There’s been plenty of chatter about Georgia’s schedule this offseason. With games against Clemson, Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss all coming away from Sanford Stadium, Georgia will certainly have its hands full on a week-by-week basis.
But if there’s a silver lining to Georgia’s beefed up schedule, it’s that the Bulldogs don’t have to play themselves. That’s not the case for the likes of Clemson, Florida and Mississippi State, who all took home superlatives for their schedules during the 2024 season.
ESPN’s Chris Low gave Clemson the hardest opening schedule, with Georgia being the main selling point.
“It doesn’t get much tougher than facing No. 1 Georgia in the Aug. 31 opener at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta,” Low wrote. “A week later, Appalachian State comes to Death Valley. The Mountaineers are perhaps the Sun Belt Conference’s best team and no stranger to making life tough for the big boys. After a bye, Clemson faces a pair of top-15 teams over the next three weeks -- No. 13 N.C. State at home Sept. 21 and No. 11 Florida State on the road Oct. 5. The schedule is top-heavy for the Tigers, meaning we should know by mid-October if they’re a serious playoff contender.”
The Bulldogs last opened the season against Clemson back in 2021. Georgia came away with a 10-3 win, which helped propel the Bulldogs to their first national championship under Kirby Smart.
While Georgia won’t put too much emphasis on any one opponent, the Bulldogs like that they get to open against a team of Clemson’s caliber.
“There’s nothing better than facing a good team,” safety Malaki Starks said at SEC media days. “We’ve got a bunch of good teams on our schedule, they just happen to be one of them, so I’m excited to see what we can do.”
Low didn’t just single out Clemson for having to face the Bulldogs. Florida was given the toughest schedule overall and the toughest close to the season. Georgia is a factor in both of those selections. As for a runner-up for toughest schedule, Low tabbed Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets end the season against Georgia on Nov. 29.
Mississippi State was given the toughest road schedule, with Georgia hosting the Bulldogs on Oct. 12. Georgia’s home games this year come against Tennessee Tech, Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee, UMass and Georgia Tech.
Georgia’s schedule is plenty difficult, especially when compared to the likes of an Ohio State or an Ole Miss, who earned superlatives on the easy side from Low.
The Bulldogs though aren’t too bothered by who they have to face on a week-to-week basis. Whether it’s Clemson or Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs are eager to take the field.
“We’re not one to complain. We’re one to be excited,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I think when you step into the shoes of a University of Georgia football player, you accept that challenge is going to be there.”
The game against Clemson is set for a Noon ET start on ABC.