N.C.) | 7:30 p.m. | ACC Network
Colorado at Northwestern | 7:30 p.m. | FOX
Virginia Tech at Maryland | 7:30 p.m. | FS1
Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
UTSA at No. 1 Texas | 8 p.m. | SECN+
Arkansas State at TCU | 8 p.m. | ESPNU
East Texas A&M at Tulsa | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
UAB at Louisiana | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
San Diego at Cal Poly | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern Arizona at Utah Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Northeastern State at Northern Colorado | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Northwestern State at Weber State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
McNeese at UT Rio Grande Valley | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Pacific Lutheran at Trinity (TX) | 8 p.m. | YouTube
South Dakota at Boise State | 10 p.m. | CBSSN
James Madison at San Diego State | 10 p.m. | CW
Stetson at UC Davis | 10 p.m. | ESPN+
Northern Illinois at Arizona | 10:30 p.m. | TNT
North Dakota State at Sacramento State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN
Purdue at UCLA | 11 p.m. | Big Ten Network
Montana at Oregon State | 11 p.m. | USA Network
Fresno State at San Jose State | 11 p.m. | FS1

First, here’s why I’m NOT worried about the fightin’ Whoo Piggies:

1.   Arkansas has a rich history of running backs, and is usually potent toting the rock. But Darren McFadden and Felix Jones aren’t suiting up this season. UA has only totaled 209 yards on the ground (including sacks) for a pitiful 2.7 yards a carry.

The Bulldog defense has only allowed 173 yards rushing in 2 games, and that doesn’t include sack yardage.

2.  The Razorbacks are 3^rd in time of possession. Yet they rank 114^th in scoring offense and 111^th in scoring defense. So while they apparently march up and down the field, they’re not putting the ball in the endzone.

And it’s debatable if the true Georgia defensive starters have surrendered a single score this season. Both opponents have avoided the shutout in the first half, but both times UGA was up by at least 4 touchdowns and substitutions were already liberally utilized.

3. Gunner Stockton has thrown twice as many touchdowns as incompletions. He leads the country in most touchdown passes without an interception. The Terrible Tiger is also almost perfect when facing pressure, though I will allow two caveats: 1) some of that pressure is because we don’t chip the end on a rollout, choosing to release the TE or back to get open in the flat and 2) he hasn’t had to go through many progressions, instead able to hit the primary target because the defense can’t cover them. Whatever the nuance or context, our QB1 is playing like the #1 QB in the country.

Now forgive me, as I was weaned at the nipple of Larry Munson’s scratch so here’s what does worry me about playing an SEC game on national television with a UGA squad playing their first Power 4 competition:

1.  60 minutes. The Georgia defensive starters have only played around 60 snaps apiece. And that has been spread over 2 games and 7 days. How will they fare when they will likely have a significant increase? There has been good energy and high effort so far, but how will they respond when they’re sweating and sucking eggs in the 3^rd and 4^th quarter – something they haven’t had to do this season?

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks were holding onto a 2 score lead in the 4^th quarter against North Alabama, and trying to keep the score less embarrassing last week in Utah, so they’re used to playing their 1’s the entire game.  A game at high noon in mid-September in Fayetteville is due to be warm, and conditioning could be a big factor.

2 .  Even getting stymied by the Utes, Arkansas did have 5 different pass catchers average in double digit yards per reception. And 9 different Razorbacks have that same qualification on the season. Only 4 receiving touchdowns (Gunner Stockton guffaws at this), but they are getting some chunk plays from the passing game.

Hog OC Tim Cramsey brings the fast-paced no-huddle tempo from Memphis, and QB KJ Jackson is getting it out of his hands quickly. He hasn’t been overly accurate (55.1% completion), and the offensive line has given up 7 sacks, yet somehow they are moving the ball.

 3 . Arkansas has been dwelling in the bottom of the SEC the last few seasons, sharing a special handshake with Mississippi State and pining as Vanderbilt climbed the stairs to the kitchen. With a head coach in his first season in the Power 4 and in rebuild mode, and not so impressive results the first 2 weeks, you might expect the Hogs to have no chance against the Bulldogs where the exact opposition situation exists.

Oregon probably thought the exact same thing last Saturday when they traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma. But lo and behold, the underdog coach got his message across, the players trusted the process, the Ducks were lackluster, and proverbial lightning struck. That is the exact scenario Georgia is facing when they get off the bus at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Georgia has a history of providing new coaches and programs a signature victory. Let’s not give them that chance, shall we?

Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about opening SEC play on the road and starting a string of 5 straight conference games.  And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Welcome to another edition of Around the SEC, where everything is made up and the points don’t matter. That’s right, the points are just like a second half lead when Arthur Smith is your offensive coordinator and you need any sort of offensive momentum to stem the tide of a comeback.

You Just Got Served

In the ongoing legal and pettiness battle between Ole Miss and LSU, Ole Miss has landed the latest punch. Former Rebel and current Tiger DE Princewill Umanmielan was served court papers outside of the LSU practice facility on Wednesday regarding the ongoing lawsuit where Ole Miss alleges that he broke revenue sharing agreements by transferring to LSU. The real battle takes place Saturday night when LSU visits Oxford in must-watch television.

Texas AI Slop

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has issued a public apology for stating that he thought an AI-generated video of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and ESPN reporter Holly Rowe was funny. The video in question shows Sarkisian slapping Rowe, which is an exaggeration of him spurning her postgame interview. As with everything, Rowe handled it with class, accepting Manning’s apology.

Jared Curtis time in Nashville

Vanderbilt has named true freshman quarterback Jared Curtis their starter for their upcoming game against NC State. Curtis played the entire second half last week against Delaware, taking over for an ineffective Blaze Berlowitz. He’ll have two games to get ready for the Commodores’ trip to Athens.

Georgia went back to the College World Series for the first time in 18 years in 2026, now head coach Wes Johnson has been rewarded for it.

The top Diamond Dawg received a contract extension through 2032. He’ll also get a rise that hasn’t been disclosed yet (he was earning &1.35 million per year previously).

In three seasons in Athens Johnson has turned around a once proud program that was struggling to build momentum. He’s led the Bulldogs to 139 overall wins, three NCAA Tournaments as a national top eight seed, played host to three NCAA Regionals and two NCAA Super Regionals and advanced to the 2026 College World Series.

The 2026 Dawgs secured a school record 53 victories,  made their seventh all-time appearance at the College World Series in Omaha, and had a final national ranking of #3. And for the second time in three seasons Georgia had a player win the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award, the top awards in college baseball and for an amateur player nationwide. In 2024, third baseman/outfielder Charlie Condon swept these major awards while last year, it was catcher Daniel Jackson.Both would go on to be first round MLB draft picks.

Johnson has also secured one of the top transfer portal hauls in the nation for 2027, as well as several prominent high school recruits. The new deal is a nod to the trajectory of the program, which appears set to compete in the SEC and nationally at an elite level on a yearly basis.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

It was one of the most satisfying moments of victory Georgia fans had soaked in for quite some time.

But was jubilant as the feeling was, the 2002 SEC Championship win against Arkansas didn’t need any dramatics. That tone was set in the opening minutes by Decory Bryant’s punt, which may have been the loudest the Georgia Dome ever got up until Alec Ogletree’s field-goal block in the 2012 SEC Title Game.

This game didn’t have a nail-biting, blood-pressure spiking finish like Auburn in November of that year, the Hobnail Boot Game or the 1996 win at Auburn, but it was every bit of a coronation, that after sitting and watching the Bulldogs’ rivals raise SEC trophies since the championship game began in 1992, Georgia didn’t just get to Atlanta…but it did so in a large way.

You almost had to pity the Arkansas fans for this one. Remember, this was back when the SEC West winner usually got handled in the SEC Championship game. Arkansas in this era was pretty good…good enough to get to Atlanta but not above the Floridas, Tennessees and in 2002…Georgias of the league.

To say that the demand for tickets for this game was high is an understatement. Obviously, the Georgia allotment didn’t last long. And since this was back pre-Stubhub, myself and a few roommates and friends had the next best plan – call the Arkansas ticket office when they put their tickets on sale. The game may have been a rout, but for Georgia fans who were there, it was definitely a “I was there” game.

The game was basically over as it began. After Bryant’s punt block was recovered at the two-yard line, Musa Smith needed just one play to score, and the next Razorback resulted in a three and out..followed by a 62-yard drive capped by a 17-yard score by Smith. In short, that was the game in a nutshell – Georgia ran right over Arkansas, and Brian VanGorder’s defense shut down anything that the Razorbacks tried to do on offense.

It was a case where Georgia was the superior team, even if it could have been a wider margin of victory, with the Bulldogs added a field-goal on their next three drives to lead 23-0 at halftime before adding a fourth-quarter touchdown from David Greene to Ben Watson.

If you were around the age of UGA students in 2002 and had family who lived through the early 1980s, it was hard not to feel like it was your generation’s moment of glory. You would hear of stories about the 1980-82 era and of Herschel, Erk, the Sugar Bowl and camping out for tickets like I was a story in an old dusty book (some of us had parents with the 1980! book).

On that December night in downtown Atlanta, Bulldog fans felt like they had reached the mountaintop.

Go Dawgs!

It’s game day, ‘Dawgs! Who could possibly sleep when we have the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers coming to town? Here’s some tailgate music to get you grooving:

We next move, in the customary fashion, into this week’s UGA hype video::

Anyone else a little disappointed that there wasn’t a creepy girl crawling out of a well in there anywhere? Yeah, me too.

In other Bulldogs news, the week two injury report is out and is pretty benign. Outside linebacker Chase Linton remains questionable with a leg injury of indeterminate severity, and defensive back Jontae Gilbert apparently has a finger that’s giving him the finger. Drew Bobo remains a go-go with his hand in a club, but his knowledge of his dad’s offense fully intact.

Jeff Sentell and Kaylee Mansell at DawgNation have the lowdown on expected visitors for the game, including Bulldog QB commit Jayden Wade.

That should get you started on your Saturday. We’ll be back shortly with the game thread, and all your other Bulldog coverage as the day in college football unfolds. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There’s no rest for the best, as Yara and Nathan take a stab at previewing Georgia’s upcoming contest against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. This one has real statistics baked right in, then lovingly drizzled with a luscious glaze of vibes. Among the topics:

• A few months ago Western Kentucky was giving LSU all they could handle. A few days ago they got boat-raced by the Nevada Wolfpack. How did we get from one outcome to the other?
• Will Kirby Smart-coached football teams cover two gargantuan spreads in two weeks? Are you asking that because you’re new here?
• How excited is appropriately excited about the Georgia Bulldog defense? Will that question become more answerable after this Saturday?
• Will you ever get the image of WKU’s amorphous blob of a mascot lounging on sumptuous carpets while being fed grapes by Roman servants out of your head? No. No you will not.

All that, and so much more. And remember like a Big Ten replay crew to take an extra second to like, rate, recommend, subscribe, and patreonize the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The Georgia Bulldogs may be done for the day, but the college football action elsewhere is just heating up.

Your full college football schedule can be found here for ready reference. Among your viewing options are Alabama at Kentucky on ABC, Mississippi State at Minnesota on CBS, and Arizona at #15 BYU on Fox.

Tonight’s Prime time matchup between Texas and Ohio State will also be coming up, and this thread will be the hub for discussions and updates on all the action throughout the day.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

I’m not saying he’s Knownshon Moreno. But Chauncey Bowens hurdling a defender without breaking stride to casually stroll into the endzone at 225 pounds is a thing that doesn’t look like it should be possible.

So far, so good in Athens with the Red and Black (and White) up by three touchdowns halfway through the first quarter.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

It’s almost time for kickoff in a slightly soggy Athens, Georgia. There’s rain all around Athens, but fans are already in fine form, waiting to see the Bulldogs come out in their new, all-white look, and hopefully look just as dominant as they did last week against Tennessee State.

My guess is that this won’t be quite as dominant a performance, as Western Kentucky is a solid Conference USA opponent, and I expect them to redeem themselves somewhat from a poor loss to Nevada last Saturday.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

You don’t put up 60+ points in back-to-back games for the first time since 1915 without a total team effort. But even then some Bulldogs are bound to distinguish themselves. Those valiant warriors in Red and Black are your MVDs, the Most Valuable Dawgs from Georgia’s 70-20 victory over Western Kentucky.

Offense: Gunner Stockton. There’s no point in overthinking this one. Gunner finished 13 of 16 for 234 yards passing and 5 touchdowns in a shade under two quarters of work. That’s downright surgical in its efficiency. If he can continue to carve up defenses that way in the SEC schedule, the Bulldog offense is heading for a big year.

Defense:Chris Cole. Like most of the Bulldog starters Cole took limited snaps, but while he was in he was all over the Hilltopper offense. Cole finished with 3 tackles, 2 of them solo stops, and got consistent pass rush pressure both inside and outside. It was a really solid, consistent effort for the physically gifted linebacker.

Special teams: AJ Kruah. Kruah also led the team in tackles, by the way, but his forced fumble on the game’s opening play set the tone for the day. On a day when Kirby Smart specifically called out his second and third teamers for not being prepared to play, Kruah absolutely came ready to work.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Tyson Helton’s Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were always going to need to play flawless football if they were going to keep things close this afternoon against the Georgia Bulldogs. The problem is that they played pretty much the opposite of that, and as a result what was always likely to be a Bulldog win turned into an absolute beatdown. Georgia tied a program record with 49 first half points to cruise to a 76 beating in front of a white clad and soaking wet crowd in Sanford Stadium.

Once again Gunner Stockton played an efficient little bit of football and called it a day early. Stockton was 13 of 16 passing for 234 yards and a career high 5 touchdowns. Gunner hit five different Bulldogs for those scores, and while he did have a couple of balls underthrown or tipped, it was an all-around good performance.

Nate Frazier picked up where he left off as well, looking crisp on 6 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. Interestingly Chauncey Bowens and Dwight Phillips each only had one carry, each for 4 yards. That’s not too concerning, as at this point coaches are pretty confident with what their veteran tailbacks can do.

Second string quarterback Ryan Puglisi was actually the Dawgs’ leading rusher with 72 yards on 2 carries. However 70 of them came on a single touchdown run. But his other run resulted in a fumble that helped the Hilltoppers log their first scoring drive of the day. It was a troubling trend, as the Bulldogs turned the ball over twice and had a handful of other fumbles that they managed to recover. And while the first string defense played lights out, and the Bulldogs ultimately surrendered only 225 yards of total offense, it felt as if the reserves weren’t as dialed in as one would prefer.

As Kirby Smart said on the field after the game “we’ve got a lot of guys who want to play but aren’t ready to play.” Indeed, the gap between the dominance of Georgia’s first stringers and the lapses once those players called it a day is a little concerning if injuries and tougher competition require some of those reserves to be thrust into meaningful action.

Still, it feels a little odd to say that a 70-20 game wasn’t as close as the score indicates. The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on offense, defense, and in the kicking game. And those reserves were in for over a half of football precisely because the first stringers could have scored a hundred if Kirby had wanted them to. They’ll get better with more reps, and the staff got a ton of coaching tape today. That’s not a bad thing, and a lot of those youngsters will be better football players by the end of the season for it.

Now the Dawgs prepare to start the real season, going on the road next week to open SEC play against Ryan Silverfield’s Arkansas Razorbacks. I for one am looking forward to seeing what a full game from this Georgia team looks like. Until later…

Go ‘‘Dawgs!!!

Y’all. I have been with Mr. Squillian since 1984. If your math is a little rusty, that is 42 years and counting. We married in 1987, so we’re still a few months shy of 40 years married, but as we both like to say, it just seems like forever.

If you’ve been married/with someone longer than about 6 months, you know that there are things your significant other (SO) does that are both endearing and infuriating. Mr. Squillian’s view on my Dawg fandom/attending home games is one of those things. Mr. Squillian is a Dawg fan, and has been since before he met me, but he’s quite happy to sit at home on his couch, where he is in air-conditioned/heated comfort, with whatever he desires for food & drink a short walk away. He’s perfectly happy for me to attend games without him, right up to the point where I don’t have a sidekick/partner-in-crime/companion. Every week, he asks who will be accompanying me. This week, when I posted on Facebook asking if there was anyone who wanted to go with me, he reminded me that he is always happy to go with me (which is a bold-faced lie, but whatever).

If you didn’t already know it, marriage is all about compromise. And I use marriage in the definition used by Robert Fulghum: a marriage doesn’t actually begin at the altar, but rather in all the quiet, ordinary moments a couple shares beforehand. That way, it can encompass every marriage, even ones where the couple hasn’t chosen to register it with the local government. My compromise yesterday was that we didn’t leave the house in time to make the Dawg Walk, and I told Mr. Squillian that he was allowed to have as much beer as he wanted (he wanted 2). I packed sunscreen and ponchos. We needed both. We spent a good amount of time putting on and taking off the ponchos. We spent more time happily cheering on the Dawgs in their 70-20 rout of the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers. (What is a Hilltopper?)

However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.

Coach Kirby Smart coached his 140th game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 119-21 record and a 0.8500 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred nineteenth win overall in the second game of the 2026 season against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.

At the identical juncture in their careers:

Vince Dooley’s 139th game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs win over Vandy in the sixth game of the 1976 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 93-42-5 and a 0.6821 percentage.

Coach Mark Richt was 104-36 (0.7429) after a win over Kentucky in the 10th game of the 2011 season.

One hundred and forty games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is fifteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 26 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.

As always . . .

Go ‘Dawgs !!!!

Another week, another overwhelming win for Georgia. This time, the roadkill was Western Kentucky in a 70-20 win in a day mixed with rain and sunshine Between The Hedges.

Here are 10 thoughts from all that shook out on Saturday in Athens.

1. Even when Georgia has had some very good teams, there have been times where it has slopped around the not started games very crisp, to say the least. If there is one thing that stands out from these first two games against very underwhelming opponents, its that the Bulldogs – at least their first-team level of the depth chart, have been ready to play. The latest? A 14-0 lead Saturday after only four offensive plays. Yes, both Tennessee State and Western Kentucky are putrid. But the way that the focus has been sharp early on the past two games says a lot about the upper-end of the roster.

2. But…lot was also on display about the lower end of the roster. When you give up two second-half touchdowns, even if they are backups, that’s not good. Was Kirby Smart trying to send a message when he said that some players were ‘not ready to play’ after Saturday’s win? Perhaps. But it also says that at some point, these reserves will be needed to step up. Injuries and adversity? Those things happen during a season. It may seem a long way off for these reserves to step in…but that plan goes out the window when injuries happen. To quote Jerry Reed, these young players “have a long way to go, and short time to get there.”

3. All of that said, we still don’t know how well this team can handle the fire of adversity. Arkansas will be toughest game so far next week, and there is a worry of sleepwalking for a midway game in the CST, but the Razorbacks are not very good. Oklahoma? It could not beat a Michigan team that needed creative timekeeping to beat Western Michigan. If you want a true test for this team, it may not be until a trip to Tuscaloosa. 

4. SEC play starts next week, so at some point Georgia will need to loosen up opposing run defenses with the deep ball. After limiting the pass game to short and mid-range last week, it was good to see Mike Bobo go anti-vanilla and stretch the pass game deep early on. 

5. Was the opponent inferior? Yes. But Gunner Stockton setting a career high for touchdowns is a career high. And five touchdowns in one half? That’s a thing of significance. If players in other conferences can get Heisman numbers gassed up by beating up on lesser teams, there is no reason that Stockton cannot. 

6. Oh yes, the uniforms. Even if you are a stubborner to change, even if you dislike the NIL premise of them, the white uniforms looked great. The next step? Break those things out for a night game. 

7. Georgia fans take it for granted, but despite all of Saturday’s rain, you would have hardly known it based on how well the Sanford Stadium turf played. If you believe that Georgia’s team that keeps this playing surface in top shape is among the best of the best, then Saturday proved it. 

8. In the world of ‘where did that come from,” Ryan Puglisi showed off some sneaky speed on his 70-yard touchdown run. It was the first time seeing that Between The Hedges since…Stetson Bennett drained Auburn’s soul in 2022. 

9. Prather Hudson became a cult-like hero a few years ago, because when he lined up a running back, it meant a big walkover Georgia win. Now, that role may belong to Dwight “Peanut” Phillips, Bo Walker, and Nick Peal. All three showed an aggressive style of running Saturday, combining to rush for 59 yards. 

10. After the Orange Bowl and now Saturday, Brock Gleen is liable to be having nightmares about Georgia’s defense for the rest of his living days.

Go Dawgs!

Here we are again, looking to lift the curtain on one man’s madness. To investigate the thoughts of a college football coach brought low by fate, and also a roster crammed to the gills with angry five star recruits who spend their days being yelled at by Kirby Smart. This is Western Kentucky head coach Tyson Helton during the waning moments of Saturday’s 70-20 loss to Georgia.

I ask you, what was Tyson Helton thinking?

a) “There have to be better ways to earn a living. I used to be a pretty fair checkers player. Is there a pro checkers circuit? Could I start one?”

b) “Clay’s going to be beating up on Dabo Swinney and I have to be here getting barbecued like a pork loin.”

c) “I feel like an armadillo on the highway of life. Turns out the light at the end of the tunnel was a set of Buick headlights.”

d) “I thought the SEC was kicking schools out of the league for playing NFL players.“

As always, your suggestions are encouraged in the comments. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Yara and Nathan did a fantastic, thorough job previewing the SEC earlier this week.

So thorough they sort of ran out of time to actually preview one school in particular: the Georgia Bulldogs.

That’s an oversight the dynamic duo remedy with gusto in this episode, turning the Bulldog roster over this way and that, peeking into the cracks and crevices, and generally giving the Mean Machine in Red and Black the type of meticulous attention you expect from the Internet’s premier college football podcast focused on stats and feelings. Highlights include:

• Nathan being willing to wager that Gunner Stockton will come back for 2027, which I’m reasonably certain is verboten under the NCAA’s “five to play five” rule. But who knows? College football is now Thunderdome, redshirts are now called Schlarfuzzles, and are distributed solely by a leprechaun in Soperton named “Skeeter”, and if you find a sympathetic probate court judge in Wyoming you too could be on a college roster next season. Even tomorrow. So now that I think about it, Nathan is actually probably right on this one.
• The Bulldog tight ends are legion. Figuring out how to use them is a job that could only be managed by a crack tactician like….Mike Bobo.
• Is it possible that, just this once, Kirby Manball is actually the answer?
• Even without Xzavier McLeod, the Bulldog defensive line makes Yara’s heart sing.
• Does Georgia have the best secondary in the nation? Maybe. Does asking that question aloud feel a little like tempting the gods in a Greek tragedy? You bet your Homefield hoodie it does.

As always we ask that you like, rate, subscribe, and patreonize the show wherever you get your podcasts.

Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There are few things better than watching a little college football after watching the Georgia Bulldogs take care of business. And this evening brings some compelling viewing for your considerations. The marquee matchup is of course Clemson traveling to Baton Rouge to take on Lane Kiffin and the team of guys he was actually able to sneak by the SEC (7:30 eastern, ABC). It takes a lot to make Dabo Swinney a sympathetic underdog character, but by golly the Laner has managed to do it.

The full schedule of television possibilities is here, and in case you son’t want to watch two of the least sympathetic coaches in college football square off, you might be interested in checking out Missouri State at #8 Texas A&M on ESPN. You could also check out the optimistic beginning of the Jon Sumrall era in Gainesville as the Gators host Florida Atlantic (7:45, SEC Network).

Whatever you choose to spend this evening watching, we’re glad you’re spending it phere.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

It’s finally time to let the big ‘Dawgs eat.

Your Bulldog captains for today’s opener are center Drew Bobo, linebacker Chris Cole, defensive tackle Jordan Hall, and kicker Peyton Woodring.

Bobo is snapping to Gunner Stockton in warmups, but doing so with a club on his hand. So it seems as if he will try to go. Edge rusher Gabe Harris is listed as probable on the final injury report, though like many of the starters I’d expect him to be on a bit of a short leash in terms of snaps today.

Crack open a beverage, crack open your programs, and let’s do this.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

You do t steamroll the mighty Tennessee State Tigers 63-3 without knitting together a total team effort. Even then, some Bulldogs are bound to distinguish themselves above and beyond the crowd. These dauntless Dawgs are your MVDs, the Most Valuable Dawgs from Georgia’s season-opening win.

Offense: the offensive line.Sure, Gunner Stockton had an almost flawless start to the season. And Nate Frazier scored touchdowns on 3 of the 4 times he touched the dang ball. But the offensive line was the common denominator in both those performances. Did you see the holes Frazier was running through? I don’t want to crown this group the Joe Moore Award front runner. But if they can stay collectively healthy and continue to gel, they could be very, very good.

Defense: PJ Dean. I’m not sure the true freshman outside linebacker was technically the most valuable player on a Bulldog defense which uniformly played well. But his 1.5 sacks were a pretty eye-opening debut. His name had been one of those quietly bandied about as opening a lot of eyes in fall camp (along with freshman defensive tackle Valdin Sone, who also saw a lot of action). I’ll be very curious to see where Dean slots in the rotation going forward.

Special teams: Drew Miller. Sure, the junior punter only had one kick, a booming 65 yarder that rolled harmlessly into the end zone for a touchback. But his major contribution to the day was actually botching a hold on Peyton Woodring’s only field goal attempt of the day, preventing the Bulldogs from coming away with points on their sixth drive. This was a very valuable contribution because it will give Kirby Smart something to rage about on what could have been in otherwise self-congratulatory day. Thanks for taking one for the team, Drew.

Feel free as always to shout out your own MVDs in the comments. And…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The Georgia Bulldogs were a physical mismatch for the Tennessee State Tigers, but played the officials to and their own clumsiness surprisingly close this afternoon to take a 63-3 victory.

The Red and Black came out of the gates humming. The Dawgs scored touchdowns on their first five possessions, with Nate Frazier opening the scoring by slicing through the Tennessee State defense for a 45 yard touchdown run on the opening drive. He would add a 14 yard untouched touchdown jaunt, while Gunner Stockton tossed touchdown passes to Talyn Taylor, Elyiss Williams, and Jaden Reddell. Stockton looked midseason polished, completing 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards and those 3 touchdowns before yielding to Ryan Puglisi.

Frazier would end the day with 3 touchdowns and 72 yards on only 4 carries, a tidy 18.0 yards per carry behind a massive Bulldog offensive line that looked every bit as promising as we have hoped they would be. Again, the competition will get tougher from here. But t

The defense likewise came out of the locker room with fire in its eyes. The hapless TSU Tigers didn’t manage a first down until just under the 7:00 minute mark until halftime, and were stuck at 0 total yards until that same juncture. Gabe Harris rocked quarterback Daylin Lee on the first possession, and looked great in his return from toe surgery.

Then things sort of went pear-shaped. Ryan Puglisi came in for Stockton and the offense stalled out. Peyton Woodring stroked a perfect 38 yard field goal but it was called back because the Bulldogs lined up with two players each wearing #51. That sort of thing is frowned upon by the folks wearing zebra striped shirts. After backing up five yards the Red and Black botched the snap and hold and came away empty handed.

The defense, then also beginning to substitute, allowed the Tigers to sustain their first scoring drive of the day. It began with a hands to the face penalty on Joseph Jonah-Ajonye that allowed the first of the Tigers first downs.

It would be only the first of a metric ton of penalties on the Bulldogs, 8 in total for 85 yards, some of them (a hands to the face penalty on Jaden Reddell for an exuberant stiff arm) a little questionable, but most just the result of basic boneheadedness. That’s something that will need to be fixed before the schedule gets real later this month.

That being said we saw the tantalizing whispers of what could be a very good football team. We also saw what could be a very bright future. Freshmen Kaiden Prothro and Jae Lamar scored the first touchdowns of their Bulldog careers, as did receiver Jeremy Bell, who caught a beautiful touchdown from third string QB Ryan Montgomery. To my eye Montgomery looked a little cleaner throwing the ball than Puglisi, but we’ll have to see how that rivalry plays out in the months to come.

What we learned is that Georgia does indeed have a roster deep with freakish athletes, and that the veterans at the vanguard of the lineup are as good as we remembered them being from their 2025 SEC Championship season. Ultimately it’s hard to find fault with a game in which you churn out 661 yards of offense, and surrender only 119. We didn’t learn much about how Georgia stacks up to Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas, but we did see signs that should give Bulldog fans some things to look forward to.

As Nate Frazier said on the field after the game “there’s always room for improvement.” But so far, so good for the 2026 Georgia Bulldogs. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Happy Labor Day, Dawgs. Here’s wishing you and yours a relaxing day on this, the holiday set apart to recognize the contributions of the steadfast American worker. Have yourself a day, you’ve earned it.

Speaking of earning it, Kirby Smart’s team has earned some praise for their 63-3 Thrashing of Tennessee State, with observers noting that the Red and Black may have more NFL tight ends on the roster than some current NFL teams.

Also I agree with the comments in the replies. Four is a low estimate when you consider that Kaiden Prothro is fifth on the depth chart, Colton Heinrich and Brayden Fogle are behind him, and that all of them are former blue chip recruits. I don’t know how Todd Hartley keeps getting away with this, but I’m glad he does.

Dawg Nation offers week one grades on the Bulldogs, which were uniformly good except for the special teams. I agree, it was a pretty underwhelming day from that unit, which is an aberration for the Dawgs under Coach Smart. I like the odds of some of those issues getting cleaned up before we get into SEC play.

But enough about last week. The competition perhaps gets a little tougher this Saturday as the Classic City Canines take on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. If you haven’t already take a moment to review Lugnut Dawg’s excellent preseason preview of the Hilltoppers and their unsettling mascot.

In case you missed it, the Hilltoppers out of Conference USA started the season by losing 49-14 on the road at Nevada. It was a pretty inauspicious start, with the Wolfpack churning out 323 rushing yards. I wouldn’t mind watching the Bulldogs do something similar.Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The first game of the season……some people want to see it at a neutral site, against a top-tier opponent. Some want to have it at home, whether the opponent is top-tier or FCS. There are pros and cons to both, and personally, it doesn’t make much difference to me. The biggest difference is when the first game is at home, there are more (true) fans in the stands. Neutral sites seem to bring people with more money than fandom, and some of the home game traditions (Dawg walk, band pre-game performance, etc.) are lost for that day.

Chuck Leavell leading Sanford Stadium in the Star Spangled Banner (photo credit:squillian)

This year begins the sixth season since Podunk left us. Sometime in the 2022 season is when the number of games I attended without her surpassed the number of games I attended with her. I’d hand back every one of those without her games for one more with her.

Noon games are hard, because I always want to be on campus super early in order to get a good spot for the Dawg Walk. I don’t know why a 3PM game was hard for me yesterday but I left the house late, and Friday afternoon me didn’t care enough about Saturday me to put gas in the car, so I still had to get gas after picking up yesterday’s sidekick.

We still made it to campus in plenty of time to get to the Dawg Walk before it really began, and we were able to find a spot in the shade, which was essential. In the words of Wendy-lady: Peter, I’m ever so much more than twenty. And in the words of Randy Travis: They say time takes its toll on a body, makes the young girl’s brown hair turn gray. Thanks to my fabulous hairdresser, you’ll seldom see gray in my hair, but trust me, if not for her, you most definitely would. And the heat of early September in Georgia is much more difficult for me to take than it once was. 

Based on the weather forecasts (and my experience at the home opener last year, when I had to sit out the 3rd quarter due to heat issues), my goal was to make it through the game without sunburn or heat-related illness. I am happy to report that the goal was accomplished, but I did have to give up remaining in my seat for the entirety of the game in order to do so. 

Our score was still in the sub-50s when my sidekick and I decided that we needed to retreat to the air-conditioned comfort of the Tate Center. Neither of us wanted to leave campus, but we didn’t want to add to the number of fans making the EMTs and other officials work harder.

If you ever find yourself also needing to retreat to Tate, I highly recommend the theater for the coldest AC and comfy seats. And apparently, unless the game is ‘streaming only’, the game will be shown there on the big screen.

However, it is our intention to celebrate Georgia Bulldog Football Wins whenever and wherever they occur. The ugliness or beauty of any particular win is irrelevant for the purposes of the Winning Smart Victory Post. It is therefore my deepest honor and privilege to bring to you this week’s edition of: The Winning Smart Victory Post.

Coach Kirby Smart coached his 139th game this week for the Red & Black. He currently boasts a 118-21 record and a 0.8489 winning percentage, having carded his one hundred eighteenth win overall in the home season opener of the 2026 season against the Tennessee State Tigers.

At the identical juncture in their careers:

Vince Dooley’s 139th game as head coach resulted in a Georgia Bulldogs loss to Ole Miss in the fifth game of the 1976 season, giving Coach Dooley a record of 92-42-5 and a 0.6825 percentage.

Coach Mark Richt was 103-36 (0.7410) after a win over Auburn in the 9th game of the 2011 season.

One hundred and thirty nine games into his head coaching career Kirby Smart is fifteen games ahead of Coach Mark Richt and ahead of Coach Vince Dooley by 26 games. As of now, he is holding his own versus the two winningest coaches in Georgia Football History.

As always . . .

Go ‘Dawgs !!!!

On paper, Georgia was an overwhelming favorite before Saturday’s opener against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs handled their business like you’d expect, and the Tigers presented themselves like a lower-level FCS program trying to rebuild. It all added up to a rout of a victory for Georgia, 63-3.

Here are ten thoughts, observations and more for a very hot Saturday in Athens.

1. Firstly, it was tremendous to be in Athens. There’s just something about that drive into town on game day that seems to heal all that ails. For those of us from south Georgia and the middle part of the state, there’s some type of emotion that seems to make your mood better when you pull through Madison and see that first Golden Pantry just around Bogart. You feel like you are headed to somewhere special, like a city of gold just over the hill. College football may be a hellscape right now, but in moments like Saturday, all seemed right with the world. 

2. Compared to a week ago, how much more do we substantially know about this Georgia team? Sure, the execution on both sides was very good (mostly), but how different was what we saw Saturday than if there would have been a full-roster scrimmage with fans in the stands on Saturday? There are clearly places on a schedule for non-conference teams of a lesser variety, but the this may have very well been the worst team UGA has faced under Kirby Smart.

3. Let the record show that more than ten minutes remained until halftime when Gunner Stockton was subbed out for Ryan Puglisi and offense was basically Ryan Montgomery’s under center in the fourth…until Hezekiah Millender in the fourth. Yes, four QBs. That speaks to how one-sided this day was, and in an odd way, you hope that it stays a bit closer next week so that Stockton and the refreshed received room can get in-game work ahead of a going to Arkansas.

4. Many may have tuned out in this game’s ‘garbage time,“ when Jae Lamar powered into the end zone for a score with 3:57 to play. But its hard not to have a soft spot for Lamar given the adversity he has overcome – missed his first two years of football in high school due to a gunshot wound in his leg. That’s toughness, and it would not be the first hard-nosed running back Georgia has had from Moultrie…see Daijun Edwards.

5. On the topic of Tennessee State and its Aristocrats of Bands, a shame this game contract was not similar to Southern in that the marching band showed up. The fans could have been at least given than incentive to say until halftime. 

6. And given the heat…could it least be considered to PPV games like Saturday so this thing could have kicked off at 7 pm? Its a challenge across sports and ticketing the get fans to watch in-person vs. at home. Saturday’s weather made staying home easy. 

7. Speaking of fans…anyone who one, showed up in this heat and two, made one half is worthy of DGD status. 

8. Yes, Georgia won big. But it still had plenty of teachable moments on display. The first half alone had 55 penalty yards, mostly on defense. There was also the misadventerous field-goal try in the second quarter and mishandled snap on a fourth-quarter PAT. If Kirby Smart needed points on emphasis on game film, this coaching staff has them.

9. This game may have looked like a 7-on-7 tournament for Georgia on offense, but it was good to see the Bulldogs’ two prime running backs, Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens get to thee edge and find very good results. Obviously, consider the opponent, but the ways both had success, by the run and via the screen is a hopeful preview of what’s to come within Mike Bobo’s offense.  

Heaven help us if there’s heavy cloud cover when that pyro is set off from the west end zone in any future games Between The Hedges.

Go Dawgs!

We’ve all seen it. A college football game is coming to its inevitable end. And as is so often the case, there’s going to be a winner, there’s going to be a loser, and everyone watching knows who the latter will be. The cameras pan to the coach of the soon to be losing team. He stares into the middle distance, contemplating decisions made and actions taken, questioning his strategy, his tactics, and his very worth as a coach of football and a leader of young men.

“Lou Holtz’s chartreuse Maserati!” you exclaim. “What must that poor sap be thinking right now?”

As usual, we have a few ideas.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is Tennessee State head coach Reggie Barlow gamely facing the media following his team’s 63-3 loss to Georgia.

I ask you: what was Reggie Barlow thinking?

a) “Look, they were going to beat the ever-loving stew out of somebody in week one. Might as well be us.”

b) “Wait, they really gained 611 yards of offense? I saw that on the stat sheet and just assumed I was hallucinating from the heat.”

c) “Hey, we decided to start the season against a truly elite national program. But only because Clemson was already spoken for.”

d) “I feel bad that I shrieked and jumped under the desk when the guy from the Bogart Biweekly called my name. But he looked a little like Raylen Wilson and I didn’t want to take any chances.”

Feel free to offer your own suggestions in the comments below. And… Feel free to offer your own suggestions in the comments below. And…

Go Dawgs!!!

No, I don’t imagine this post will lead to the breakup of Dawg Sports, and no, it isn’t filled with cover songs, but yes it does take advantage of the best sports fandom in the land (Steve Vai was done dirty by that album IMHO).

So just hold on a second while we reset. /Hand to earbud to hear the producer… I’m being told the second in question has been sequestered by the Big 10 conference and utilized Saturday night to prevent another generational embarrasment by a supposed azul-blood program.

It was hot Saturday in Sanford. It will again be hot this Saturday, as the Red & Black welcome Big Red. Not as hot as the warmest opening game temperature on record, but with kickoff at 12:45 pm, it ain’t gonna get cooler as the game progresses. How to combat warm September afternoon temperatures? Wear white.

Lane Kiffin might continue to make Jim Harbaugh look like an angelic viable option, but at least he left the controversial players off his roster. If you like nuance, there’s a Georgia Bulldog who was part of the same upheld injuction: JaCorey Thomas. The former Bulldog DB filed a lawsuit and was granted an extra year of eligibility, and immediately transferred to West Virginia. He missed the first game, and still has a targeting penalty to sit out. Or does he?

You’ll have to wait another day to get the latest AP Top 25 college football rankings, as the Week 1 schedule encompasses Monday’s Labor Day games, and a ranked SMU team to boot. Will Georgia leapfrog #2 Oregon after the Ducks struggled to stay ahead of a plucky Boise State team? I think you can count on Alabama moving up a slot or two, the a$$-Kiffing of the media for LSU will surely bump the Tigers up a few slots, and that school up north likely falls out of the top 20 (or farther).

Likewise, you’ll have to wait another day for Head Bulldog Kirby Smart’s weekly pre-game press conference. Where I’m sure we will learn absolutely nothing other than there were some good performances Saturday, but practice will determine the game reps, and the visiting Hilltoppers are a very good, well-coached team.

It’s always a great day to be a Georgia Bulldog, and conversely not to be a Michigan Wolverine fan having to explain game clock technology in conjuction with media broadcast latency. Enjoy your Tuesday, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

There’s no surer sign that college football is back on the menu than Nathan and Yara putting their thoughts on the subject out into the world, now kicking off the tenth season of the show. Time flies when you’re hating Hugh Freeze, friends. And boy do the dynamic duo have some thoughts on this one, including:

• Exactly what would it take for Kalen DeBoer to get fired at Alabama?
• The mess that is college football, and hard things that would have to be done to fix it.
• Yara makes it much further than you would have expected before lighting into Mike Bobo.
• Life updates from your cohosts. Go get your health screenings, young people. It could be important.
• Oklahoma’s defense may not be enough, but it may also be too much for somebody.
• Tennessee is doing dangerous things, and that’s before Yara recommends they go into the rain forest to take psychedelics.

All that and so much more. And remember to like, rate, recommend, subscribe, adulate, and patreonize the show wherever you get your podcasts. If you don’t, we will find you and make you join Ryan Silverfield’s Arkansas staff. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There are many things to look forward to about college football season. And the return of the team at SEC Shorts skewering the conference’s football elite has to be pretty high on the list. This week the team takes a stab at how LSU might help the former NFL rostered players who have decided to come back to campus adjust to college life in Baton Rouge.

As that wise sage Dr. Sheldon Cooper was known to say, “It’s funny because it’s true.”

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

One of the Bulldogs’ most experienced defensive linemen is no longer on the roster and has left the team according to multiple reports.

Georgia senior defensive tackle Xzavier McLeod is no longer with the team. McLeod is no longer listed on the team roster on Georgiadogs.com. According to a report from Jordan Hill at Dawgs247 McLeod posted on social media last week ithat he was “done with football” and “retired.”

McLeod appeared in all 14 games last season for Georgia, making six starts. The Camden, South Carolina native posted 17 tackles, 6 quarterback pressures and 2 pass break-ups. Georgia has a host of promising defenders including sophomore Elijah Griffin, juniors Nasir Johnson and Nnamde Ogboko, and freshman Valdin Sone. Seniors Jordan Hall and Josh Horton are also in line for significant snaps (especially Hall if he can stay healthy).

But McLeod , who’s spent the past two seasons in Athens after playing as a freshman at South Carolina in 2023, playing in 29 games, looked like he was going to be a major piece of the puzzle up front for the ‘Dawgs. At a minimum his departure forces Coach Tray Scott to rely a little more on some younger Bulldogs to grow up a little quicker.

In only five days and seven hours college by God football will be played in Sanford Stadium. I’m excited about it. You’re excited about. There’s just one small problem: between now and then you have to make some effort to be a productive member of society. Sure you have work, school, and family obligations to tend to. And we want you to be a productive member of society (it’s not like you’re a Tennessee fan, though as Judge Smails wisely remarked, the world does need Dutch diggers, too).

So the plan here is to get you caught up and read in on wjat’s truly needed-to-know in Bulldog Nation this a.m. Let’s get it going:

DawgNation has a look at the Red and Black’s offensive depth chart going into Tennessee State. A few things that jump out, though none of them is particularly news if you’ve been following along this spring and summer. First, the wide receiver room is arguably as unproven as it has been during the Kirby Smart era. Isaiah Canion was certainly productive last year at Georgia Tech, and we know what London Humphreys can do.

But past that it’s just waves of potential and optimism. I’m of the opinion that a couple of those youngsters step up as the season goes on. But the degree to which Georgia is able to cultivate playmakers at the receiver position is going to be a major determinant of whether this team is pretty good or truly great.

Olivia Sayor at Dawgs247 breaks down every game on the 2026 regular season schedule It’s a great catchup if you’ve been caddying for Scottie Scheffler or touring with AC/DC this summer rather than bunkered down preparing for the season with Dawg Sports preview coverage.

Obviously some teams have already begun their seasons, in this the final year in which wacky week zero games will be played before the NCAA puts everyone on a uniform schedule. Our friends at Rocky Top Talk have some initial thoughts on the weekend that was, and I don’t think I disagree with any of them.

I do think that we may be giving Virginia a tad too much credit for beating up on an NC State team that just doesn’t look physically imposing. But looking at the Cavaliers’ schedule I’m not sure anyone other than the SMU Mustangs will be more prepared to slow down the UVA rushing attack. The ACC looks a little soft to me this season outside of Miami and Georgia Tech, both of whom the Cavaliers dodge this season. All of which could mean Virginia could be the 10-2 team that either a) misses the playoffs after taking a beating in its conference championship game, or b) backs into a playoff spot and then gets run over, around, and through in the first round.

We’ll be back with more today, and all week, as the Classic City’s pulse quickens and game day approaches. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

We’ve made it to Week 1, Dawg Nation. We can now start focusing on the product on the field rather than the courtroom (maybe). Let’s check-in around the SEC ahead of the first slate of games.

LSU and NFL Players

As many of you might be aware, LSU and head coach Lane Kiffin are recruiting players that fell victim to NFL roster cuts to come back to college. This has been met with intense backlash, and many court injunctions and legal mumbo jumbo has occurred since they announced former pros would be returning.

Conflicting reports are out there about what the SEC may do in response. Some reports suggest the other 15 schools may boycott LSU games or even expelling them from the league. Other reports say some of the other SEC schools are looking to bring in former pros.

This is such a mess, and if you have been with an NFL team, you should not be allowed to come back to college. Unless Matthew Stafford wants one more year in Athens once he retires. He can come back.

Tennessee’s Sponsor

Tennessee’s jersey patch sponsorship is confirmed as being First Horizon. The deal is for 10 years and $120 million. It’s only a matter of time before all schools have one.

2026 Bowman Chrome Checklist Announced

For those of you who are avid card collectors, the checklist for this year’s Bowman Chrome has been released. The Georgia players that will be featured are Chauncey Bowens, Dwight Phillips Jr., London Humphreys, Isaiah Canion, and Lawson Luckie.

I cannot wait to discuss what happened on the field and looking ahead to Week 2 rather than discussing the law (which is MaconDawg’s forte, not mine). Go Dawgs!!!

Welcome to the Morning Five, a quick hit of Bulldog facts to get your day started right. This morning we’re looking at five statistically-adjacent nuggets about this weekend’s Bulldog opponent, the Tennessee State Tigers. Let’s dive in.

1. Two. That’s the number of victories the Tennessee State Tigers notched last year. There are good FCS teams. Teams you genuinely need to take seriously or they will make you regret it. I do. It think these Tigers are one of those.
2. One. That is the number of games Tennessee State has already lost this season after dropping their opener last weekend to Jackson State. That said the game was close (26-24), and the Tigers do have the benefit of having laced them up and played a live action game.
3. 265. That’s the number of passing yards Tiger QB Daylin Lee had in a pretty tidy outing in the opener. Lockhart was 23 of 41 passing and didn’t throw a pick. The Winston-Salem State transfer is a sturdy 6’2, 225 and while Coach Reggie Barlow likes a run-pass option heavy attack, Lee only ran for 85 yards last season. I’m not sure he’s a huge threat on the ground.
4. 12. That’s the number of scholarship defensive tackles on the Bulldog roster following the departure of Xzavier McLeod earlier this week. And Tray Scott very well may play every single one of them on Saturday because…
5. 96. That’s the forecast temperature in Athens at kickoff time Saturday. I don’t bet on college football precisely because I watch so much of it. But if you’ve got a degenerate streak you may be interested to know that the line on Saturday’s game is Georgia -47.5, which looks like free money to me precisely because Kirby may just kneel out the 4th quarter if they let him.
   
   
   

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Yours truly is not usually the one to quickly dispel any type of medical advice.

I’m no doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

With all of that said…Saturday in Athens is going to be…rather hot.

There’s a common saying in you have plans to be outside when it comes to hydration. If you’re wondering if you are hydrated enough ahead of time, you probably aren’t.

Whatever you do to stay hydrated and get fluids – its highly advisable to do so. Liquid IV and Pedialyte will likely be in high consumption all across campus Saturday – and who knows? Maybe we can have another Georgia post-game coverage nugget about pickle juice?

Regardless – it’ll be a hot Saturday in Athens.

Say this about Elyiss Williams. If nothing else, he passes the eye test. But based on what is being trickled out of preseason camp, there may be more where that came from for the gargantuan tight end from down around Georgia’s coastal empire.

With 7 catches for 177 yards and a touchdown last year, there was flashes of what Williams could be, and one of the more intriguing things for Georgia on offense is how Williams is utilized even more.

DawgNation takes a closer look..

As Georgia fans, there is something ingrained within us to greatly dislike and mock anything having to do with Georgia Tech, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Clemson. At the same time, big kudos to the folks over on The Plains for this, something that warms the heart if you have a child with special needs in your life or know of someone that does.

I don’t know if Alex Golesh will be successful at Auburn or not. But while Jon Sumrall is at Florida getting angry about a cell phone ringtone in press conferences, Golesh is winning the ‘being a good human being’ category among the new SEC coaches.

Oh, Penn State…

Serious question – what entails the “Paterno Family Football Experience?” I’ll hang up and listen.

In soccer, the Lady Dawgs now have four shutouts on the season. Clearly, much more about this team will be learned in SEC play, but four shutouts are still four shutouts.

Go Dawgs!

It’s a big day for Dawg Sports. Today, the SB Nation app is live, and it’s the best way to follow the Bulldogs. 

You can download it by searching SB Nation for iOS or Android.

A year ago we made some big changes to our community, including offering fewer ads and the addition of the Feed. Today, we want to give you even more community tools and fewer ads with this app. It will make starting and joining conversations here as simple as posting to your favorite social media platform.

You can check out the video below showing off some of the useful features of the app, and we’ll dig into them below. 

Why should I download the app?

The app will be the easiest way to interact with everybody else in the community: 

• All your favorite teams’ posts in one dedicated feed
• Notifications when someone replies or recs your post
• New game thread section, with an  experience that’s smoother and faster
• Fewer ads
• Easily navigating between your favorite communities with a swipe

It will be the fastest way to read every post from our community.

How do I download the app?

Head over to the Apple store or the Android store to download the app. Today, the app is only available for US users.

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! And welcome to September! You know it’s game week, I know it’s game week, and the football team is likely vaguely aware as well. Things will get into a little bit of a routine, as you plan your week around attending or absorbing by Gawd Georgia Bulldog live football in just a few days.

If you’re like me, you don’t need a link to Football Head Coach Kirby Smart’s first game week press conference of the season… you watched it live because your thirst for Georgia Bulldogs football news and updated content has reached almost unquencable levels. In hopefully something that has zero relevance to on-field success, the audio production was pretty awful. Not elite. Not worthy of a CFP ranking.

AV department aside, this was a pretty predictable presser for Coach Smart. He liked the practices and scrimmages, but knows the guys are anxious to hit someone else; he thinks the team is conditioned to this weekend’s heat because they’ve had a hot fall camp, players are getting better and showing leadership, etc. etc.

I noticed he was especially effusive in his praise of tight ends Elyiss Williams and Ethan Barbour. Not really in making spectacular catches or outrunning DBs, but in blocking and toughness. Which is completely on brand for Kirby. And if you’re a fan of 13 personnel, and I know you are, you have to believe we’re going to see plenty of it this season.

There was “news” concerning players returning to college after participating in the NFL ranks. I am honestly tired of the subject, but “reporting” says “sources” are saying 15 of the 16 SEC schools are reviewing options to stop the madness. This is from the school level, not the conference level (think refusing to play an opponent who doesn’t comply with SEC rules). Yet Lane Kiffin doubles down his double-down and let’s everyone know he has the players’ blessing. Ladies & Gentlemen – I implore you.

In other fall sports news, the Georgia Women’s Soccer team got another shutout, this time against Mercer 2-0. They have one more square-off against ranked FSU before starting conference play.

Women’s Volleyball is also off to a good start, snagging 3 victories in the Classic City Clash over Furman, George Washington, and North Florida over the weekend. A big contributor is newly minted SEC Freshmen of the Week Gigi Artiles. They’ll need to continue the high level of play as they face a tough slate against top 30 teams in the SEC/Big 10 Challenge.

I don’t usually praise the Tennessee Volunteer program much, but when I do it’s for good reason. And this is the best of reasons, because she was the best of us.

Have a day, keep us up to date in the comments, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

In one of the greatest Christmas cinemas ever produced, Cousin Eddie and Clark W. Griswold touch off an underrated exchange:

“College???”

“Carnival!”

It’s a bit ironic that this exchange comes to mind, because the ongoing ‘can pro players really go back to college?“ silliness belongs in a carnival.

It, like other factors in the current state of this sport, are a clown show.

The SEC, for its part is digging in, but who knows what court order could upend that.

Saturday’s Week 0 cannot come soon enough.

Speaking of bounce-back transfers, don’t look for Kirby Smart to have an interest.

Speaking of Kirby, there was plenty else to be said by Georgia’s head coach during Tuesday’s media session. Among the highlights:

Kirby On The Mic At Practice?

“I start thinking about that [the public can hear him talking on the microphone], but by about period three, I haven’t thought about that anymore. There was no inspiration for it. It came from my voice, and I couldn’t get across what I wanted to say without being hoarse every day or having a headache. It was a better solution to a communication problem that I couldn’t get to the other end of the field with my voice. That thing [microphone] would. Personally, I think it’s overrated because some of the players can’t even hear it. Some players have headphones in, and they listen to the dots. A lot of times it’s for organization purposes when we change drills and things like that.”

How has Quintavius Johnson adjusted?

There was probably an adjustment, but who is there not an adjustment for when you come into this place? You come in and there’s big, fast, strong people who are older than you. It’s an adjustment for everybody. We like the fact that he was a Wildcat quarterback, but probably the most intriguing thing is he played ‘MIKE’ linebacker. He came at seven-on-seven, and he was an inside linebacker that dropped and played coverage in space. Most kids that have the spatial awareness to play off the ball don’t struggle to move on the ball. They might struggle with the physicality, but they don’t struggle with the instincts, knowledge and ability to communicate to make plays and adjustments. That was the case with him. He was able to pick it up really well, and he’s got the size to go with it.”

How has Isaiah Canion meshed in?

“He’s come in and blended really well. I think he was comfortable in the room because of the players on the team and having guys he played high school with and played against all his life. Just the general Georgia consensus of being a Georgia player, he’s been around it. He’s worked really hard. He’s relatively quiet, but he plays physical. He plays hard. He plays tough. He’s not afraid to go down and make hard blocks and dig people out, but he’s also got speed and athleticism to be a weapon on the perimeter. He’s had a really good, quiet camp. I’m very pleased with what he’s brought to our team. Great kid.”

On Nick Chubb:

“He’s just an incredible person and leader. I think it was more respect than it was necessarily growth. I got two years with him. His demeanor and the way he went about things and bought into what we were demanding; it was two very tough years for him. One was a bounce back from a significant injury year where we made things really hard and tough in the program, and he never questioned any of those things. I don’t know that without he and Sony [Michel] that we would get the same buy-in that they had. Just when you talk about human beings and respect for where they come from, family, name on the back of your jersey; he has tremendous respect from this organization for what he stands for and what he’s done for his hometown and this university. He’s been an incredible ambassador. To look at what he’s gone through, with those two injuries, I don’t think you can find many people that come back from those two significant injuries.”

Go Dawgs!

SB Nation wants to know: who do you think will win the SEC in 2026? Vote now at SB Nation Reacts to make your voice heard.

During 2025 Gabe Harris grew from a rotational piece into one of the most trusted players on Georgia’s defense. He started 13 games, finishing with 26 tackles, 11 solo stops, and 6.5 tackles for loss. Even better, Harris’s production built as the season progressed. Georgia’s pass rush struggled through the first eight games, managing just eight sacks as a unit, but Harris became the engine behind a turnaround down the stretch. His signature performance came against Texas, where he recorded a sack for a 9 yard loss, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 4 quarterback hurries in one of the most complete games of his career.

He also added pressure in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama and posted 2 tackles for loss against Georgia Tech. Beyond the box score, Harris earned the respect of his teammates and coaches, serving as a game captain against both Texas and Alabama on one of the greener defenses Georgia has fielded in years. Unfortunately a toe injury and surgery kept Harris out of the Playoff Quarterfinals against Ole Miss, a game in which that young UGA defense could have used him to bottle up Trinidad Chambliss.

A lot of the players on that unit have grown some and are back in 2026. Gabe Harris remains one of the defensive leaders, and may be poised to break onto the national stage.

What makes Harris dangerous is the combination of skills he brings off the edge. He has always relied on an explosive first step, the kind that lets him anticipate snap counts and beat offensive tackles before they set their feet. His length and ankle flexibility allow him to bend the corner and shrink the pocket. He also brings positional versatility, having shown he can drop into coverage on occasion, which keeps offenses honest and gives Georgia’s defensive staff more flexibility in disguising pressure. Just as important is his motor. Harris seemed to find a new gear as the season wore on in 2025, and that relentlessness is part of why his production climbed as the season progressed.

The next step for Harris in 2026, like much of the UGA front seven, is turning pressure into finished plays. He generated hurries and disruption at a high level last year, but converting more of those opportunities into sacks and tackles for loss will separate a good season from a great one. He also needs to keep adding strength at the point of attack, since he has traditionally played with more finesse than power, and SEC tackles will test that against the run. Consistency from the opening kickoff matters too. Georgia’s front was sluggish for much of the first half of last season, and Harris cannot afford another slow start if the Bulldogs want their pass rush humming from the start.

Georgia’s pass-rush picture around Harris looks different heading into 2026. The Bulldogs finished last season with only 20 total sacks, a number the staff wants to see improve significantly. CJ Allen, was a serious pass rush presence from his inside linebacker spot, but was drafted away after an All-American season. Auburn transfer Amaris Williams was expected to add depth off the edge but is now expected to miss the season following a spring knee injury.

While Elijah Griffin looks set to take a big leap forward on the interior after a strong freshman year, it’s just not possible to mount an effective pass rush without consistent pressure off the edge. Quintavius Johnson is an imposing presence and second year players like Chase Linton, Isaiah Gibson and Darren Ikinnagbon will also be a factor. But Harris as the most proven and experienced returning presence in the pass-rush group, and defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann will lean on him to set the tone for a unit that otherwise skews young.

What would a successful 2026 for Harris would look like? Staying healthy would be the first step. All indications from Kirby Smart are that Harris is ready to go after missing spring ball recovering from surgery. Past that, a jump into the 7-9 sack range, paired with double-digit tackles for loss and continued production as a run defender would do the job in my mind. Onhas already been named preseason All-SEC Third Team by both SEC media and Athlon, and building on that with a first or second-team All-SEC selection, along with All-American recognition would reflect the kind of breakout year Georgia needs from him to get its defense back among the nation’s best.

SB Nation wants to know: who do you think will win the SEC in 2026? Vote now at SB Nation Reacts to make your voice heard.

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog Fans! You’ve only got 11 more sleeps until it’s Game Day in Athens. And since no one will mind you using your corporate Claude or Copilot license to craft the most inricate and complete grocery and liquor store shopping list, you’ve got plenty of time. So let’s get warmed up with the news out of Athens and college football.

UGA defensemen Ellis Robinson IV, KJ Bolden, and Raylen Wilson have all been named to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list.

Four Bulldogs were named to the Preseason Coaches All-Southeastern Conference First Team, and 11 Bulldogs overall – more than any other school. Drew Bobo, Earnest Greene, Robinson, and Bolden got the nod for the first team, while Nate Frazier, Lawson Luckie, Dontrell Glover, Wilson and Elijah Griffin placed on the 2nd team. Gunner Stockton and Gabe Harris rounded out the selections on the 3rd team.

If you thought that was a slight to Gunner Stockton, take solace in that Stockton was also named to the Manning Award Preseason Watch List.

As the season draws near, the remaining starting quarterback competitions are dwindling. On the heels of Alabama trying to placate a 5 star QB and prevent a transfer, the Volunteers have given the reins to 5 star frosh Faizon Brandon. This of course is totally depending on if Josh Heupel can get Hendon Hooker’s name on the latest TRO out of Seveir County.

Arkansas similarly named KJ Jackson as QB1. And Jon Sumrall at Florida now has his signal caller in Aaron Philo. I think it’s a great fit, personally. Philo spent time with new UF OC Buster Faulkner at Georgia Tech, and he has the mustache of a Florida Gator. There’s a special something about him… he looks like the kinda guy who would score a TD, then spike the ball into his own plums before getting blown up by a LB.

Speaking of TROs and favorable district court rulings, word out of Argyle Nation is that Chapel Bill Belichick is sniffing around the ranks of the NFL camps for possible new enrollments. Well, most camps except the NE Patriots. With his general manager Michael Lombardi on administrative leave, and the team likely leaving for their Week 0 game in Dublin, Ireland, we’re not sure who might be doing the sniffing.

While you’ve got a bad taste in your mouth, news comes out that the folks at Ole Miss don’t trust Lane Kiffin very much. Huh.

After setting a national record for attendance at a collegiate women’s soccer game, the Bulldogs continue their winning ways with a victory over Milwaukee. The Bulldogs notched their 3rd win, are ranked (#25), and celebrated Senior Day. There might be something to this “early in the season Senior Day” thing – I think we all can appreciate giving the seniors their due and spotlight, and maybe even a little more playing time.

I hope that gets your day going. Let us know what you’re hearing in the comments, or what you’ve got planned for the first college football in 270+ days. Yet as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

It’s college football’s week 0, and while we’ve still got some time before the Bulldogs kick off, the news from elsewhere is flowing free and fast. Let’s take a quick spin around and see what’s up.

Alabama has named sophomore Keelon Russell its starting quarterback over senior Austin Mack. It isn’t a surprising outcome, as the former five star would eventually take over. But Bama fans are super stoked nonetheless.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on the other hand hasn’t named a starter, but appears to be leaning toward freshman Faizon Brandon.Heupel has been saying all the right things publicly about going with the QB who brings the right mix of maturity and leadership to the role. But deep down I think there’s something else at play: in the NIL era you can’t bring in a multi-million dollar blue chipper like Brandon and afford to sit them on the bench. It’s one reason I think Kirby Smart’s emphasis on rewarding proven upperclassmen may be the smartest strategy in the NIL era.

Lane Kiffin on the other hand isn’t so stoked about his tight end rotation, which is why he’s apparently beating the bushes of the NFL for players who are on pro rosters but could come back to college now that a judge in Colorado has decided players in the 2022 class should have a fifth year of eligibility.

Though the buried lede in this story has to be that Kiffin apparently called Todd Monken to talk about whether he could have Monken’s rookie tight end, and Monken didn’t return his call. That goes on the long list of reasons I like Todd Monken.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Ladies and gentledawgs, actual college football will be played tonight. It’s not particularly compelling football, but football nonetheless. The good news is that the offerings get better as the weekend progresses. The full (and I mean FULL) college football schedule for week zero is below. But here are each day’s high points, including as usual any SEC games of interest.

Thursday’s best matchup: You vs. Your remaining offseason honey-do list.

Truly, there is nothing of interest for most college football fans on Thursday night. The matchups are so niche that none of them are even on broadcast television , just streaming on ESPN+. But if you’re a college football degenerate like me, who stays up to watch games late into the night on ESPN+, then you probably already know which of these obscure Big South/Big Sky Conference games to watch and would sniff at my suggestions. But for real, Montana State Utah Tech might actually be, in the words of Jupiter Coyote describing Macon’s Rose Hill Cemetery, a beautiful thing in a strange way.

Friday’s best bet: Idaho vs. Cal Poly (10:00 eastern, ESPN)

“Best” may not be the appropriate word for your Friday night options. There aren’t many games, so a battle of teams that went 4-8 and finished near the bottom of the Big Sky last season is the best thing on offer. It is college football, however, and beggars can’t be choosers.

Saturday’s best bet: TCU vs North Carolina from Dublin, Ireland (noon eastern, ESPN)

The Horned Frogs are experienced on both sides of the ball and a 7.5 point favorite over Bill Belichick’s North Carolina team picked to finish near the bottom of the ACC. But the Tar Heel offense is now under the control of Bobby ““Hog Wild” Petrino, who generally does a good job of getting his offenses up and running early in the season. Add in the usual weirdness and unpredictably of an international game, and this one might actually be sort of fun. Like watching someone get bonked unexpectedly over the head with a shillelagh.

Honorable mention goes to North Carolina State versus Virginia, a matchup of teams both pegged to finish in the top third of the sprawling ACC, and both of which could actually be in the playoff discussion at midseason if the schedule breaks right. Tune in for this one and you’ll know just how overhyped that team is in five weeks.

In the evening slot you could watch Hawaii at Stanford on ACC Network if you’re a slave to convention. But trust me, you’ll have way more fun watching East Texas A&M at Mercer on ESPN. It’s the FCS spotlight kickoff game, and features a Mercer team that has made the FCS playoff two years running while doing what Mercer athletics has done reliably for two decades: periodically putting the fear of the Almighty in SEC and ACC fanbases. Looking at you, USC and Duke basketball. You as well, Auburn, Georgia, and Florida baseball.And you, Georgia Tech football.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Thursday, Aug. 27

Mercyhurst at Youngstown State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Ohio Dominican at Morehead State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Illinois at Murray State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Lafayette at Georgetown | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Gardner-Webb at Austin Peay | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Charleston Southern at Lindenwood | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Northwestern (IA) at Western Illinois | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Chattanooga at West Georgia | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
UVA Wise at Presbyterian | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Houston Christian at SE Louisiana | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Anderson (SC) at Furman | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Mississippi Valley State at Nicholls | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Southern Illinois at West Florida | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Concord at Davidson | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Arkansas at UT Martin | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
South Dakota Mines at Drake | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+
LIU at North Dakota | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Louisiana Christian at Northwestern State | 8 p.m. | ESPN+

Friday, Aug. 28

Rhode Island at Merrimack | 6 pm. | ESPN+
Colgate at Fordham | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
William & Mary at Villanova | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Idaho at Cal Poly | 10 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, Aug. 29

TCU vs. North Carolina (Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland) | 12 p.m. | ESPN
Robert Morris at Wagner | 12 p.m. | ESPN+
Fairmont State at Dayton | 12 p.m. | YouTube
Georgetown (KY) at Butler | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Central Connecticut at South Dakota | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
Lawrence Tech at Valparaiso | 2 p.m. | ESPN+
San Jose State at No. 14 USC | 3 p.m. | NBC
Alabama State vs. Southern (Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.) | 3 p.m. | ESPNU
UC Davis at Portland State | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
NC State at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
Lehigh at Holy Cross | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Washington at Northern Arizona | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
Jacksonville State at North Dakota State | 5:30 p.m. | CBSSN
Campbell at East Tennessee State | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Southeast Missouri State at Indiana State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Savannah State at South Carolina State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Bucknell at Richmond | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
VMI at Idaho State | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
The Citadel at Wofford | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Sacramento State at Eastern Michigan | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Hawai’i at Stanford | 7 p.m. | ACC Network
New Mexico State at Florida State | 7 p.m. | The CW Network
East Texas A&M at Mercer | 7 p.m. | ESPN
Monmouth at Tennessee Tech | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Abilene Christian at Lamar | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Eastern Kentucky at Western Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Samford at North Alabama | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Stephen F. Austin at McNeese | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
East Texas A&M at Mercer | 7 p.m. | ESPN
St. Francis (IL) at Illinois State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Howard vs. Alabama A&M (Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta) | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
UT Permian Basin at UT Rio Grande Valley | 8 p.m. | ESPN+
Jackson State at Tennessee State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN+
Prairie View A&M at Tarleton State | 9 p.m. | ESPN2
Southern Utah at Montana | 9 p.m. | ESPN+
Memphis at UNLV | 10 p.m. | FOX
Montana State at Utah Tech | 10 p.m. | ESPN+

Missouri tailback Ahmad Hardy had one of the best rushing seasons in Mizzou history in 2025, setting a program single-season rushing record with 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns while recording seven 100-yard rushing games and a healthy 6.44 yards per carry. In the process he became just the sixth player in SEC history to rush for 300 yards in a single game in an 49-27 victory over Mississippi State.

Hardy also led the nation in yards after contact, and perhaps most jaw-dropping averaged 7.10 yards per carry in the second half of games, perennially getting stronger as the game wore on. His breakout season earned him consensus All-America honors, including First Team recognition from the AP, Walter Camp Foundation, AFCA, and Sporting News,. And he was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award.

Preseason expectations remain sky-high for the 5’10, 206 pound junior. Hardy was voted to the 2026 Preseason All-SEC First Team, cementing his status as the top running back in the conference, and probably the nation

In a perfect world Ahmad Hardy would probably be the top player on this list. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world. Hardy is recovering from an offseason gunshot wound sustained while attending a concert in his hometown, but the official line from Columbia remains that Hardy will be ready to suit up for Missouri in 2026. Tiger coach Eliah Drinkwitz conceded recently however that Hardy won’t be available for Mizzou’s opener, and he’s not 100% certain when this season Hardy will return.

I expect he will be back by the time Missouri comes to Sanford Stadium on November 14th. But will he be 100%? I’m not entirely certain. Even if he isn’t, Hardy is a big, tough back who sheds tacklers and keeps the Tiger offense out of bad situations by being hard to take down in the backfield. Without him the Black and Gold aren’t quite the same team. But if he’s back and rested up when the team comes to Athens Hardy may be one of the two best tailbacks Georgia faces all season.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Are you in favor of sustained touchdown drives that break the will of defenses and run clock like a late night filibuster?

Are you in favor of strict limits on the number of Florida Gators who can be imported north of Valdosta, and by “strict limits” do you mean “absolutely zero”?

And can Kirby Smart count on you to take part in any roll call votes on third down in Sanford Stadium this fall? Then have we got a midterm election ticket for you:

Our good friends at BreakingT’s have just come out with a new line of game day shirts showcasing the one political ticket that can count on all our votes.

Like all BreakingTs products this Stockton/Frazier shirt is officially licensed by Georgia’s NIL Player program, something not every teeshirt company out there on Ray Goff’s internet can say.

Your Georgia Bulldogs BreakingTs product is also designed and printed in the USA, and comes with free returns and exchanges. You can’t go wrong.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

In a way, Georgia is playing up this whole “White Out” concept perfectly.

In encouraging fans to wear white against Western Kentucky, the Bulldogs may be in line to use the Western Kentucky game as a perfect tune up for the Oklahoma game.

But while Kirby and company focus on that, Georgia fans will be trying to defeat one of the longest odds of the tailgate scene across the American South.

BBQ vs. Clothing.

After all, Tim McGraw was not exaggerating it when he sang the line about ‘a BBQ stain on my white t-shirt.“

It’s almost a fact of life – if you have a light-colored shirt on during your tailgate, odds are very good that you may as well be wearing a magnet attracting anything with sauce on it to make its way to tarnish your game day attire. It’s a scientific fact. I can’t prove that, but just take our word for it.

Then again, when you are a purveyor of BBQ like many of us are, you just accept the loss of a handful of pulled pork as part of the experience…as long as your favorite game day shirt is not ruined.

It could be worse. Georgia could be dealing with another type of white out…

So, if you have hard Georgia baseball broadcasts, you have an idea of what Georgia’s football broadcasts will be with Jeff Dantzler on the call. And if you have heard his post-game call-in alongside Kevin Butler, you have an even better idea.

And though the GameDay broadcast likely won’t have an impromptu call-in by “Macho Man,” there is a tease of what to expect on Saturdays…

In this NIL era, Georgia’s approach still looks to be spending what it needs to do what it wants, and not gashing open Scrooge McDuck’s vault for the sake of doing so.

It’s obviously a thin line. At some point, a breaking line will arrive. And once fans are tapped out enough, it’s hard to get them to come back. And they don’t forget the reasons that they chose to leave – see NASCAR.

For now, UGA’s mindset appears to be spending what it needs and not doing so for the sake of outspending just to say it did it. That works well for now, but if another year or two comes and goes minus a CFP win for this program, the NIL well may be tapped again…as long as there’s enough kicked in time after time of asking.

Go Dawgs!

Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! We’re not in mid-season form yet, but we are in full pads and live hitting. There’s a few new wrinkles in the playbook we haven’t installed, but the vanilla packages are getting nailed down and ready for game action.

You’ve seen the Coaches Preseason poll, which is like when the El Sombrero waitstaff drop off chips and salsa at your table. Now you’ve got the AP Preseason poll, akin to the same waitstaff bringing out the queso: much better, but everyone is dipping into it and you won’t get enough. We have some months until the CFP rankings – sizzling fajitas alongside the 2nd pitcher of margs sauntering through the throngs of drooling cheapskates who ordered ACP.

Tex-Mex aside, there aren’t glaring differences between these canapés. The Bulldogs come in at #3 behind the loaded rosters at an Ohio State and Oregon. Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, and Miami round out the top 7. So while UGA is the highest ranked SEC team, they and the Horns Downs are the only SEC teams ranked that high, and also the only two of those seven NOT to receive any first place votes. Even the Beckless Hurricanes received a vote for #1. Is that SEC fatigue? The blatant ESPN-led Big 10 bias? I don’t know, better ask Mr. Owl.

Who else might feel disrespected? The #6 Hoosiers, who (probably) have never been ranked this high before the autumnal equinox. Did they complete a perfect championship season a scant 7 months ago? Sure. Did they land a good high school recruiting class, and bring in transfers to replace key losses? Absolutely. So not being ranked in the top 3, much less #1 slot is anothe sign of disrespect, eh? Their angst, their perceived slight, their social media frustration for this meaningless ranking is misplaced. Remember that every team above them has a returning starter at quarterback, and they brought in a gunslinger who throws more picks than Carson Beck at a big away SEC game. And in terms of votes, Indiana is closer to the #2 ranking than current #2 Oregon is to #1. So just relax, will ya?

And if they’re still mad, maybe complain to the Athletic Department in Bloomington. Because all these other schools, plus a few more are spending over $40 million on their roster. The Bulldogs, according to #sources, were just under that mark.

Some of that money is Athens is no doubt directed to sophomore DB Ellis Robinson IV and senior signal caller Gunner Stockton. Both valuable returners to Kirby Smart’s 2026 squad, and now both on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watchlist.

That should get your Tuesday going. Thanks for staying with us, or tuning back in, or picking us up for the first time. We’re glad you’re here and will enjoy the season alongside you. Enjoy your day, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

We’re less than three weeks from kickoff, and thoughts are turning to football more and more frequently. Last year, I tried to get ahead of some of the narratives we could expect to follow the team throughout the season. Here now is another batch of stories that we’re likely to hear a lot of this fall. 

Offense Intended? 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s nice to get a half week off in what would otherwise be a dreary time of year, football is reaching its peak, and you get to eat a 4,000 calorie meal in the middle of the day and nobody even politely clears their throat to suggest you shouldn’t be going back for seconds. 

The highlight of the holiday for me is cooking the turkey. A few years ago, I was gifted a Thanksgiving cooking class, at which I learned about spatchcocking. If you’ve never done this before, I can’t recommend it enough; you get a bird with perfectly crispy skin without drying out the meat. After I spatchcock the bird, I cover it in a mayo and spice rub to crisp up the outside and flavor it. Each year, I tinker with the spices a bit.

The point here, other than I wanted to say spatchcock, is that this is remarkably similar to another fall tradition: complaining about the Georgia offense. The specific flavor is different, but the overall idea is the same. Perhaps the issue will be Mike Bobo or Carson Beck, but the thrust is that Georgia’s offense isn’t working properly.

The 2024 team felt extremely inert on offense. That’s likely because the team had regressed more than a full touchdown from the previous year, dropping from 40.1 points per game to 32.6. I felt like last year’s offense was much better, so imagine my surprise when I was investigating the stats for this article. The 2025 team was a little worse in points per game (32.1) and passing yardage (Gunner Stockton had 2,894 to Beck’s 3,485). Perhaps I’m alone in feeling this way, but I thought last year’s offense was much more dynamic. I was even shocked to see Zachariah Branch ended the year with fewer yards than Arian Smith the year before.

So the good news is there’s definite room for improvement on what already feels like a solid base. The Dawgs have continuity at both quarterback and OC, and I will not worry about the run game until there’s a reason I have to. But it’s time once again to wonder who’s going to be catching the passes. I don’t think a Smart-led Georgia is ever going to employ a heavy vertical passing attack, but you do need that club in your bag, especially if you plan to win anything of note. Sometimes you have to stretch the field (see the 2023 Peach Bowl for evidence). 

Last year, Branch was Stockton’s favorite target, but he’s in Atlanta now. Who’s going to replace him? London Humphreys is the leading returning receiver. Talyn Taylor was a four-star and has a year of experience under his belt now. Transfer Isiah Canion has a ton of potential as well. But I’m most excited to see Elyiss Williams and Kaiden Prothro at tight end. If ever there were a tight-end pairing to rival Darnell Washington and Brock Bowers, this is it. With Stockton’s mobility, I expect to see a fair amount of 12 personnel. Throw Lawson Luckie in there for 13, and the red zone offense looks awfully hard to stop.

Beyond the receivers, the other big question mark is the offensive line. Phil Rauscher is taking over for Stacey Searels. Rauscher brings experience coaching o-line in the NFL (assuming you count Minnesota and Jacksonville), so he shouldn’t have to get up to speed. But between the new coach and new personnel, there’s bound to be an adjustment period. The schedule is favorable here, with two warmup games before a weaker SEC opponent to ease into things, but you’d hope to see the line gelling early.

All that is to say, I am not that worried about the offense. And I plan to use blackening spices this year. 

Cry Havoc, and Let Slip the Dawgs of War

It would be unfair to say the defense was bad last year. The 2025 edition of the Georgia Bulldogs gave up just a shade over 17.5 points per game. Only three teams managed to score three or more touchdowns against the Dawgs, and one of those (Mississippi State) did so in garbage time. The others were Tennessee and both Ole Miss games.

Despite the overall successes on defense, there was one notable weak point on that side of the ball: the pass rush. Last year’s defense ended the season with just 20 sacks for the year, the lowest total ever for a Kirby Smart-led Georgia team. (The next lowest was 2018 with 24.) It was one of just three times (along with ’18 and 2016) in which the defense failed to tally at least 30 sacks.

Nowhere was this deficiency more pronounced than in the Sugar Bowl. No matter how many guys got into the backfield, they couldn’t get Trinidad Chambliss on the ground. Georgia didn’t sack him once that night and only ended the game with three tackles for loss overall. Against an explosive offense, you absolutely have to generate negative plays to disrupt their momentum.

There aren’t that many quarterbacks at Chambliss’s level. But beating playoff-caliber teams is going to require a much more aggressive pass rush than we saw last year. The upside here is that I absolutely trust Smart to solve this problem, and I’m willing to bet the down year was a statistical aberration. But I’d love to see evidence of that early this season, even if it’s against lesser competition.

Postseason Homesick Blues

Speaking of the playoffs, are you aware that Georgia has won the SEC two years in a row, only to get bounced in its first playoff game? If you somehow aren’t, you’re about to be because that’s going to come up with blood-boiling frequency this year. The implication is that the Georgia dynasty is over, and the aura of invincibility has faded.

The back half of Mark Richt’s tenure — a run of success that most teams would love to have — was overshadowed by accusations of his inability to “win the big one.” Only the most deranged anti-Georgia partisan could possibly argue that Kirby Smart has a similar problem. Speaking personally, the worst of my football-induced agita permanently fled when Kelee Ringo broke the plane in Lucas Oil. But there is an easy narrative to reach for here, and sports shouters have a lot of hours to fill. 

Under Kirby Smart, Georgia is experiencing the best run of football in the school’s history. Imagine telling yourself in 2006 about this period. But that success is a double-edged sword. Especially in the big playoff era, just making the field isn’t going to be enough. And while I’m old enough to still care about the SEC Championship, even that doesn’t hold the luster it once did. 

For the record, I believe Smart has at least one more championship season in him. And I hope it’s this one.

Fall may not be in the air in Georgia, but I swear on Steve Spurrier’s five iron that college football is right around the corner. And that means there’s some genuine football news out on the wires. Let’s take a quick stroll through the high points before you hit the door to do lesser non-football things.

Kirby Smart talked yesterday about a wide variety of subjects including Saturday’s scrimmage (some good, some meh), Drew Bobo’s health (fantastic), the chances of Cole Speer returning for a fifth season to bolster a young receiving corps (potentially maybe?), Juan Gaston (trying to improve every day), Cortez Smith (trying to improve every day), and the nice lady who makes the pastries in the cafeteria (she’s trying to improve every day).

Actually I made that last one up, but I’m pretty sure Kirby was thinking it. The danishes are good, but not yet great.But I also think the thing Kirby isn’t saying but may be thinking is that this Bulldog defense could be very, very good. That may explain some of the offense

In preseason award news, the Red and Black placed eleven players on the Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC list, including four on the first team, and three offensive linemen overall. That and a dollar will get you a quarter of a cup of coffee (inflation, amirite?) but still, it’s a reminder that this squad is loaded with proven talent.

Finally, a hearty congratulations to legendary Bulldog Loran Smith, who’s being inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame. It’s a long overdue honor for one of Wrightsville’s best and one of the most passionate Dawgs out there. I just hope that Charles Grant is able to make the induction ceremony and brings the peanuts. Now go attack the day.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

A sweltering week in Memphis didn’t shake up the PGA Tour playoff race much, but a few things did stand out.

Scottie Scheffler has a $100 million dollar swing. It looks like he’s drunk, but it is hard to think of someone in the last 60 years who produces more consistent results. And if he’s putting well, like he did last week, he’s pretty much untouchable.

TPC Southwind is a great track. Once it got firm and bouncy into the weekend, it was confounding the best players in the world. Almost no one figured out a good strategy off the tee, and the rough was truly penal.

Only a single player moved into the top 50 and advanced to this week. The bigger points available were supposed to provide volatility – not at the crazy levels of the first FedEx playoffs, but it really failed to provide much drama. The little drama was unfortunately by former UGA golfer Keith Mitchell. Speaking of which, here’s how the 5 Classic City Canines fared:

Brian Harman began the week in the 65 spot meaning he needed a top 5 finish to move up at least 15 spots in the playoffs. He was making noise with a Friday 64, yet his putter wouldn’t cooperate, he couldn’t convert when he game himself chances, and a Sunday 75 means he’s heading back home to SEGA.

Harris English was on the outside of the bubble and was doomed by a 75 Friday. His Sunday 67 was one of the better rounds of the day, but he was several shots short of slipping inside the top 50. So his season is over, but with a chance to improve his position during the Fall events.

Keith Mitchell started at 49th, and hung on the line all week. He needed birdie on the 72nd hole to secure his playoff berth, but his drive ran through the fairway and on the lip of the water. A shoeless, rolled up pants attempt to save his season was doomed when his approach came up short and the slope took it into the water. He’s in the same boat as English.

Sepp Straka was another former Bulldog who slipped a couple of places in the FedEx rankings, but since he started in 37th place, his T34 in Memphis means he’s still 39th in the playoffs and will tee it up this week. But he likely needs a top 10, or very close to it, in order to get inside the top 30 and continue his season next week.

Russell Henley was well positioned at 15th in the playoffs so he knew he was safe. Hopefully he used Memphis to work on a few things, stay hydrated, and crafting a strategy for East Lake. He is in 14th place this week – a virtual lock to advance to the Tour Championship next week. But there is still many millions to play for this week so we might as well preview it:

Tournament: BMW Championship, August 20-23, 2026

Course: Bellerive Country Club, par 70, 7,448 yards. On the western outskirts of St. Louis, MO.

Purse: $20 million in total for 50 players, with 3.6 million to the winner and $68k for finishing DFL.

Defending Champ: Scottie Scheffler. It was more of a close-run thing, but he birdied the 71st hole to give himself a cushion and grabbed his 5th title of the year.

TV Times: Only 50 players, but this gets more coverage than Brent Musberger on AJ McCarron’s special someone. Thursday and Friday 10 am – 12 pm ET on ESPN, then 3-6 pm ET on Golf Channel. GC will pick up the early broadcast Saturday and Sunday from 12 – 2 pm ET, then CBS carries you home both days.

‘Dawgs in the Field: Just two – Russell Henley (14) and Sepp Straka (39).

Enjoy, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

This evening I a heartfelt social media posting former Bulldog great Nick Chubb announced his retirement after eight NFL seasons.

The Ground Hound from Cedartown was of course one of the defining players of the Kirby Smart era at Georgia, helping lead the Bulldogs to their first national title game appearance in over 30 years in 2017. And his NFL career showed real promise, with four consecutive Pro Bowl appearances between 2019 and 2022.

But injuries from both his college and NFL careers eventually caught up with him. Truth be told eight seasons is actually a long career for an NFL tailback, and St. Nick was seriously productive when he was on the field as a pro, much as he had been in college. Chubb finishes his career with 7349 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns on the ground, numbers that are each third all-time in Browns history behind Cleveland greats Leroy Kelly and Jim Brown.Chubb’s rushing yardage total also places him 67th all-time on the NFL rushing yards list, not a bad achievement by any stretch.

Now at 30 Chubb moves on to life after football, which I expect him to excel at with the same mix of toughness and talent he exhibited so often between the chalk lines. Our sincere congratulations on a great career, and whatever comes next, for a Damn Good ‘Dawg.

When you think for a few moments, historic moments in the history of Sanford Stadium quickly come to mind.

The Herschel vs. George Rogers Show in 1980, Kevin Butler’s kick to beat Clemson, the goalposts coming down after Tennessee, the 2007 Blackout Game, the Notre Dame game…the Tech instant classic.

Those are all iconic, no doubt. But after Thursday night, the Georgia football program has company by way of UGA’s women’s soccer program.

Not only did soccer return to Sanford Stadium on Thursday with a 6-0 win against James Madison, but the number of people that saw it set a massive record. An NCAA record 25,433 fans that included 500 UGA student-athletes were on hand for the memorable night.

That last part is important. Games likes this don’t happen on accident. The fact that this had been talked up around Athens for a few months made it clear that this was a huge deal…and even in the weeks approaching, that energy was boosted by UGA President Jere Morehead and head football coach Kirby Smart.

It’s simple, folks. When Kirby talks, people around Athens listen. And the number of fans part of Thursday night showed many of them did indeed listen.

“This doesn’t happen simply because we had the idea. It happens because everybody involved jumps on two feet and makes it go. This was a major win for the University of Georgia, it was a major win for our program, it was a major win for collegiate soccer, and we had an opportunity to celebrate one of the best moments in women’s soccer ever that I think is the catalyst for us being here right now. So, I have to show gratitude to all of those people, including those women, that kind of set this thing rolling.” – Georgia head coach Keidane McAlpine

Clearly, this was a huge night for the soccer program, too. Odds are good many fans here, including UGA students were at their first Georgia soccer match. There’s an adage among sports marketing that if you get a fan to a sport in person once, they can become a life-long fan. For the Lady Dawgs’ sake, the hope is clearly that Thursday is a long-term win for this team ranked 25th in the country.

The next question of course, is what’s next at Sanford? Some “banana ball” enthusiasts would likely ask for that traveling circus, but how does that raise the profile of UGA student-athletes?

But why not moving the Tech-Georgia baseball series to Sanford Stadium? Can you imagine baseball on a chamber of commerce day Between The Hedges?

Go Dawgs!

Auburn underwent a coaching change, and as is usually the case these days lost a wave of talent to the transfer portal this offseason as a result. One Plainsman who chose to stay was Xavier Atkins, who announced his return before spring practice even began. His 2025 season was one of the best individual defensive performances in the SEC, finishing with 84 total tackles (good for fourth in the SEC) and leading the league in tackles for loss with 17. He also added 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception, the pick coming in the fourth quarter of a loss at Texas A&M.

Atkins enters 2026 as a First Team Preseason All-SEC selection from Athlon Sports and has been recognized as a Second Team All-America honoree, a Chuck Bednarik Award Semifinalist, and a Walter Camp Award watch list selection. He was also honored as a national defensive player of the week for his performance against Arkansas last season, a testament to how disruptive he can be even against physical offensive lines.

For Georgia, Atkins represents perhaps the single biggest problem on an otherwise rebuilding Auburn roster. A linebacker who led the SEC in tackles for loss has the ability to play in the opponent’s backfield, and Atkins also showcases the range to make plays sideline to sideline. His ability to both blitz off the edge and drop into coverage makes him difficult to scheme around. Georgia’s running backs and offensive line will need to identify him pre-snap on every play, because he has proven capable of blowing up a run before it starts or getting home on a delayed rush the protection didn’t account for.

When Kirby Smart was asked after the G-Day game how a true freshman had earned a starting spot on the offensive line, his answer was simple: Zykie Helton earned it over 14 spring practices. That kind of praise from a head coach known for making players prove themselves speaks volumes about what Zykie Helton means to the Bulldogs heading into the 2026 season.

Helton arrives in Athens with a story that goes well beyond football. He entered foster care at age nine before finding a permanent home with his fourth-grade teacher, Kimberly Perry, and her family. He would become a standout at powerhouse Carrollton High, growing into a four-year starter on both sides of the ball. Ahe also managed Crohn’s disease, and Crohn’s disease, and overcame two knee injuries as a junior before becoming one of the most sought after offensive line prospects in the nation.That he has since built himself into a 6-foot-3, 300-pound interior lineman says as much about his determination as it does about his talent.

His recruiting journey was just as winding. Helton originally committed to Alabama, only to back off that pledge after Nick Saban’s retirement. Georgia, led by offensive line coach Stacy Searels, never stopped recruiting him, and that persistence paid off when Helton signed with the Bulldogs over Florida State and Georgia Tech. He has spoken about the bond he built with Smart and Searels throughout the process. In this era of college football, a player focused on relationships is a throwback.

Now that relationship is translating directly to the field. Helton enrolled early and immediately turned heads in spring practice. Senior linebacker Raylen Wilson singled him out before the pads even went on, and once contact drills began, junior outside linebacker Quintavius Johnson compared Helton’s physicality to that of Dontrell Glover, the sophomore who started as a true freshman in 2025.

That comparison matters, because it points to exactly why Helton is so important this season.

Georgia has made a habit lately of trusting true freshmen up front, and last year’s gamble on Glover and Juan Gaston paid off in a big way. The Bulldogs ran for 182.1 yards per game and scored 32.1 points per contest with those two in the lineup. Smart and new offensive line coach Phil Rauscher are now betting that Helton, penciled in at right guard after spring practice, can provide a similar spark. Given the trust the coaching staff has already shown him, that bet looks like a reasonable one.

What makes Helton particularly valuable is his versatility. His high school tape showcases a player who can pull and lead on screens, fire off down blocks to open running lanes, and anchor in pass protection against edge pressure. That combination of athleticism and power is exactly what Georgia’s scheme demands from its interior linemen.

For a Georgia team that brings back a lot of talent and experience in the trenches and looks to keep its rushing attack humming, Helton represents continuity of a winning formula. He is looks like the next in a series of freshman linemen to step in and start immediately. If he plays anywhere close to the level his teammates are already praising, Helton will not just be a rotational piece. He will be a foundational part of an offensive line that Georgia is counting on to control the line of scrimmage in 2026 and beyond.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The 2026 PGA Tour regular season is now over and done, and the short post-season now begins. Let’s take a quick peek at how the former Bulldogs playing professional golf fared in Greensboro last week.

Sepp Straka started in 37th place in the FedEx Cup points race, missed the cut at the Wyndham, and starts the 70 man playoff field still in 37th.

Harris English started Wyndham in 49th place, also missed the cut, and fell to 51st… still eligible for the first playoff event.

Brian Harman was 63rd, missed the cut, and fell dangerously to 65th.

Chris Kirk started 127th, was well positioned going into the weekend, but closed 71-71 to T72, which means he actually fell to 128th in points and his season is over (until the Fall events).

Keith Mitchell began the Wyndham in the 47 spot, made the cut on the number, shot 4 under on the weekend, got a T38, but still fell to 51st in FedEx.

And Davis Thompson, the ‘Dawg most likely to jump into the top 70 and the playoffs, played according to plan. An opening 64 followed by a Friday 68 put him in prime position. Saturday’s 65 left him first page of the leaderboard and a projected 68-69 in points, but his closing 71 dropped him into a tie for 14th. Which equates to 77th in FedEx, and only about 6 strokes out of getting into the playoffs. But onward and upward for the Classic City boys who did qualify.

Tournament: FedEx St. Jude Championship, August 13-11, 2026

Course: TPC Southwind, par 70, 7,288 yards. On the southeastern outskirts of Memphis, just past Germantown.

Purse: $20 million in total for 70 players, with 3.6 million to the winner and $41k for finishing DFL.

Defending Champ: Justin Rose. The Englishman with the most prototypical English face ever matched JJ Spaun after 72 holes, and defeated Spaun on the 3rd playoff hole.

TV Times: Golf Channel has 2-6 pm ET Thursday and Friday, and 1-3 pm ET on the weekend. CBS is still broadcasting golf, and takes over Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm ET. And if you stream, the ESPN app has live coverage all day from 7:45 am – 6 pm ET each day during the playoffs.

“Dawgs in the Field: 5.

The goal is to survive and advance. Players are seeded based on their points ranking during the regular season. The points are juiced in the playoff events in order to create volatility. So while this week starts with the top 70, only the top 50 after this week get to play the BMW Championship next week. From there, only the top 30 move on to the Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta.

Brian Harman – 65th: The wee lefty likely needs at least a tie for 8th this week in order to move inside the top 50.

Harris English- 51st: While there are thousands upon thousands of scenarios, Harry probably needs top 30 to move up a couple of spots to advance.

Keith Mitchell – 49th: mathematically only has to get 68th in Memphis to keep his spot, but I would be looking for better.

Sepp Straka – 37th: already inside the top 30, but it is possible for the 13 guys behind him, and a dozen more, to jump him this week. So a top 50 or better to be safe.

Russelll Henley – 15th: again, he looks to be safe all the way to Atlanta. But with the increased points available, and a jammed up board between 15th and 30th, you best play good and scare a top 10 to ensure making it to the finals. Yet he is almost guaranteed to play next week even if he doesn’t finish this week.

So we’ve got some drama and intrigue on the course, even if you need to be a golf nerd to feel it. It’s real enough for these guys, as the ramifications for your status next year could be entry to majors, signature events, and a couple million dollars in your pocket. Enjoy the golf, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Head-to-head, Gunner Stockton got the best of Arch Manning and Trinidad Chambliss last year in the regular season.

But you’d hardly know it from a lot of the preseason chatter. Thing is…that may suit Georgia just fine.

Granted, we’re in the final part of the offseason where you need stuff to talk about, such as the concept of how much should it even matter how NFL-ready a college quarterback is before the current season even begins.

That’s were this vignette via Dawgnation about Stockton comes into play from an anomymous SEC defensive coordinator to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.

“He’s tough, so he can get some bull yards and take some big hits and all that stuff. I really like him, he’s a really good player. I don’t know if he’s an NFL specimen, but he’s a great college player.”

Here’s a quick newsflash: How good of an NFL prospect someone is – that’s nice to “go on the ‘gram” as the kids say, but it pales in terms of helping you win football games. Georgia has played a handful of quarterbacks the last few years in Will Levis, Anthony Richardson and Mitch Trubisky, all of whom did little to impress…but NFL GMs disagreed, and that’s just fine. Do you think Gator fans care that Tim Tebow didn’t translate well to the NFL? The likely answer is no.

Gunner Stockton may be polarizing…his play toward the end of last year indeed draws concern…but his exactly perfect for that this Georgia team needs, on and off the field.

Not sure I saw it coming with Florida doing a callback to Bill Stanfill wrecking its hopes and dreams in 1966, but it is appreciated, for sure.

Go Dawgs!

As we gear up for another year of SEC football, let’s take a look around the conference and see what the field looks like. Below, I’ve broken all sixteen teams into four power tiers based on their returning production and likelihood of contending for a playoff spot. 

Tier 1: Playoff Contenders

Depending on the breaks, you can anticipate the SEC getting four or five teams into the playoff. The four teams in the top tier are the likeliest to compete for the league championship and make the playoff field. 

Georgia

The Dawgs emerged from SEC media days as the favorite to win the SEC. Even if you’re not a fan, the voters’ bullishness makes sense: Georgia is defending back-to-back conference titles, returns an experienced quarterback, and is one of only four teams in the NCAA whose coach has won a national championship. Few teams are as safe a bet for playoff contention as UGA. To wit, Georgia has lost 10 conference games in the last nine seasons. 

Still, there will be some questions at receiver and offensive line, and you’d hope to see more havoc on defense. The schedule is tough, with trips to Tuscaloosa and Oxford both looking risky. But the expectation in Athens is to be playing meaningful football in January, and anything less will be a letdown.

Texas

Year Two of the Arch Manning experience will get underway with expectations still sky-high despite a disappointing 2025 campaign. Is Arch massively overhyped, or did he suffer last year from a weak offensive line, unimpressive receivers, and a nonexistent running game? Prize transfer Cam Coleman is here in part to answer that question.

Of the teams in the top tier, Texas might have the widest range of possible outcomes. If Manning pops, he’s a Heisman contender and Texas should compete for the national championship. If he flops, it’s a bowl-season trip to Shreveport and Steve Sarkisian is probably getting a pink slip. Maybe the biggest reason for pessimism amongst Longhorn fans is the brutal. Regular season games against Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss, plus road tests in Knoxville, Baton Rouge, and College Station are all loseable. If Sark wants another season in Austin, he’s going to have to find a way to win most of those. 

Ole Miss

Somehow Ole Miss got good? I’m as surprised as you are! But they’re bringing back one of the best quarterbacks in the SEC in Trinidad Chambliss, alongside All-SEC running back Kewan Lacy. The personnel should ease the team’s transition to a defensive-minded head coach and new offensive coordinator.

Speaking of that head coach, we’ll have to see if Pete Golding’s playoff run was a fluke or a sign that Ole Miss can sustain this level of success under the new administration. The Rebs’ trip to play LSU in week three is preseason appointment viewing for narrative reasons alone, and it’s also one of four possible losses, along with games against Texas, Oklahoma, and UGA. If Oxford is really turning into a hot spot, Golding will need to split those four at a minimum.

Texas A&M

A&M’s playoff run last year suggests they finally made the right hire in Mike Elko. Then again, their late-season swoon makes me wonder if there’s something innate to the A&M ecosystem that refuses to allow the team’s fans joy. Curse or not, they’ve got explosive QB-WR combo Marcel Reed and Mario Craver coming back, and Elko’s teams always field a reliably stout defense. I’d say they’re primed for regression, but a slightly more favorable schedule (the road game against Bama will be tough, but they get the Horns at home) means they have a pretty good shot to get back to the playoffs. 

Tier 2: Tossups 

The teams in this tier have some questions to answer, but at least one of them will probably make the playoff field. 

Oklahoma

Oklahoma rode a fierce defense and a good-enough offense to a surprise playoff appearance last season, the highlight of which was winning in Tuscaloosa. It seems like things are getting early late for Brent Venables’ tenure in Norman, so he better pull another rabbit out of his hat this year. On the plus side, quarterback John Mateer is back for another run. On the other hand, he might not really be all that good. They have to play Michigan in Ann Arbor and us in Athens, and I doubt they’ll be favored in Red River. Still, of the teams in this tier, I’d bet on Oklahoma over the others thanks to fewer personnel questions.

Alabama

The old saying about death, taxes, and the Tide is looking less true by the day, but you should still keep paying your accountant. Kalen DeBoer, who’s always making a face like he’s just been informed the casino can’t extend his credit line further, is not endearing himself to the locals after two disappointing-by-Bama-standards seasons. Will this be the year he sorts it out? Well, the Tide lost Ty Simpson to the draft, and they still haven’t settled on a new starting quarterback yet. Austin Mack was supposed to be the next man up, but redshirt freshman Keelon Russell has been pushing for the starter spot. Perhaps of greater concern is wideout Ryan Coleman-Williams, whose sophomore campaign was a major disappointment for the Tide. But I’ve been nervous about going back to Tuscaloosa since I saw the schedule, so the mystique isn’t all gone.

LSU

LSU entered last season with national championship hype and ended up firing Brian Kelly before Thanksgiving. Fortunately, they replaced that dour, pouty, unlikeable blowhard with…uh…a dour, pouty, unlikeable blowhard who does yoga. They also added quarterback Sam Leavitt from Arizona State, who should theoretically benefit from Kiffin’s tutelage. I’m sure LSU fans are thrilled to see the Kiffin era begin, but let’s remember that he’s never coached in a playoff game and he generally leaves his jobs fleeing an angry mob with torches and pitchforks. After the spectacle he made of himself last winter, nobody’s going to be inclined to take it easy on him here either. 

Tennessee 

Josh Heupel has stabilized what had become a toxic and dysfunctional Tennessee program, but he hasn’t been able to get all the way over the hump yet. He hasn’t managed a conference title or a playoff win, though the Vols did make the 2024 field. As of now, the Heupel Vols are high floor, low ceiling absent a highly effective quarterback like Hendon Hooker. With a true freshman likely to start under center, the Vols probably aren’t going back to the playoffs this year. 

Tier 3: Disaster Avoiders

The third tier of teams should mostly focus on bowl eligibility. It’s not impossible that one of these four could catch lightning in a bottle and make a surprise playoff run, but they all have serious questions pre-season. Mostly, they’re aiming for six wins and a bowl berth.

South Carolina

The 2024 edition of the Gamecocks overachieved thanks to a surprising breakout season from quarterback LaNorris Sellers, but last year’s squad collapsed and went 4-8. Sellers struggled some with injuries, and would-be stud Nyck Harbor still hasn’t delivered on his potential. Their losses last year ranged from humiliating (getting shellacked 31-7 by Vanderbilt at home) to gut-wrenching (blowing a 27-point lead against A&M) and dried up the reservoir of goodwill Shane Beamer had earned. He enters this season with the hottest seat in the SEC, and he’s going to need a great season, and maybe even a playoff appearance, to be safe. How likely is that? Well, when Sellers is good, he looks like the number one overall draft pick. But it’s hard to see him carrying this team past seven or eight wins. 

Missouri

Eli Drinkwitz has spent most of his time as Missouri’s head coach trying to get any other job he can. He (or his agent) gets floated for every opening, up to and including the assistant manager job at your local Costco. But he’s two seasons removed from his last legitimately good team, and it’s hard to imagine this edition will be the one that gets him back to the top of anyone’s list. Beau Pribula took his talents to Virginia, so the Tigers brought in Austin Simmons from Ole Miss at quarterback. Simmons is a dynamic athlete, but he lost his job last year to a D-II transfer, which might raise an eyebrow or two. The Tigers’ most potent offensive threat is running back Ahmad Hardy, who shouldn’t miss too much time after he was shot this offseason. But with games against Texas, A&M, Georgia, and Oklahoma, the schedule is a gauntlet. Simmons would have to flourish for Mizzou to get more than seven or eight wins.  

Florida

Since Urban Meyer slinked out of Gainesville to go back to his first love of terrorizing Whoville, the Gators have cycled through four coaches. They’re breaking in a new coach again, having replaced Billy Napier with Jon Sumrall, a guy whose resume is…a lot like Billy Napier. Florida is getting a little bit of dark horse playoff buzz, but that seems wildly unlikely in year one of a new administration. Complicating things more for Sumrall, he’ll be breaking in a new quarterback, most likely Georgia Tech transfer Aaron Philo. And outside of another former Engineer, receiver Eric Singleton, Jr., there’s not a lot to write home about on this roster. Games against UGA, Texas, Oklahoma, and Ole Miss all augur poorly, and the Gators should be satisfied with a bowl spot.  

Auburn

Auburn is one of six SEC teams breaking in a new coach this year. New chief Alex Golesh earned a reputation as an offensive wunderkind as the OC at Tennessee, and he scored a major upset when his USF Bulls knocked off Florida in the Swamp last year. On his way out of Tampa, Golesh took everything that wasn’t nailed down, including explosive quarterback Byrum Brown. It remains to be seen if Brown can consistently deliver against stouter competition, but Auburn’s offense was so dreadful last year that it would be hard to not see some improvement. After a half-decade of nothing much, Auburn should be happy to achieve even modest watchability this year. 

Tier 4: The Basement

Bringing up the rear, these four teams in the participation trophy tier. 

Vanderbilt

Diego Pavia delivered the Commodores the best season in school history last year before squandering every bit of national goodwill that earned him en route to getting cut by the Ravens as a UDFA. Still, the vibes were good in Nashville last year with double-digit wins and poaching quarterback Jared Curtis from Georgia. Curtis will compete with Blaze Berlowitz (and I guess Whit Muschamp?) for the starting job, but head coach Clark Lea will almost certainly have to play Curtis to keep another team from luring him away after the season. The Dores still have a couple of explosive threats in wide receiver Junior Sherrill and running back Sedrick Alexander, and they’re easily the most dangerous of the bottom-tier teams. But there’s no way they’re getting back to 10 wins, and even bowling will be a stretch. Keeping Curtis and making a bowl game would be an unqualified success. 

Mississippi State

Jeff Lebby has quietly accomplished basically nothing as Mississippi State’s head coach, and it’s unlikely this year will change that trajectory. Former Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann and the well-traveled Jaden Rashada are here to compete for the starting job, and True Dawg fans will remember wideout Anthony Evans from his time in Athens as well. MS State also has a good running back in the delightfully named Fluff Bothwell, but this roster is unlikely to be seriously competitive. If they miss a bowl game, Lebby’s time may be up here.

Kentucky

One of the league’s perennial doormats, the Wildcats finally sent Mark Stoops packing after a 5-7 season that produced zero lasting memories. Stoops was Kentucky’s winningest coach, finishing his time in Lexington with a balanced 82-80 win-loss record. Firing your best coach ever is generally unwise, and former Oregon OC Will Stein will have his work cut out for him since this roster is almost all chaff. Unless, of course, you believe Kenny Minchey lost the Notre Dame QB battle and transferred out because he was too good. Anything can happen, but it feels like winning two SEC games would be a huge accomplishment for this year’s Kentucky. 

Arkansas

Sam Pittman, who remains a hero to me, got the gate last year after six seasons in which he took Arkansas from a disastrous laughingstock to a forgettable afterthought in the SEC race. In Fayetteville, that’s actually good progress. The Hawgs briefly thought they were luring Alex Golesh away from Tampa before he took a detour to Auburn, so they settled for Memphis’s Ryan Silverfield as a consolation prize. Silverfield was fine to fine-plus at Memphis, but this two-deep is a shambles. Bowl eligibility is probably a pipe dream, and even winning a league game would count as a huge success. 

Happy Friday morning, Dawg Nation! We are only three weeks away from the season opener against Tennessee State. To whet your appetite, lets take a trip down memory lane that is especially relevant this week.

Former LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels has sent a cease and desist letter to the university, saying it can no longer use his name, image, and likeness. This comes in the wake of new coach Lane Kiffin giving the number 5 that Daniels wore to cornerback D.J. Pickett, marking the first time the number 5 will have been worn since Daniels.

Clearly, Jayden Daniels wanted his jersey in the proverbial rafters, but he forgets that it has once been lifted there already. With a hat tip to X/Twitter user @chxnluh, Jalen Carter accomplished this feat on behalf of Daniels in the 2022 SEC Championship Game.

For those who may not remember or, let’s be honest, just enjoy reliving it, Jalen Carter sacked Daniels so emphatically during the Dawgs’ 50-30 win in the SEC Championship game that he picked up the former LSU QB with one arm while holding the number one in the air using his other. This is still one of the best and most fun things I’ve ever seen on a football field. If a defensive lineman lifts you to the rafters for a sack, your jersey cannot permanently go there. Thems the rules.

Also, this is such a weak look from Daniels whining about someone else wearing his jersey number. He didn’t spend his whole college career at the school. He didn’t have a transcendent championship season. And his dad isn’t the head coach. There really shouldn’t be a gripe about not having your jersey retired.

On the other hand, DGD David Pollock took to X/Twitter to commend the play of Dan Jackson, who wore number 47 just as Pollock did, on the final block during Ringo’s ‘Ship Six play.

I hope D.J. Pickett balls out for LSU in the number 5 jersey, and I thank Jayden Daniels for providing a reason to remember the insane Jalen Carter sack during the undefeated, national championship winning 2022 season.

Have a great Friday, and Go Dawgs!

If there’s a question when it comes to Georgia’s offense entering 2026, there’s one position group that comes to mind in a hurry.

Receivers.

We’ve seen it repeatedly under the Kirby Smart regime – that turnover at this position has turned the state of the Bulldogs’ ability to run the offense through the air on its ear. Could Gunner Stockton suffer the same step back as we saw with Jake Fromm after his first season starter?

This season will determine that.

Needless to say, the Dawgs are depleted in the receiving room coming away from a season ago. Zachariah Branch and his gamebreaking ability on the perimeter? Gone. Ditto for Colbie Young, Dillon Bell and Noah Thomas.

Branch and Thomas alone combined for more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. For Georgia, its simple that the job at hand is: replace that offensive impact.

As far as snaps go, London Humphreys will have to lead the way. He’s the only receiver with multiple scores in 2025. As shown in the Tennessee game, he can make plays deep, and the flashes of that will need to continue for this team, which frankly has no WR1. The familiarity between Stockton and Humphreys clearly does not hurt, and that could also add up to Humphreys being a safety-valve type target for the UGA offense.

If this offense is to suceed, having someone develop as a go-to receiver is not a want…its a need.

Could that come from the transfer portal by way of Georgia’s in-state rival? That’s where Isaiah Canion comes in. He comes over from Georgia Tech, where his physical versatility made him a big asset in the Yellow Jacket’s short-to-mid range passing game. And if you saw him play as a high schooler at Warner Robins or caught highlight clips, he’s a guy that can turn chunk plays into bigger ones. Georgia will be counting on him to do just that.

Humphreys and Canion are proven. But there will others relied on from a group that has been highly touted, but is unproven…for now. Redshirt freshman Talyn Taylor could develop into an electric threat on the perimeter, especially combined with Stockton’s innate ability to extend plays. Sacovie White-Helton and Landon Roldan are others in a similar boat, players who arrived in Athens with much expected of them.

Much like the entire position group, the onus will be on them to step up. As Georgia’s receivers go this fall, so goes the offense.

Go Dawgs!

Good morning, Bulldog fans! It’s Monday morning, which means your to-do list for the week is currently as long as it’s going to be all week. But before you attack the day, let’s take a quick tour through what’s making news in Bulldog Nation.

The biggest headline of the weekend was the Red and Black’s first scrimmage of the fall on Saturday. By all accounts it was a big day for the defense. That’s pretty standard early in camp, as the defense is perennially ahead of the offense. But it also makes sense given that the Dawgs return a ton of talent from a solid 2025 defense, and are breaking in some new faces at key spots on offense.

While the defense may have gotten the better of things, that doesn’t mean they were perfect, or that Kirby Smart didn’t make his displeasure with some defensive miscues known in his usual shy and retiring fashion.

Remember, every time Kirby dog cusses someone for failing to execute to perfection, an angel gets its wings and Lane Kiffin finds another wrinkle. In other words, everyone wins.

Elsewhere in college football long time friend of the blog and ESPN analytics pro Bill Connelly notes that college football teams are scoring fewer points than a decade ago. The reasons are both complex and wholly predictable.

Finally, RIP to Tommy John, the former MLB pitcher who underwent an experimental surgery ina bid to save his career, and ended up not only making it back to the majors but winning 288 games over 26 seasons. Whatever you do today, it’s unlikely that you’ll have a complex orthopedic procedure named after you. That’s okay, you’re still going to do great things.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Ryan Silverfield is taking over a daunting rebuilding job as he begins his first season at the helm of the Arkansas Razorbacks. But the roster he inherited isn’t totally bereft of talent.

There may be no sturdier building block on the team than Edge rusher Quincy Rhodes. Rhodes broke out as a junior in 2025, finishing with 44 total tackles and a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss in addition to 8 sacks, 6 quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. That TFL total was the most by an Arkansas defender since Trey Flowers had 15.5 in 2015, and he also became the first ’Hawg to register double digit tackles for loss in a season since Landon Jackson in 2023. Nationally, he ranked 13th in tackles for loss per game and 23rd in sacks per game during the regular season.

Heading into 2026 Rhodes earned second team All-SEC honors from both league coaches and the Associated Press and was also tabbed with second team recognition from Athlon Sports and third team from Phil Steele. He stands out as one of the few proven players remaining in Fayetteville after a mass roster exodus following the coaching change, meaning the entire Arkansas defensive identity in 2026 will likely run through him.

For Georgia, Rhodes presents a real problem up front. At 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, he has the length to disrupt passing lanes and the first step to win one-on-one against tackles who aren’t ready for his quickness. A player who forces 15+ tackles for loss in a season has a demonstrated ability to blow up run designs before they develop, and Georgia’s offensive line will need a plan specifically built around neutralizing him rather than treating him as a standard edge rusher. Early season road trips can be unpredictable, and Rhodes gives Arkansas a legitimate chance to affect the September 19th matchup with the Bulldogs from the opening series.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

If there is an official sign that “talking season” is closing out and that we won’t have to rely on the financial-flexibility-obsessed Atlanta Braves to help pass time much longer, it arrived with Wednesday’s opening of preseason practice in Athens.

Before then, of course, Kirby Smart offered his thoughts with gathered media on a wide-range of topics.

On the phases of the off-season

“We talk about the phases of our football program. We have an off-season phase, a summer phase, and a mini-camp phase. The mini-camp phase was probably more productive this year than it’s ever been, in terms of onboarding new players and trying to get guys understanding how to practice. Then, we kick off what we call training camp. What is the purpose of training camp? To subtract some things from your life, so that you can add some things. Everybody’s heard of addition by subtraction. I’m asking each player to have some addition by subtraction. What are you going to do for the next 12 to 14 days that you’re technically in camp? Camp is really longer than that for us, but those are the number of days that you’re not in your normal bed. You’re away, you’re locked in, you’re focused, and school starts. We’re still in camp mode, but you get ready for what you do. We’ve shown a lot of examples of pro players, what they do for camp. Pro teams, what they do for camp. Our history of camp here, and how you can improve your team by gaining depth on your roster, is what we’re going to do.”

What goes into schedule-building?

“Everybody has their philosophy with what they go with. Historically, I’ve been a part of some really good SEC championships and national championships. I’m not just talking about Georgia, I’m talking about everywhere I’ve coached. I’ve been really fortunate to coach at really good programs: LSU, Florida State, Alabama, Georgia. The common denominator of those programs is you play really good teams year in and year out, whether it’s in conference or out of conference. The thing is are you trying to appease the fans? You want to have a really exciting schedule. They enjoy the excitement of playing those schedules, versus the balance of risk of injury and wear and tear and the line probably lies somewhere in the middle. I do think the consumer matters. The consumer is the people that are coming to the games. They want to see exciting, competitive games. The sooner we get to a format where either more teams are in the playoff or more teams are rewarded for a challenging schedule. I think that’ll take care of itself. I think you’ll get people playing more competitive schedules and more competitive environments.”

What’s the point of emphasis for the running game?

“You cannot get away from that point of emphasis. That’s not going to change ever in our program. I would say we are coming off a year that we were subpar at that, when we really tried to drive that home. We’re not going to ever get away from that. We have to be able to run the football. Show me a good team that wins championships that can’t run the football. I mean, it just doesn’t happen. You look at the national champions the last five, six years. They’re effective at running the football and stopping the run. It’s one of the leading statistics over the last 10 to 15 years in national championship teams. They’ve all had really good run defenses, so you better be able to run the ball and stop the run. There’s not one particular thing we’re harping on. We got to generate more turnovers and generate more havoc. We got to be more explosive on offense. I could sit here till we’re blue in the face, but it’s not one thing that we can say.” 

On KJ Bolden and how he holds other players to a high standard

“We’re having walk-throughs, and you’ve got some young safeties out there with Blake [Stewart], the points, all the young guys out there, even the guys that transfer in. He [KJ Bolden] understands and knows that he can help the with the finer points. He’s not afraid to confront and demand excellence from them. He’s not afraid to say, ‘Jog all the way off the field. Run to the ball,’ or to hold them accountable. When he’s doing it himself, it’s a lot easier for him to hold them accountable. There’s not one instance. He does it every day.”

Expectations for the tight end room?

“It’s awesome. They’ve got a tremendous talent in the room. But a few short, explosive plays, those are always the tight end room. We’ve got great tight ends, but they’re not guys that are hitting 22 or 23 miles an hour. They’re guys that they can do all kinds of grunt work. They can catch balls in the flats, they can block people, they can play on special teams. They can be explosive if we can run the ball, and explosive passes for tight ends usually come off of play actions. Play actions only work if you have the ability to run the ball. So our ability to run the ball allows us to utilize what may be one of our stronger rooms. But at the end of the day, there has to be buy-in from those rooms, and there has to be a culture and belief that if I’m 230 pounds, my advantage is I can bully people on the perimeter. And if they use that wisely, it makes our skill players, receivers, and running backs even better. But it is a talented room, and it’s an extremely competitive room.”

On Kyron Jones…

“We’re he’s been kind of on a pitch count, so we’re starting him in fall camp in the same mode. He’s been ramping up after of a resting period, and he’s been increasing as the summer goes. It’s not that he’s not 100% healthy, but he’s not taking 100% of a normal practice day’s reps. We’re trying to build him up more conditioning-wise and see how he feels. It’s a very sensitive injury, so it’s tough to monitor. He’s done a lot of rehab, so it’s been frustrating for him because when the team does a lot of conditioning, he can’t do it. He’s a very conditioned player and has to do non-impact cardio while the team is doing impact cardio, and I think that frustrates him. He has been a really good special teams player. He came in and started some games last year, and we wanted to give him a chance to compete for those spots and positions that our safeties play.”

What’s being looked for from the safeties?

“I’m looking at three critical factors: can they play man-to-man, can they tackle and can they play the ball in the deep part of the field. It doesn’t change from year-to-year. Can he play man-to-man? He can’t go on the field if he can’t. Can he tackle? He can’t go on the field if he can’t. Does he play the ball well in the deep part of the field, which could be a fatal flaw if you can’t. If you misjudge it, they’re going to score touchdowns. If you can do those three things, we can teach you what to do.”

How has KJ Bolden handled expectations?

“I think that every player that comes to Georgia, thanks to you guys, you hype them up really good. They have huge expectations on them, including KJ [Bolden]. KJ has probably managed those better than many players because he grew up and played in competitive environments in youth football, extremely competitive environments in middle school, and all the way up to Buford High School. He’s played some of the highest level football he’s been around, so it was never too much for him. How has he handled those expectations? Well, he started and played, and it was very effective as a freshman, so I think he’s handled that well. I think the greater side that he’s grown in is the maturity to understand what leadership looks like. He had the blessing of playing with Malachi [Starks] and Dan [Jackson]. He learned what it was to be a good teammate, and he has been an extraordinary teammate since being here. He helped so many guys in the secondary. I always hate coaching back behind me, being positive with guys, and being a leader. Those are the expectations I have for him, to be the best version of himself, not live up to everybody else’s expectations.”

What’s being looked for from the running backs?

“Dante [Dowdell]’s doing better. He is not with us. We don’t have a timeline for him, and that’s going to happen. The most important thing for Dante is himself, and that he can do functions and do daily, in and out things, not really worried about football right now. Dwight [Phillips Jr.]has worked his tail off. He’s one of the most explosive players we have on our offense. We’re going to be more explosive if we have to get guys that, when they touch the ball, big plays happen. Whether that’s a form of touches may change, but he’s got to touch the ball, because he’s been one of our most explosive guys, probably more so in practice than what you’ve seen in games. He’s had a great offseason. He works really hard. That room has a lot of a beat in it.

They really care about each other. The success of each other is more important than the success of one person and I appreciate the mentality in that room.”

The 5/5 Ruling and what it could impact…

“I look at it as a huge advantage because I don’t have to worry about redshirting players anymore. In the past, you got to game three or four, do I play him, do I not play him? He says he’s not going to play. He may be leaving. You got all these issues. That’s why the rule was put in place. It was put in place to make it where the pressure’s not on the coach to decide if he plays or not because you have five years to play five. You can play every game your freshman year, and you still got four more. You can play no game your freshman year; you got four more.”

How does he invest his offseason time?

“It’s definitely a balancing act on what you put your time and energy into. For us, we have had staff retention across the board, so it allows me to be over the top and decide where I want to invest my time. In relationships, motivation, and other areas that I am evolving in. We teach football here at a high level, and we want our players to focus on having incredible football intelligence.” 

Expectations for Chris Cole

“I am excited about what Chris Cole will do this season. There is not a player of higher character on our team than him. He is the hardest worker, has the highest speeds, and has the most enthusiasm. He always lays everything on the line and embodies what we want in terms of effort and toughness. He has had an amazing off season, and I am excited for him to go out and see how he plays for our team.”

Mascot: Your guess is as good as mine. Tigers, Eagles, or Plainsmen, oh my!

2025 Record: 5-7, 1-7 SEC

Conference: SEC

Series History: Georgia leads 66-56-8

Head Coach: Alex Golesh

Famous Alumni: Octavia Spencer, Charles Barkley, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Frank Thomas, Josh Donaldson, Tim Hudson, Tecmo Bowl legend Bo Jackson, Suni Lee, Toni Tennille, (of the Captain and fame), Jimmy Buffet (didn’t graduate), and probably the Devil himself.

Fun Fact: New head coach Alex Golesh was born in the USSR and came to the United States at the age of seven. He started coaching as an undergraduate at Ohio State and never played above the high school level. Golesh is replacing Hugh Freeze, who likewise never played college football.

YellaFella’s Odyssey

Since it’s been a Hot Odyssey Summer, let’s recall a famous moment from the epic poem. After Odysseus tricks the cyclops and blinds him, he can’t resist taunting the monster. He yells from what he believes to be the safety of his ship to tell Polyphemus his real name. The furious cyclops then asks his father, Poseidon, the god of the sea, to take revenge on the Greek hero. Odysseus’s subsequent journey home takes nearly a decade. What does that have to do with Georgia football? 

November 11, 2017, Georgia’s undefeated season ran aground on the rocks of Jordan-Hare. After the game, Gus Malzahn couldn’t resist crowing about “whipping the dog crap” out of Georgia. He said they won “handily” with the smugness of a man telling you about how he got rich in a slip and fall lawsuit. 

And that was the last time Auburn fans felt joy. 

Gus would turn in three more meh to meh-plus seasons before getting the gate after 2020, setting a record for a coach buyout. His replacement was, inexplicably, Bryan Harsin, a man whose legacy will be serving as the answer to a niche trivia question. Barners immediately hated Harsin, and he only got a second season in the gig because he pulled a Costanza and left the country to avoid firing. I guess they took away his passport when he got back because they canned him after year two.

They then sacrificed the last scraps of their dignity to bring in Hugh Freeze, a man who could make an unlicensed mortician’s skin crawl. Whatever je ne sais quoi (French for BARF) his old time offenses had, he managed to do diddly squat on the Plains. His only memorable accomplishment was losing the 2023 Iron Bowl when they had Bama at 4th and 31 and gave up a touchdown. Remember that? Apparently someone holding the purse strings at Auburn finally did because they gave him a pink slip late last season so he could watch The Blind Side from his hospital bed.

Since firing Gus, Auburn has gone 6-7, 5-7, 6-7, 5-7, and 5-7. That’s an admirable level of futility. 

Overseeing things now is Alex Golesh, a coveted up-and-comer most recently at South Florida who almost made the horrible career mistake of taking a job with Arkansas before getting on this sinking ship instead. Golesh is pretty interesting as a person (Alex is short for Aleksey), and he does have SEC bona fides; it’s increasingly looking like he was the brains behind the uptempo offenses Tennessee fielded under Josh Heupel. And his South Florida Bulls went 9-3 last year with a marquee win over Florida. Of course, that’s after going 6-6 in his first two seasons. So he should fit in here nicely. 

Last year’s edition of the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry was a tooth-grinding nightmare that ended 20-10 for the good guys. Auburn fans would like you to believe that’s because the refs have it in for them, but have you all considered that you’ve angered the gods? I suggest you barbecue an eagle to atone. I’m sure you know where to find one.

Offense

Auburn’s coaching instability has been accompanied by similar quarterbacking difficulties. After Bo Nix decamped to Eugene, Auburn has fielded a bunch of replacement-level guys with the career longevity of a World War I fighter pilot. Remember Robby Ashford? Payton Thorne? Jackson Arnold? Ashton Daniels? Me neither.

To stop the bleeding under center, Golesh is bringing along Byrum Brown from South Florida. Brown is absolutely the best athlete the Barners have had at QB since Jarrett Stidham, if not since Cam Newton. He had a breakout year in 2023, passing for 3,292 yards and rushing for 809 more on the ground. His 2024 season was cut short with a leg injury, but last year, he became only the second NCAA quarterback (after Jayden Daniels) to pass for more than 3,000 yards while running for more than 1,000. He also totaled 28 touchdowns through the air and 14 more on the ground. Even adjusted for the talent level of the (brb, Googling) American Athletic Conference, that’s incredibly impressive. 

The team’s top five receivers from last year (most notably Cam Coleman) are all playing elsewhere in 2026. But Golesh is also bringing four of his top five receivers from USF, so the PlainsTiglesMen passing attack won’t have to worry too much about getting up to speed. Also, two of the new Auburn wideouts have the incredible names of Chas Nimrod and Christian Neptune.  

That familiarity is a good thing, too, because Golesh’s teams employ a veer-and-shoot offense that requires sharp timing and good decision-making skills on the part of the receivers. The scheme evolved out of the similarly named run-and-shoot and borrows elements of the air raid, although it came into its own when RGIII ran it all the way to the Heisman in 2011. You might consider it somewhat gimmicky, but it’s been successful enough in the SEC on Rocky Top that Tennessee fans now watch their games without paper bags over their heads. 

Schematically, it’s based on spreading the field, employing trickery to confuse the defense, and ideally going as fast as possible. Receivers generally split way, way out wide to stretch the defense, and they have optional route trees they can run based on their reads of the defenders. Golesh is particularly fond of the trickier elements, often stacking receivers to make the trees even more disorienting. Run by a skilled quarterback like Brown, the veer-and-shoot can make for a long afternoon at the office. 

Golesh’s offenses are pass-first, but they rely on a ground attack for balance, especially given how much they rely on playaction. They get a decent RB back in Jeremiah Cobb, but Brown led USF in rushing by about 400 yards over the next closest player. So you can expect to see a lot of uptempo shenanigans that have the potential to make you smoke an entire pack of cigarettes during the game. You know, basically the most annoying type of offensive scheme to defend.

Fortunately, Kirby Smart has tangled with Golesh a couple of times with no small amount of success. The 2022 Tennessee game is probably the best defensive performance I’ve ever seen on a college football field, so I’m more sanguine about this game than I might otherwise be. Especially since it’s in Athens.

Defense

You might be concerned that Auburn will be less hateable now that Freeze is gone, but worry not! Rather than fumigating the Freeze stench all the way out of the athletic offices, they let DJ Durkin hang around to junk the place up. I really don’t understand why you’d keep him around, but I guess the defense was the stronger side of the ball last year? Maybe? Or maybe nobody else knew the Wifi password and how to work the coffee maker, and they’re going to fire him once they get all the logistics squared away.

Regardless, Durkin’s defenses operate out of a 3-3-5 base. Their best pass rusher, Xavier Atkins, is back this year as well, so there’s some continuity. But the 3-3-5 is better suited to stopping a pass-oriented offense. And hey, look at that, Georgia is a team that wants to punish opponents with a brutal ground attack! How about that!

Prediction

Alex Golesh is the first post-Gus hire that hasn’t made me react like this. I think he’s a good coach, and it’s possible he finally gets things in order on the Plains. But Auburn hasn’t won in Athens in more than two decades. The last time they beat the Dawgs in Georgia, “Gold Digger” was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and you still needed a .edu email address to create a Facebook account. Next year, when we go to Jordan-Hare, I’ll be a lot more nervous, but I don’t think Auburn can break the streak this year. Auburn might play tough for a half, but I think Georgia salts it away coming home. Georgia 31-Auburn 17.

Every good drama needs an antagonist. Sitcoms need a rival, your favorite Netflix drama needs a schemer, and college football, the closest thing American sports has to a soap opera, needs villains who make the heroes worth rooting for. The 2026 season has no shortage of candidates. Here are the four programs and figures most likely to play the bad guy this fall.

Lane Kiffin and LSU

No storyline captures villainy quite like a betrayal, and Kiffin delivered one for the ages this offseason. He left Ole Miss for LSU in the middle of the Rebels’ first ever College Football Playoff appearance, taking a chunk of his staff with him on the way out the door. In true Lane Kiffin fashion, he made certain that he was the main character of the whole drama. Ole Miss fans were left to finish the playoff run without the coach who built it, and now they get to watch him walk into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 19th wearing purple and gold.

That is the kind of plot twist writers rooms dream up, and it is real. LSU enters the year with (perhaps unreasonable) championship expectations to match the drama. That means Kiffin cannot simply be a villain, he has to be a successful one. If the Tigers stumble (say, out of the gate against Clemson) , every doubt about his timing and his motives will follow him into Baton Rouge hot yoga studios for years. If they win, Ole Miss fans will have to live with the fact that the man who left them mid-heartbreak got the last laugh. Either way, that rivalry game is now the most personal grudge match on the schedule.

Arch Manning and Texas

Texas enters 2026 loaded with talent around Arch Manning, yet still chasing the redemption story after a 9-3 season that fell short of the playoff. A roster that talented, surrounded by that much hype, and still hungry for revenge against Ohio State has all the makings of a team that plays with a chip on its shoulder. That’s great if you win. But as we discussed a few weeks ago, if you’re Steve Sarkisian at some point you have to turn being a gridiron genius into an actual championship, or the knives come out.

Arch Manning is going to need to win three Heisman Trophies this season to get back on track with the expectations when he arrived in Austin. You can literally feel the urgency oozing off the digital page this summer as college football writers who hailed him as the golden boy are pushing the Arch redemption arc coming into 2026. This is really his year guys! Why aren’t the rest of you cheering him on?!?!?

Curt Cignetti and Indiana

Indiana, meanwhile, is the reigning champion trying to prove last year was not a fluke. Nothing turns a feel good underdog story into a villain faster than success. The Hoosiers spent years as an afterthought, and now they are the team everyone else is gunning for. If Indiana keeps winning, they stop being college football’s Cinderella and start becoming the program everyone quietly hopes gets knocked down a peg.

Cignetti hasn’t endeared himself to opposing fans with his brash offseason comments about the SEC and other programs. Cignetti is currently the charming oddball of college football coaches. But you only get to be the oddball main character for so long on this show (see Miles, Les). Cignetti’s “Google me” schtick could easily go stale this season.

Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish could probably fill one of these slots every season. They’re the team everyone in college football loves to hate, for reasons universal and uniquely personal.

They didn’t help their popularity outside South Bend by taking their little ball and going home last year, bowing out of bowl season because they weren’t selected for the playoff. With a Charmin-soft 2026 schedule the Fighting Irish will almost certainly be back in the hunt for the playoff this season. But fans across America would cheer if they managed to Notre Dame this thing up again.

The calendar has turned to August and the shoulder pads are once again popping in Athens. That can only mean one thing: the return of ‘‘Dawg Bites, your daily run down of what’a going on in Bulldog Nation. Let’s get to it.

Brad Crawford at CBS Sports has released its list of the ten teams who could emerge undefeated from college football’s regular season, and as you might expect the Red and Black are on the list. As Brad notes the Athenians do not have one of the easier routes to the land of the unblemished, with five contests against teams that finished 2025 ranked in the top 25.

I agree that the October 10th trip to Tuscaloosa is probably the biggest stumbling block. But games against Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Florida, and Georgia Tech all provide unique opportunities to stumble. If the Bulldogs survive the gauntlet and make it to the SEC Championship Game as an undefeated team it will have been a fantastic job of coaching by Kirby Smart and his staff.

On a related note, if you’re traveling to Tuscaloosa for the game our friends at Roll Bama Roll have a nice guide to how to experience Tuscaloosa on game day.

Elsewhere in fascinating lists ESPN has a list of the ten SEC freshmen who could make an immediate impact. Vanderbilt quarterback and Nate Bargatze sidekick Jared Curtis is the top pick, but a pair of Bulldog freshmen also made the list. Zykie Helton earned a mention at guard, and tight end Kaiden Prothro also earned a shoutout.

How the offensive coaches use Prothro in an already loaded tight end room is really one of the most interesting story lines on this team. Lawson Luckie and Elyiss Williams are each early All-SEC candidates, but Prothro is just too good to keep off the field. It’ll be fascinating to see how many snaps he can earn, and how much the staff trusts him in high pressure situations.

Also in that tight end room will be Jaden Reddell, who Connor Riley of DawgNation notes is among the spring standouts who could keep turning heads this fall.

I’m personally really curious to see what freshman Tyriq Green can do in the cornerback rotation. Green was a one man wrecking crew for the Buford Wolves last season. If he picks up the scheme and avoids hitting the freshman wall, he could have a great season behind likely starters Ellis Robinson IV and Demelo Jones. Green may also see time at safety behind fellow Buford alum KJ Bolden. I just think the guy is too good for the coaches to not find some spots to get him on the field. We’ll be back later today with more Bulldog goodness. Until then…

Go Dawgs!!!

Bulldog basketball got some great news today, opening its 2027 class with a commitment from a national top 50 recruit from right down the road. North Oconee shooting guard  Justin Wise announced on his Instagram account that he has committed to the Bulldogs over Miami, Tennessee, Texas, Vanderbilt, and an host of other elite programs.

The four star Wise is ranked as the #5 shooting guard and #63 overall prospect in the 2027 class according to 247Sports. He’a also the first commitment in the 2027 cycle for Mike White, who’s coming off his team’s second consecutive March Madness appearance (and first round exit).

Wise’s pledge is a welcome sign for Dawg fans. White has done a lot to return the Red and Black to consistent respectability. But one issue that has persisted under his tenure is the Bulldogs’ inability to scoop up a solid share of the wealth of basketball talent the state of Georgia produces every year. Perennially the Peach State produces several top national recruits. For example, six of the current 247Sports top 50 for 2027 are Georgians. But the Athenians have had a tough time getting those blue choppers to stay and play for the state’s flagship school. In fact no player ranked #1 in the state in 247’s high school rankings has stayed home to play for the Dawgs since Anthony Edwards chose the Red and Black in 2019.

I’m not sure Wise is headed toward being the top overall pick in the NBA Draft, but he is a solid addition to a Bulldog roster that continues to trend in the right direction talent-wise.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The 2026 Georgia defense returns a solid base of starters and key contributors from 2025’s SEC Championship squad. That may be nowhere more apparent than at safety and STAR, where a potent mix of returning all-conference honorees and immediate impact transfers combine to create potentially the strongest unit on the defense.

Georgia’s 2025 safety room was anchored by sophomore KJ Bolden, who took over as the full-time starter after Malaki Starks departed for the NFL. Bolden picked up where he’d left off as a freshman, earning Second Team All-SEC honors. Kyron Jones broke through as a first year starter before a foot injury ended his season in October.

Former five star recruit Joenel Aguero appeared in 12 games, starting all of them, and tallied 39 tackles (22 solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss for two yards. Aguero actually yielded some snaps as the season went on to freshman Rasean Dinkins, who saw action in 13 games as a true freshman.

Southern Cal transfer Zion Branch emerged as a key contributor, seeing anction in 11 games and tallying 27 tackles, 5 of them in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss. UAB transfer Adrian Maddox rotated in behind them, while senior JaCorey Thomas stepped up significantly once Jones went down. Though the secondary as a whole was exposed at times, most notably in the Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss, there was enough there to expect big things moving forward.

Maddox is now at Kansas State, Aguero transferred to Ole Miss, and Thomas decamped for the NFL. But what remains on the roster in Athens is a ton of experience and a ton of talent.

Bolden is back for his junior season as the unquestioned leader of the room. In 2025 he started all 14 games and finished second on the team with 76 tackles, adding two interceptions, 5 pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt. His combination of physicality and range makes him a preseason All-SEC candidate again, and a likely first day NFL Draft selection next April.

Kyron Jones returns after his breakout redshirt-sophomore campaign was cut short. He started Georgia’s first six games in 2025, racking up 24 tackles and a key fumble recovery in a win over Auburn, before that foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the year. A full offseason of recovery puts him right back in the mix for a starting job.

Branch is back for another season after playing a complementary role in 2025. He appeared in 11 games, making 27 tackles (19 solo) with two pass breakups, and saw his workload increase late in the year as injuries to Jones and others took a toll on the depth chart. He should pick up right where he left off.

Dinkins likewise returns, having started the SEC Championship Game in place of Aguero, whose nagging injuries during his three seasons in Athens appear to have helped the freshman from Warner Robins pass him on the depth chart. Dinkins will likely play a versatile role in the 2026 rotation, though it’s unclear whether he’ll earn a starting nod over Jones.

Valdosta native Todd Robinson didn’t record any stats in 2025, but will likely be in the rotation for snaps and contribute on special teams. Fellow redshirt freshman Jaylan Morgan likewise didn’t make waves last season in his first year on campus, but returns with a chance to earn snaps in a reserve role.

Georgia also added two experienced transfers to fortify the position. Khalil Barnes arrives from Clemson, where a lingering hamstring injury limited him to 40 tackles and two pass breakups over 9 starts in 2025. However for his career at Auburn with a Lake Barnes was wildly productive, posting 139 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles across three seasons. He’s expected to compete immediately for a starting spot, likely at STAR.

Ja’Marley Riddle joins from East Carolina, where he earned First Team All-AAC recognition in 2025 after totaling 70 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 6 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Across two seasons with the Pirates he piled up 134 tackles and six interceptions, and he brings two years of remaining eligibility to Athens. While the SEC is certainly a step up in competition, Riddle’s production at ECU can’t be ignored. Like Barnes, even though he may be new to Bulldog fans he’s a player who’s excelled against solid competition and is already accustomed to the speed of the college game.

As if there weren’t enough guys vying for snaps, Georgia’s 2026 signing class also brought in a wave of safety talent. Jordan Smith, a four star prospect out of Houston County High in Warner Robins, was ranked among the top ten safeties nationally and gives the Bulldogs another premium in-state building block. Zech Fort, a four star signee from Bradenton, Florida, adds size, range, and ball skills to the room.

Tyriq Green and Blake Stewart, both four star in-state signees from the Atlanta area, round out a group of four true freshmen safeties, part of a six man defensive back haul that also included two cornerbacks.

None of the four newcomers are expected to start right away given the presence of veterans like Bolden, Jones, Dinkins, and Branch, along with proven transfers in Barnes and Riddle. But Green in particular showed in the spring that he’s going to earn some chances to prove himself. Kirby Smart expects his players to compete every day in practice, and we’ll likely see the four freshmen get early tryouts against Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas in the first three weeks of the season.

With so many new and returning pieces competing for reps throughout fall camp, Georgia’s safety room looks deeper and more experienced on paper than it did a year ago, even if the exact starting lineup will not be settled until closer to the season opener.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

Admittedly there is a lot of cynicism surrounding college football, and college athletics generally, these days. And that’s definitely justified.The television people and the agents and the private equity stuffed Patagonia vests are mostly in charge, and the rest of us who actually give a dang about the sport often feel either ignored or taken for granted. It’s tempting to look back on a far-off halcyon yesteryear, when things were simpler and better, and to wonder how long the sport will survive.

I find however that those sentiments tend to be most prominent during the long offseason, when the business side of college football is on full, hideous display. Once the games actually kick off we’re reminded that college football is still a whole lot of fun. It retains the power to excite, to captivate, and even to inspire like no other show on turf.

Just consider Senior Day at Sanford Stadium on November 20, 2021. That team would of course go on to break a four decade long drought by winning a national title only a few weeks later, but we didn’t know that at the time. We just knew there were a lot of special footballs players on that team. And few were more special than Jordan Davis.

The big guy began his Senior Day celebration in the first quarter by going over the goal line on a one yard run for the first touchdown of his collegiate career. Then after the Dawgs finished off Charleston Southern 56-7, Davis received an honor few expected.

A lot of people did not know that Davis had friends in the Redcoats Band, and in addition to being a fantastic singer, has a penchant for conducting. It was one of those moments that is really only possible in college football. So on this morning, with only a scant handful of Saturday mornings between you and college football, rest assured that there will be magical moments in 2026, and know that we can’t wait to share them with you in these digital pages. Until later…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The SEC generally, and Georgia’s schedule specifically is absolutely full of elite players. Along with the other preview series we’re running here at Dawg Sports as fall practice looms, I thought it would be instructive to look at the ten best players the Red and Black will see this season. We begin with a Vandy defensive back who’s going to have a lot on his shoulders this year.

Martel Hight, CB, Vanderbilt (vs. Vanderbilt, Oct. 3)

With Diego Pavia gone to the NFL, Vanderbilt’s defense becomes the more proven side of the ball, and Hight is its anchor. In 2025 he led the SEC in interceptions among defensive players, finishing with four picks and 35 tackles despite Vanderbilt not placing any defenders on the All-SEC teams.

Hight has been a steady piece of the Vanderbilt secondary since his true freshman year, when he played in all 12 games and accounted for 38 tackles and an interception. As a sophomore he added 33 tackles, two interceptions, four passes defended, and a forced fumble, while also handling return duties. He was chosen to represent the program at SEC Media Days entering his senior season, a sign of the trust the staff has in his leadership as the Commodores transition to a new quarterback.

In 2025 the Commodore staff gave Hight a look at receiver, where he’d been a standout in high school. The move made sense with Diego Pavia at QB but question marks surrounding Vandy’s receiving corps. Getting Hight, among the best athletes on the roster, more snaps to be explosiive made sense on paper.

On the field it was less of a winner. Hight was targeted just 11 times out of 55 offensive snaps, catching just 7 balls and accounting for just 64 yards and no touchdowns. Hight played more than 10 offensive snaps in three of Vanderbilt’s first four games, then never got that level of usage again. Just one throw went Hight’s way after week four, as the staff seems to have realized his highest and best use is at corner.

For Georgia, Hight is the kind of corner who can turn a broken coverage into a turnover. His ball skills and instincts for finding the football make him dangerous on any pass that isn’t placed well. Gunner Stockton will need to know where Hight lines up on every snap and avoid feeding him opportunities in obvious passing situations, since he has shown a knack for cashing in on mistakes against the SEC’s best offenses.

Go ‘‘Dawgs!!!

Is there anything in this world better than watching Florida Gator fans being miserable. I submit that there is not.

And if you enjoy miserable Florida fans, the 2021 World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party was a banner affair for you.It began promisingly enough. The #1 ranked Bulldogs missed a field goal on their opening drive, giving the Gators a sliver of hope. In fact the Gators held the Dawgs to a 0-0 tie through the first quarter.

The Bulldogs did manage to connect on a field goal early in the second, but the Sunshine State Saurians were still in this one.

Right up until they weren’t.

It started innocuously enough with an Anthony Richardson fumble. James Cook then scored on the next play. Then when Florida got the ball back and Richardson threw a pick. Stetson Bennett made him pay for it by completing a 36 yard touchdown to Kearis Jackson on the ensuing play. Suddenly it was 17-3 Georgia. It couldn’t get worse, right? Wrong.

Richardson’s second interception in less than a minute of game time resulted in a Nakobe Dean touchdown that everyone , including Gary Danielson, saw coming from a mile away.

Two offensive snaps. 21 points. Total Gator humiliation. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Vanderbilt is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, going 10-3 overall and 6-2 in the SEC while being in the playoff conversation the whole year. Head coach Clark Lea has built up the Vandy program into something extremely respectful, if not borderline borderline playoff contending – will need a couple more years of sustained success to go that far.

Offense

In 2025, the Commodores finished 8th in the nation in points per game at 38.5 thanks in large part to quarterback Diego Pavia. Pavia was the engine of the Vandy offense and finished as the Heisman runner-up. 2026, though, will see a new signal caller under center. Most believe that true freshman and former UGA commit Jared Curtis will be the starter in Week 1. A former five-star recruit and Nashville native, Curtis flipped to Vanderbilt just prior to putting pen to paper for his signing. Curtis is by far the biggest recruit in the history of Vanderbilt football, who had never had even a top 50 commit prior to Curtis signing. Having already drawn comparisons from his head coach Lea, it seems that Curtis will indeed be the starter. Other quarterbacks pushing Curtis for the starting spot are third year quarterback Blaze Berlowitz and and Whit Muschamp, son of Will Muschamp.

Though the quarterback will be new, the main player they will hand the ball off to is not. Sedrick Alexander returns for another year as the starting running back after averaging 5.4 yard per carry and accumulating 15 total touchdowns last season. Alexander will likely be tasked with carrying a bigger workload in 2026 to ease the pressure off the true-freshman Curtis.

The Commodores did lose All-American tight end Eli Stowers who will now be catching passes from Jalen Hurts for the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the loss of their leading pass catcher in terms of receptions, Vanderbilt does return their top wide receiver in Junior Sherrill who led the team with 800 yards through the air.

Even with Alexander, Sherrill, and more returning, the offense will only go as far as Curtis can take them. While an elite talent, it remains to be seen how well his game translates from Tennessee Class A football to the SEC

Defense

While Vanderbilt’s offense was putting up video game numbers, their defense was merely trying to do their part in securing each win, giving up 22.8 points per game which was 48th in the country.

The Dores return cornerback and Rome High School grad Martel Hight who led the team in interceptions in 2025 (he also added seven catches on offense, too). Additionally, Vanderbilt returns both of their leading tacklers in CJ Heard (safety) and Bryan Longwell (linebacker). Furthermore, their leading edge rusher Miles Capers also returns to add to his sack total from 2025.

All of this is to say, while Vanderbilt’s defense was not one of the conference’s elite in 2025, they do return a good amount of their talent. Clark Lea made his name coordinating one great defense after another, and he will have that side of the ball prepared to complement their offense in 2026.

Prediction

As is the case often times when Vanderbilt comes to Athens, it will be Homecoming week of the Dawgs. As someone who holds degrees from both institutions, the game is uniquely exciting for me; however, make no mistake, I want Georgia to win by 50 every time out.

While I don’t think Georgia wins by quite that amount, I find it difficult to see Vanderbilt not just pulling off the upset but keeping it relatively close. The Dawgs are formidable in Sanford, and no one in the stadium, from the players to the fans, will make Curtis’ life any easier after spurning Georgia late in the recruiting cycle.

Georgia 34 Vanderbilt 17

Alabamas safety Keon Sabb was one of the most productive defensive backs in the SEC in 2025, leading the Tide with 4 interceptions while earning first-team All-SEC and third-team All-American honors as a junior. He was a projected top-five safety in the 2026 NFL Draft before deciding to return to Tuscaloosa for one more season, a decision that gives Alabama a proven veteran leader on the back end of its defense.

Preseason accolades have followed him into 2026. Sabb earned a spot on Athlon Sports’ preseason All-America second team at safety and has continued to be recognized as one of the premier defensive backs in the conference. His ability to read quarterbacks and close on the ball has made him a focal point of Alabama’s defensive game plan, and he’s regarded as one of the best returning safeties anywhere in the country entering the season.

For Georgia, Sabb is the type of player who can single-handedly change the math on a passing down. A safety who knows how to bait quarterbacks into thinking a window is open when it isn’t, and has shown he can finish those plays rather than just batting the ball away. When the Dawgs and Tide face off on October 10th in Tuscaloosa Georgia’s passing game will need to account for where Sabb is playing on any given snap, particularly on deep shots or intermediate crossers, since a mistake in his direction could easily end a possession.

The 6’1, 208 pound New Jersey native is also big and physical enough to make plays against the run and to create pressure at the line of scrimmage. I’s expect the Michigan transfer entering his third season at Alabama to be moved around more, making him harder to account for and taking advantage of his instincts and football IQ.

Here at DOT HQ the last several weeks, we’ve been watching the bubble for which former Bulldogs will qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs – the PGA Tour’s postseason. Last week in Detroit was fairly kind to some of our boys on the wrong side of the 70th position, so let’s take a look at who did what.

Brendon Todd started the week in 217th place, and only a win would’ve given him hope. Since he missed the cut, he is mathematically eliminated. Harris English was already top 50 and used the Rocket Classic to work on his game. It looked decent for the first two rounds and he made the weekend, but over par on Saturday and Sunday gave him a 71st place finish and he dropped to #49 on the playoff points list. No need to worry – he’s assured of a playoff berth. Russell Henley was likewise a lock for extended play at #14. He still shot all four rounds under par and tied for 20th. But that actually dropped him 1 spot to #15 in FedEx Cup points – still a lock.

Chris Kirk began last week at #147 and really needed a win to get close to the magic 70th position. His Saturday 66 gave him a realistic shot, and he spent a good chunk of Sunday within 1 or 2 shots of the lead. But a honest-to-God shank early on his final 9 holes really shook him, and his final round 70 meant a tie for 8th and he only moved up to 127th place in the playoff race.

Similarly Davis Thompson began in 93rd spot, and to leapfrog the logjam in front of him required a top 3 finish. He was 2nd page leaderboard material until a Sunday 66 jumped him into a tie with Kirk for 8th, which means he only moved up to 81st. But still within shouting distance and a realistic chance to advance if he gets top 3 or better this week. He finished 11th at Wyndham last year, and Kirk finished 5th, so there’s a chance.

After 34-odd weeks, the PGA Tour’s final regular season event is upon us. 4 majors, 8 signature events, the Players Championship, 20 other regular tournaments and a smattering of opposite-field events are in the books and it all comes down to this week. Sorta (there’s a Fall season that is only kinda official, but can be used to better your status going into 2027).

Tournament: Wyndham Championship, August 6-9, 2026

Course: Sedgefield Country Club par 70, 7,131 yards. It will likely play closer to 6,800 or 6,900 yards each day as they move tee boxes up and back. After a brutal June, the hot and wet July means the small undulating greens are protected by pretty thick rough, so be prepared to find fairways.

Purse: $8.5 million in total, and $1,530,000 to the winner.

Defending Champ: Cameron Young. The Wake Forest Demon Deacon famous for runner-up finishes finally broke through for his first Tour win. And it wasn’t particularly close – he lapped the field and was up 6 or more shots pretty much the entire final round.

Fun Fact: It’s an old-school Donald Ross design in Greensboro, NC which is famous for shuttered textile mills and birthplace of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Literally the ACC was formally brought into existence at the Sedgefield clubhouse. Do you think the ACC founding fathers envisioned Cal as a future member, and having Belichick and Dabo as the flag bearers?

TV Times: Just like last week, Golf Channel has broadcast coverage 3-6 pm ET Thursday and Friday and 1-3 pm ET Saturday and Sunday. CBS will have its last golf broadcast of the year Saturday and Sunday starting at 3 pm ET.

‘Dawgs in the Field: 6. In addition to Thompson, English, and Kirk mentioned above, Keith Mitchell (#47 in FedEx), Brian Harman (#63), and Sepp Straka (#37) are teeing it up this week in Greensboro.

So there’s who to watch and root for. When the only football is NFL preseason, this might be a good alternative. Check out the pressure as millionaires and hundred-thousandaires fight to keep their cushy jobs for next year. And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

Georgia fans and people at a squat rack have one main thing in common; they want to see a tight end.

Luckily for all, Georgia boasts a solid TE room mixed with veterans and newcomers ready to make an impact when the 2026 season begins in just a few weeks.

The most notable and positive name in the group is Lawson Luckie, who returns for his senior year after posting 15 catches for 158 yards and 4 TDs last season. Mike Bobo is certainly Luckie to have a reliable veteran in the fold, especially one who has shown the ability to make big plays when he’s needed. Luckie posted 3/4 of his TDs last season in the Ole Miss V1.0 game in Athens, each of which were needed to help secure the Dawgs’ one-possession win.

The big Senior out of Norcross, GA, coming in at 6’4” 240 lbs, is not a player you want to mess with nor cross, as he has the size and strength to certainly hold his own. This size helps in the running game, as Luckie is often tasked with blocking Defensive Ends and Outside Linebackers. Last season, he spent a considerable number of plays as the lead blocker on WR screens, of which Georgia fans are undoubtedly all too familiar.

This commitment to WR screens was frustrating to some, but opened up the “fake WR screen TE wheel route” play that seemed to work for at least one big gain every game. With the Screen Menace Branch now in the NFL, it will be interesting to see if this type of play is as potent as before.

If not, Mike Bobo et al. will have to come up with more creative ways to get Luckie the ball. His combination of size and speed makes him a mismatch, and like we said, any Offensive Coordinator would be Luckie to have him on their team.

With that being said, Luckie has career totals of 41 catches for 515 yards over three season, not necessarily numbers that jump out at you. But as one of only two returning players who had multiple TD receptions last season, he should have plenty of opportunity to improve upon those significantly.

The other big name to know in the TE room is Elyiss Williams. Not unlike real estate, the three most important words when talking about Elyiss Williams are “potential, potential, potential.” The towering 6’7” Sophomore returns after showing flashes in an overall quiet Freshman season. But in an offense that loves featuring 2-tight end sets, and with Oscar Delp now in the NFL, Williams should see the field much more often in 2026.

This aforementioned potential was on full display early in the Mississippi State game last season. On one first-quarter drive, he made an acrobatic, leaping catch on third down, then shoved a defender 5 yards back to pave the way for a Chauncey Bowens TD run.

Mike Bobo, like a young artist seeking inspiration, should look no further than the 2022 UGA offense to find ways to properly use Williams. That national title winning squad used fellow giant TE Darnell Washington perfectly, taking advantage of his agility and strength as a lead blocker on the perimeter, while using his frame and catch radius in the passing game.

Defenders hated seeing Big 0 rumbling full speed at them, and his consistent presence as a lead blocker wore teams down over the course of games, opening up lanes all over.

We saw the natural abilities and uncoachable size of Williams last season, but he needs to improve his blocking ability if he wants to be the offensive staple Georgia fans hope to see. He has the potential to completely open up the playbook in a way that’s been missing since Washington crossed the Allegheny into the NFL, and here’s to hoping that potential is realized.

Lastly but not leastly, and excuse my French, nous avons Kaiden Prothro. The electric young Freshman moves more like a WR but could be listed as a TE given he’s 6’6” and 210 lbs. Though it is hard to project ahead, the highlight reel and high school accolades hint at a promising collegiate career. Prothro enters college this year as the great state of Georgia’s all-time leading TD catcher, which not many others can say (none, to be specific).

Prothro certainly has a chance to make an impact from day 1, but Kirby has always been adamant that if you can’t block, you can’t play. Adjusting to the physical nature of SEC ball will be the biggest challenge for him in year 1, especially early, but if he is able to hold his own in the running game, then we could see some electric plays from the start.

The offensive coaching staff has a lot of interesting and complimentary pieces to play with this season when it comes to the TE position. While this room may not have a Brock Bowers, becuase no room ever will, there are players who are capable of impacting the game at multiple levels.

How the coaching staff chooses to use these chess pieces will be very interesting, and luckily, we are only a few weeks away from finding out.

The SEC enters 2026 with six new head coaches after last year’s carousel turned into a Game of Thrones episode, sending Auburn, Florida, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Kentucky, and LSU to the Indeed portal to make new hires. That churn means most of the pressure this season falls on a smaller group of holdovers who’ve already had time to prove, or fail perhaps fail to prove, that they’re the man for the job. Let’s take a look at the coaches feeling the heat, what needs to go right for them, and the games that could decide their futures.

Five alarm fires (coaches under the most pressure)

Shane Beamer, South Carolina. Nobody in the league enters 2026 with a toastier back side than Beamer, who followed his best season in the lesser of the Columbias (9-4 in 2024) with a 4-8 shambles of a 2025 that included blowing a 30-3 halftime lead to Texas A&M and a five game losing streak. He fired his offensive coordinator and brought in Kendal Briles, which given Briles’ baggage shows a palpable sense of desperation. I also means that there’s no one left to blame if the ‘Cocks can’t score points. For Beamer to survive, South Carolina probably needs at least a couple of statement wins. Knocking off Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Florida in the Swamp, or Oklahoma in Norman would fit the bill. A win over Clemson in the season finale might also salvage things if the SEC slate doesn’t go according to plan, but only if there are no more “statement losses” like last year’s A&M debacle. Anything resembling last year’s finish likely ends his tenure.

Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State. Lebby’s improvement from 2-10 to 5-8 in 2025 was real, but a 1-15 SEC mark over two years won’t buy much more patience in Starkville. One advantage Lebby had that Beamer doesn’t is that the path to survival runs through Davis-Wade Stadium: a home upset of Alabama or Oklahoma would change the entire narrative, and there are winnable conference games against Missouri, Vanderbilt, and Auburn. Win those three and upset somebody else and he probably has another year to really hit pay dirt, as a finish on the good side of .500 is likely the bar for a fourth season.

Fire contained (For Now)

Josh Heupel, Tennessee. Heupel’s tenure on Rocky Top has been a study in inconsistency. There was an 11-2, Orange Bowl-winning 2022 sandwiched around 4-4 SEC finishes in three other seasons. The 2026 schedule offers a lifeline, though: Texas, Alabama, and LSU all visit Neyland Stadium. Going 2-1 in those games, on top of handling the teams Tennessee is supposed to beat, likely keeps Heupel in Knoxville. A 1-2 showing at home against that trio would turn up the temperature considerably.

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama. I don’t really think DeBoer is in danger of being fired in 2026, but Alabama’s standard is unlike just about anywhere else in the sport. And when that type of fire kicks up it usually does so in a hurry. Following a living legend like Nick Saban means the grading curve doesn’t bend. In Tuscaloosa a Playoff berth and quarterfinal run that would thrill every other fan base in the country would barely register as “good enough.” DeBoer needs to contend for the SEC title and make a real January run to fully quiet the noise.

No smoke, but conditions are right.

Steve Sarkisian, Texas. Sark’s seat is far cooler than the others on this list, but the bar has been raised by his own roster. With Arch Manning entering his second year as a starter and a loaded team that will open the year ranked in the top three, a favorable home slate against Ohio State and Ole Miss means the Longhorns are expected to make the College Football Playoff. Missing it two years running would start real conversations in Austin about whether he’s the man for the job.

Brent Venables, Oklahoma. Norman, like Austin, is not a place known for patient and forgiving football fans. But a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025 should buy him another year unless the Sooners absolutely self-immolate this season. With John Mateer back and healthy and plenty of talent around him, I just don’t expect a blaze to kick up under Venables’ nether regions this season.

What buys everyone else safety

Kirby Smart remains the standard-bearer for stability in the league, and new hires at Florida (Jon Sumrall), Auburn (Alex Golesh), Kentucky (Will Stein), and Arkansas (Ryan Silverfield) all get the traditional grace period afforded to first-year coaches, whatever their win totals look like. Barring an odious scandal or actual criminal wrongdoing I don’t see any of those guys getting the hook.

LSU’s Lane Kiffin arrives with enormous expectations after his Ole Miss departure, but a first season at a new job typically buys patience even at a program with LSU’s resources. That said, Lane’s a different kind of guy, and LSU’s got alumni crazier than a bag full of nutria rats beneath a full bayou moon. So who knows?

Texas A&M’s Mike Elko and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz have both built real momentum, and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea has turned a longtime SEC punching bag into a genuinely competitive program. None of the three faces meaningful pressure. If anything, their administrators and donors probably need to be thinking about how to keep them in town if 2026 goes really well and other programs come calling.

Ranking all 16 SEC coaches from safest to most in jeopardy

1. Kirby Smart, Georgia
2. Mike Elko, Texas A&M
3. Lane Kiffin, LSU
4. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
5. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri
6. Jon Sumrall, Florida
7. Alex Golesh, Auburn
8. Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas
9. Will Stein, Kentucky
10. Pete Golding, Ole Miss
11. Brent Venables, Oklahoma
12. Steve Sarkisian, Texas
13. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
14. Josh Heupel, Tennessee
15. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State
16. Shane Beamer, South Carolina

Barring an unexpected implosion, the SEC probably won’t see the six-coach turnover it experienced heading into 2026. But athletic directors and boosters across the league are rarely content with the status quo, and for at least a couple of names near the bottom of this list one more disappointing fall could mean a very different sideline in 2027.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

SEC Media Days 2026 was, as usual, a lot of sizzle and very little steak. But one announcement was significant enough that it merits further consideration.

The league announced that beginning in 2026 a player’s first targeting ejection of the season will no longer carry an automatic suspension into the next game. The player is still disqualified for the remainder of the current game, but may play the following week regardless of whether the foul occurred in the first or second half. A second targeting ejection in the same season results in missing the first half of the next game, while a third results in a full game suspension. Conferences may also use an appeals process after a second offense. This all aligns the SEC with the NCAA’s new one year trial rule. 

The change could reduce the impact of borderline targeting calls on future games, especially when star players are ejected late in a contest. Supporters of the changes argue the new rule preserves player safety while making the punishment more proportional since a first offense no longer creates an automatic carryover suspension. Critics may worry that removing the immediate next game consequence could slightly weaken deterrence, though players still face ejection and escalating penalties for repeat violations. At a minimum, there’s a strong argument that this rule penalizes repeat offenders and actual “head hunters” while not penalizing players as harshly for an isolated incident.

According the SEC coordinator of officials John McDaid, six FBS players were given two targeting fouls during the 2025 season. Seven players were given two targeting flags in both 2021 and 2022. Five were flagged twice in 2023 and four were given two in 2024. No FBS players were given three or more targeting fouls in a season over the last five years. McDaid highlighted the data as evidence showing the targeting rule is effective to shape player behavior. Personally, I think some of it is also a shift in coaching practices now that the targeting rule has been generally in its current form for a decade. Nobody teaches tackling the way Greg Blue did it anymore, whether for good or ill.

Other conferences are likely to monitor the rule’s effects closely. Because the NCAA approved the policy as a one year experiment across  the Football Bowl Subdivision, many leagues are expected to gather data on player behavior, officiating consistency, and injury trends before advocating permanent adoption or further revisions. If the trial appears to be  maintaining safety while reducing controversy broader support across college football seems all but assured. Conversely, if repeat offenses increase or enforcement becomes more contentious, conferences could still push for stricter penalties or modifications before making the rule permanent.

It remains to be seen how these changes will actually affect the game. I think the best outcome would be that they really don’t, and we don’t notice the change. I’m all for player safety, but there’s long been a school of thought that the current rule is overly penal, especially on bang/bang plays where there’s clearly no intent to injure. Not taking players off the field for extended periods in that situation strikes me as, on balance, a more sensible way of administering the rule.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

The Twin Cities injected some excitement into the late season last week, and there was good news for former Bulldogs to boot. First, Tour rookie (I mean like 24 days since turning pro) Jackson Koivun won the 3M Open in his 3rd start as a professional and 7th time playing a Tour event (he played several as an amateur and based on his NCAA Championship). He beat everyone not named Scottie Scheffler by 5 shots, and held off the world #1 in the process. His incredible collegiate career at Auburn was not a fluke, unlike their academic credentials.

For the boys in red & black: Keith Mitchell finished in a tie for 44th, so his position in the FedEx Cup points did not change. Chris Kirk got to 12 under par, and the T31 finish bumped him up 3 spots to 143rd in the FedEx. But he’ll need a VERY high finish the next two weeks to get into the post-season. David Thompson got a much-needed top 10 (T7) and that moved him up to 93rd position – still outside the top 70 but do now he has an outside chance to advance.

And Brian Harman played the final day alongside Scottie Scheffler and for the most part kept up with him. Harman shot a Sunday 65 and got a T3 – and those points bumped him from the dangerous 74th spot to a more comfortable 62nd spot. So let’s see what’s on tap this week.

Tournament: Rocket Classic, July 30-August 2, 2026.

Course: Detroit Golf Club, par 70, 7,328 yards. 

Purse: $10 million total, with $1.8 million to the winner.

Defending Champ: Aldrich Potgeiter. The youngster (only 20 at the time) came out blazing and had a 2 stroke lead entering the final round. He shot a 1 under 69 Sunday, but that was enough for Georgia’s own Chris Kirk to catch him with a 67. Duke Blue Devel Max Greyserman matched Kirk and got into the playoff too, but that’s the side story. The main story is that Kirk felt sorry for the South African rookie and let him win after a few holes.

TV Times: Similar to last week, and much like a “regular” Tour event, Golf Channel has coverage Thursday and Friday from 3-6 pm ET, and Saturday and Sunday 1-3 pm. CBS will take over the late weekend coverage Saturday and Sunday at 3 pm ET.

‘Dawgs in the Field: Russell Henley, Chris Kirk, Brendon Todd, Davis Thomson, Harris English.

If you’ve been following along, and Mom I know you have, you realize both Henley and English are in good shape for the FedEx Cup Playoffs at 14th and 48th respectively. You know Davis Thompson needs some high finishes the next two weeks to jump from now 93rd place into the top 70. Chris Kirk is at 143 and needs a miracle. And Brendon Todd would need a win this week (and only a win), plus make the cut next week at Wyndham and I’m not sure he can enter next week. Straka, Harman, and Mitchell are in pretty good shape, but some may play next week to tune up for the fast-approaching post-season.

Enjoy this during the dog days, before the ‘Dawg Days truly begin, and hopefully a ‘Dawg will have his Day in the winners circle in Rock City. And as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!

There have been other Bulldogs tailbacks who ran for more yards than Knowshon Moreno. There are Bulldog tailbacks with more SEC and national title rings than Knowshon Moreno. But pound for pound and carry for carry, has there ever been a more electric Bulldog tailbacks who ran than Knowshon Moreno? I submit that the answer is ““no.” Just ask the Central Michigan Chippewas.

CMU came to Athens for the second game of the 2008 season and met a Bulldog squad with a chip on its shoulder. Georgia, led by future #1 draft pick and likely NFL Hall of Famer Matt Stafford had begun the season ranked #1 in the nation for the first time in decades. But the Red and Black actually dropped to #2 after a sleepy home opener win against Georgia Southern. They took their frustrations out on the Chips, scoring on four straight possessions coming out of halftime to cruise to a 56-17 victory.

There were plenty of highlights in this one, but the iconic moment remains Knowshon’s twisting, leaping run for a drive extending first down.

Few tailbacks have ever been as shifty in traffic and as smooth in the open field as noted quiet hours back flipper Knowshon Rockwell Moreno. Knowshon would finish his day with 168 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns. But it was this leap that ended up on teeshirts and message board avatars.

Go ‘‘Dawgs!!!

Quintavius Johnson took a major step forward in his first year as a full-time starter at outside linebacker for the Red and Black in 2025. The redshirt sophomore played and started all 14 games, finishing with 35 total tackles (21 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and 3 pass breakups.

Even better, his production was spread across the schedule rather than concentrated in a couple of standout games. Johnson showed out against Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, and Mississippi State, where he notched a sack, a forced fumble, and a tackle for loss in the same outing. It was a steady, productive season that established him as a reliable piece of Georgia’s defense. Johnson justified the rave reviews coaches bestowed on him in fall camp, showing real growth in his ability to set the edge, shed blocks, and get after the quarterback. Just ask poor Ty Simpson.

Entering 2026, Johnson should retain a featured role in Georgia’s outside linebacker rotation. With the ‘Dawgs losing key front seven pieces to the NFL, including linebacker CJ Allen, the door is open for Johnson to become not just a primary edge rusher and every-down defender, but also a vocal veteran leader of the defense. He’ll be working alongside returning veterans like Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole, and is one of Georgia’s third-year players whose draft stock could take a significant jump this season.

At 6’4 and 255 pounds, he has the frame to hold up against the run while still offering the athleticism to win as a pass rusher, and Kirby Smart’s staff will likely lean on him to be more disruptive in obvious passing situations. If he can build on last year’s 6.0 tackles for loss and turn that into double-digit disruptive plays, he could emerge as one of the anchors of Glenn Schumann’s defense.

Johnson is not yet a household name in NFL Draft circles, but his combination of size, athletic testing history (he was clocked below 4.70 in the 40-yard dash coming out of high school and looks even quicker now) and increasing production puts him firmly on the radar for the 2027 NFL Draft cycle. He projects ann a true edge defender with room to add strength and refine his pass rush counters. A strong, featured 2026 season, particularly one with a jump in sacks and pressures, would likely push him into early-round conversations. For now, he profiles as a developmental but high-upside prospect whose stock hinges heavily on how much he can produce as a full-time featured rusher in Georgia’s 2026 defense. If he picks up where he left off in 2025, it would be a huge boost for an already loaded Bulldog defense.

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

There are many ways in which Georgia is fortunate to have Kirby Smart as its head football coach. One of them is seen currently at six other SEC schools.

As this season begins, LSU, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida and Arkansas have new head football coaches. For Auburn, Florida and Arkansas, they get a handful of a the cruelest of measuring sticks since each of them draw Georgia on their schedule.

Did any of these teams get these hires right? Clearly time will tell. But that’s not the utmost concern for Georgia fans. That worry, on the other hand, should be which new coaching staff should cause fans from the Classic City point of view the most concern.

Which should worry Dawg fans the most? Here’s a ranking, at least for the current time before the season.

Ole Miss: Pete Golding

Look, this team came within a break or two of playing for a national title, and Georgia fans saw first-hand what kind of group that the Rebels have. There’s no adjusting as a program to a new regime since Pete Golding took over as interim last year…and having a Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy in an offense does not hurt…neither those a defense with a core group that’s a year more experienced.

LSU: Lane Kiffin

It’s hard to discredit Lane Kiffin. Toss aside of thoughts about how he flung himself at the feet of multiple suitors in front of the world not just last year, but in his entire coaching career. He’s coveted for a good reason. If his offensive mind alongside OC Charlie Weis, Jr. and embarrasing load of transfers can accelerate an adjustment curb, the Tigers could quickly slingshot back near the top of the SEC. Having all key contests aside from Ole Miss at home does not hurt, either.

Auburn: Alex Golesh

Auburn University is to be commended for ensuring the program is stuck in ditch with the recent head-coaching hires of Bryan Harsin and Hugh Freeze.

At some point, the Tigers will get back to a point of respectability. Is Alex Golesh the one to do that? There’s an obvious desire to see if what he was able to do as South Florida can be replicated. He took a Bulls team from a three-year, 4-49 mark to three winning seasons in a row, so it’s not a shock that of Auburn’s 60 new players, 13 are from USF. That’s all well and good…but at some point, you have to consider that these players were at an American Athletic Conference school for a reason. Golesh may very well get results that the YellaWood Mafia desires..but it may not happen this year, not with an October From Hell with games at Tennessee, Georgia and Ole Miss with LSU at home.

Florida: Jon Sumrall

If there’s one thing Georgia fans have an easy way of doing, it’s making fun of the University of Florida. Look, when you consider Jorts as high-quality fashion and count Corrine Brown as an alumna, it’s kind of low-hanging fruit. New Gator boss Jon Sumrall made it easy with his recent personal-care habits being revealed. To quote Lewis Grizzard, “Damn, Brother. I don’t believe I’d of that.”

One thing that is no laughing matter is that Sumrall looks to be counting on Buster Faulkner to replicate what he was able to do with Haynes King at Georgia Tech at Florida…with Tech transfer Aaron Philo under center. The Gators may have been shaky last year in a four-win season, but their upset of Texas likely kept the Longhorns out of the postseason, and they gave both Georgia and Ole Miss a handful in late-season losses. If this new coaching staff can sew up some weak spots on both sides of the ball, this is easily a top-25 team.

Arkansas: Ryan Silverfield

Congrats, Ryan Silverfield. You get to feel like General Custer at Little Big Horn.

Coming over from Memphis, he’ll take on one of the nation’s toughest schedules. Before the schedule gets deep into October, the Hawgs draw Utah, Texas A&M and Georgia, and the season wraps up against Texas and LSU. That Utah game is on the road the week before hosting Georgia, for those who missed those offseason airings of grievances.

While there should be solace in being just -11 in turnover margin last year amid an 0-8 SEC mark, they’re one of the conferences least experienced. As this year goes on, it may be more obvious that Sam Pittman got more out of this team than he had any business doing.

Kentucky: Will Stein

After Mark Stoops publicly tried to leave town, it was a matter of time for the Wildcats to make a move at head coach. Enter Will Stein, whose roster and coaching staff are full of energy. With just five starters back from last year, this new staff was done few favors. Facing Alabama and Texas A&M in September may very well have fans asking when basketball practice is earlier than usual.

January 1, 2021 could be looked back upon as the catalyst for the Dawgs’ back to back national championships. If you don’t want to go THAT far, then surely we can all agree that this day provided some serious good vibes heading into the 2021 offseason that led to Georgia’s first title in 41 years (and don’t call me Shirley).

On that day, in the midst of the world still dealing with the Covid pandemic, the Georgia Bulldogs faced the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Peach Bowl. It was a tough fought game, with Cincy up 11 heading into the fourth quarter. Georgia, in what has now become a theme for the program, did not quit and fought back to 21-19 with seven seconds left.

Up steps up kicker Jack Podlesny to attempt a game-winning 54-yard field goal, in the black jerseys nonetheless.

We all know what happens next. Hot Pod drills a curling right-to-left kick that sails through the uprights, giving the Dawgs a 22-21 win. Podlesny would go on to be the starting kicker for both of Georgia’s national championships, playing a key role on both teams.

So raise your morning cup of Joe to Hot Pod, a DGD.

Arkansas football enters 2026 looking almost nothing like the team that stumbled through a disastrous 2025 season that saw them go 2-10 overall and 0-for-the-SEC. After Sam Pittman was fired in late September and Bobby Petrino finished out the year as interim coach, the Razorbacks turned to Memphis’ Ryan Silverfield to lead yet another full scale rebuild of the program. With a new staff, a roster overhauled through the transfer portal, but one of the toughest schedules in the country waiting, expectations in Northwest Arkansas are cautious but hopeful.

Silverfield arrives after six seasons at Memphis, where he went a solid 50-25 and built a reputation for explosive offenses. Memphis has always been a place at which it was tough to succeed. Despite a ton of local talent, the university’s commitment level (or lack thereof) and competition on the recruiting trail from SEC schools frequently combined to keep the Tigers from reaching their potential.

Silverfield won more than ten games twice, but 2025 saw the Tigers drop to 8-4, and Silverfield leave prior to them taking a 31-7 beating from NC State in the Gasparilla Bowl. In short, he was not the most highly sought after coach on the carousel, and probably had a hit of a sell by date in Memphis. But Arkansas isn’t exactly a plum assignment in the SEC. So in some ways it felt like program and coach found each other at the right time.

Silverfield wasted little time assembling his first Arkansas staff. Tim Cramsey, his offensive coordinator at Memphis for four seasons, follows him to Fayetteville after helping the Tigers average 36 points per game and rank among the top 25 offenses nationally. On defense, Silverfield hired Ron Roberts, who spent the last two years running Florida’s defense and previously called plays at Auburn, Baylor and Louisiana, including on Baylor’s Sugar Bowl winning 2022 staff. Chad Lunsford, a former Georgia Southern head coach, takes over special teams duties after a strong 2025 at Auburn. The staff also brought in several assistants from Memphis and around the country, including veteran offensive line coaches Jeff Myers and Marcus Johnson, signaling a clear intent to rebuild a line that struggled last season.

Those new coaches are going to need name tags to keep up with all their new players. Few programs churned their roster harder than Arkansas this offseason. With dozens of scholarship spots to fill, the Razorbacks needed a portal class that ranked among the largest in the country, and they landed roughly 29 commitments that placed them near the top of the SEC and top 15 nationally in industry transfer rankings.

The quarterback room was essentially rebuilt from scratch. Longtime starter Taylen Green departed for the NFL Draft, and both Trever Jackson and Grayson Wilson left for Coastal Carolina and Boston College. In their place, Arkansas brought in Memphis transfer (and cousin of former Georgia offensive lineman Trey Hill) AJ Hill, a former top 100 recruit out of Houston County who nearly won the Memphis job before Silverfield left. He’ll be joined by Clemson’s Cade Trotter and Division II standout Braeden Fuller from Angelo State. Returning sophomore KJ Jackson remains in the mix as well.
Hill and Jackson appear to be the top options at the position, but the battle for the starting spot may extend well into fall camp.

Whoever takes the snaps will likely be handing off to bruising junior tailback Braylen Russell or shiftier senior Sutton Smith. Russell tallied 286 rushing yards on 55 carries in 2025, earning one start. Smith comes with the new staff from Memphis, where he put up 778 yards of offense (662 on the ground) and 7 touchdowns. Smith will likely be the every down versatility back in Silverfield’s system, while Russell at 227 pounds is likely going to be the short yardage go-to.

At receiver junior CJ Brown returns off a solid 2025 season in which he hauled in 28 catches for 319 yards and 3 touchdowns. Redshirt junior Ismael Cisse is looking to contribute after catching 26 passes for 241 yards at Stanford in 2024 but missing last year with an injury. Boise State transfer Chris Marshall gives the Razorbacks another big, experienced outside receiver.

Arkansas always seems to have a weapon at tight end, and this season should be no different. Big (6’5, 255 pound) Jaden Platt is back as the leading tight end, coming off a 2025 season in which he had 21 catches for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Cramsey’s offense should look familiar to anyone who watched Memphis in recent years: up-tempo, balanced, and built to create explosive plays. The quarterback battle between AJ Hill and KJ Jackson will be one of the more closely watched position competitions in the SEC this preseason. While it didn’t show up in the win column, Arkansas actually finished last season ranked among the nation’s top 15 offenses in total yards and averaged nearly 33 points per game under Bobby Petrino, so there is a foundation to build on even with the staff and personnel turnover.

The receiving corps returns several contributors and adds portal pieces like Marshall, who should stretch the field after averaging significant yards per catch production in his career. The offensive line is the biggest question mark, given the wholesale coaching and personnel changes up front. But but the addition of experienced linemen through the portal gives the staff options as they piece together protection for a new quarterback.

Defense on the other hand was the story of Arkansas’ collapse in 2025, when the Razorbacks allowed 33.8 points per game, among the worst marks in the country. Ron Roberts inherits a unit that returns limited production and had to be almost entirely restocked through the portal, with new defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs arriving from programs across the country.

Up front, senior defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. could be the unit’s key player and is a legitimate all-conference candidate. At linebacker, Bradley Shaw has shown flashes as one of the SEC’s more underrated linebackers, recording 62 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and a forced fumble over his career, and he’s expected to anchor the position as a full-time starter.

Roberts’ track record suggests improved structure and discipline, but expecting an immediate turnaround against SEC competition may be unrealistic. If Arkansas can simply avoid being the conference’s worst defense, that alone would represent progress.

The Bottom Line

The schedule does the new staff no favors, and it’s possible the Hawgs could be better on the field but not much better in the win column. Arkansas opens with North Alabama and a tough road trip to Utah before diving into a nine game SEC slate that includes the Red and Black, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas and LSU.

With that lineup five wins feels like a stretch goal, though better coaching and depth on defense could make games more competitive even without a leap in the standings. Arkansas has not had a winning SEC season since 2015, and this year is less about a bowl game and more about establishing a culture and picking up the program’s first conference win in nearly two seasons. Silverfield will get patience early if he can demonstrate proof of concept, but Razorback fans will be watching closely for signs that the rebuild is heading in the right direction.

When the Razorbacks come to Athens on September 19th the Athenians will be fresh off hosting Tennessee State and Western Kentucky in Athens. Arkansas on the other hand plays at Utah on September 12th (in a game set to start at 10:15 eastern/9:15 central). It will likely be a tired and physically beaten up Razorback squad taking the field in Sanford Stadium, but they will have had some time to build cohesion, and I think will be surprisingly tough. But in the end I expect this one to be a microcosm of a tough rebuilding year. A better Arkansas team is still not good enough to hang with the SEC’s big boys. Arkansas scores a late touchdown to make this one look respectable in the box score, if not on the field.

Score prediction: Georgia 34, Arkansas 20

Go ‘Dawgs!!!

So after two SEC title game appearances in three years, how did Georgia spend the 2005 college football offseason?

As a trendy prediction to lose to an upstart.

With mega-stars like David Greene, David Pollack and Fred Gibson having just graduated, holes had to be filled in a hurry – and that will had to be proven against an upstart from out West in Boise State.

With Georgia’s perceived rebuild and the Broncos coming off a third WAC title and high-scoring Liberty loss to Louisville, throes of conventional wisdom called for a coming out party for Boise.

But the new breed of Bulldogs turned out to be just fine in this top-20 matchup. It wasn’t even close as the Dawgs won 48-13 Between The Hedges. Chief among them? DJ Shockley. After previously spitting time under center with Greene, his first start saw him break a school record with six total touchdown passes – five through the air.

Boise’s much-touted quarterback Jared Zabransky – he did his best Shane Falco in the Sugar Bowl impression. He was picked off on the game’s first offensive play by Tony Taylor and again on the next drive by Dannell Ellerbe, helping to a 14-0 Georgia lead as the Broncos didn’t even scratch the scoreboard until the third quarter. After having five interceptions in all of 2004, Georgia had four against Boise alone.

The romp of Boise set the tone for the rest of the year for the Dawgs, who’d go on to topple LSU for the SEC title in December. The Broncos’ 2005 showed that they were a team not yet ready for prime time. They went 9-4, losing three times to ranked opponents. But as we know, Boise would eventually get their arrival a few years later against Oklahoma, who Georgia also has fond memories of playing against.

Go Dawgs!

Mascot: Sooners, named for the *ahem* overly enthusiastic folks who rushed into the territory to claim land prior to the starter’s pistol that officially announced the race had begun. 

2025 Record: 10-3, 6-2 SEC

Conference: Big 12 SEC. Still feels weird.

Series History: Georgia leads 1-0 (won 54-48-in the greatest Rose Bowl ever played).

Head Coach: Brent Venables, aka Great Valu Kirby Smart.

Famous Alumni: Ed Harris, Olivia Munn, Dari Nowkhah, Atlanta Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson, a whole buncha NFL talent, including Kyler Murray, Adrian Peterson, and DeMarco Murray, former Atlanta Hawk Trae Young.

Fun Fact: The university was founded in 1890, 17 years before Oklahoma itself became a state.

2025 Recap

Venables seems to live his life perpetually on the hot seat. The 2025 edition of the Sooners may have bought him some goodwill with a surprise playoff appearance and marquee victories over Michigan at home and Alabama on the road. They were sometimes fun to watch, thanks to quarterback John Mateer’s swashbucking style of play and the fact that their biggest margin of victory over a Power Four team was beating a floundering South Carolina by 19. 

Of course, they also lost the game they care about the most, dropping the Red River Shootout 23-6 after trying to rush Mateer back from a hand injury, leading to a three-interception performance that set offensive football back a decade or two. And despite a thrilling regular-season win in Tuscaloosa, the Sooners promptly bowed out of the playoff at the hands of those same Elephants in a 34-24 loss.

Tl;dr: They overperformed last year, and they’re a likely candidate for regression.

On Offense

The Oklahoma teams of yesteryear wed high-powered offenses to Swiss cheese defenses, turning every game into a wild shootout. Under Venables, they’ve reversed that formula to play a grueling style of defense-first football that only a fan could enjoy. To try to goose the offense a bit, last year’s team brought in rising star OC Ben Arbuckle and Mateer from Wazzu. Early results were promising, with Mateer getting Heisman buzz after the Michigan win. But he never got quite back on track after his injury. Was that the nagging effects of the injury, or was Mateer just bumping up against his ceiling after beating an overrated Michigan team with a host of problems of its own? He’s back this year, so we’ll find out!

Beyond Mateer, the team returns its best offensive weapon in wide receiver Isaiah Sategna, III. He’s not CeeDee Lamb, but he’s fast and elusive. Whatever he lacks in size (he’s listed at 5’10, so he’s small for a wideout), he makes up for in speed and YAC ability. To help out some, the team also added receiver Parker Livingstone from Texas. 

Arbuckle’s offense has elements of the air raid, and Mateer is well-suited to running it because he gets the ball out fast and is dangerous in the short- and mid-range passing game. But the Sooners were at their best last year when taking advantage of his abilities as a runner. If you’re looking for a reason to be nervous about this one, let me draw your attention to the frustrations a dual-threat QB has traditionally caused Kirby Smart’s defenses. 

On the other hand, Mateer’s biggest weaknesses are his long-range accuracy and a susceptibility to pre-snap confusion. Stopping the Sooners will be a matter of jamming the middle with a lot of bodies, employing ample pre-snap twists and stunts, and forcing them to throw deep where Ellis Robinson will be waiting. 

On Defense

Venables’ teams have made their hay on the defensive side of the ball, and there’s no reason to suspect the 2026 edition will be any different. Although they lost fearsome pass rusher R. Mason Thomas to the NFL, last year’s team sack leader Taylor Wein is back, as is Kip Lewis. If there’s a defensive weakness, the Sooners aren’t quite as ball hawky as you might expect a Venables defense to be. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to be a pushover by any stretch.

Unless Arkansas is much, much better than anyone expects, this game will be the first real test for new o-line coach Phil Rauscher’s group. You can be fairly certain their gameplan is going to be to stuff the line and jam the run, hassle Gunner Stockton and try to make him win it through the air. So basically the exact same thing we’re going to do to them. 

Prediction

Because it’s early in the season, I’d be a little more worried if this were in Norman. And if the offensive line is still a work in progress in late September, this one could turn into a hammer fight in a phone booth. Oklahoma plays a similar style to Georgia but without quite as much panache or the same quality players, which should favor the Dawgs, as will playing in Athens. Points will come at a premium, but I think UGA pulls away late to win, 28-17.