ATHENS — Kirby Smart’s second year as Georgia’s head coach is starting off with more games under the lights at Sanford Stadium.

The SEC announced that the Georgia-Samford game on Sept. 16 will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network Alternate.

That makes three straight night games, at least, to start Georgia’s season. The opener against Appalachian State is set for 6:15 p.m., followed by a 7:30 ET kickoff at Notre Dame, and then the Samford game.

The times of the remaining September games — home against Mississippi State on Sept. 23 and at Tennessee on Sept. 30 — have yet to be announced.

Last year was filled with early game times for the Bulldogs, especially at home, where they hosted Nicholls State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisiana-Lafayette and Georgia Tech in the day. The only home game to kick off at night was against Auburn.

Samford is an FCS team from Alabama.