Think of Georgia football like a classic Rocky movie. The Dawgs step into the ring, take a couple of jabs, maybe even get knocked down in the opening rounds. The crowd starts buzzing, “Is this the night the champ finally falls?” But just like Rocky, Georgia always seems to shake it off, gather itself, and come storming back in the later rounds.
That formula makes for drama, but it also leaves fans wondering one thing. Why does a program this talented so often wait until the second quarter or even the second half to start throwing real punches?
The Pattern Repeats
This isn’t just a feeling. Georgia’s biggest games over the last two seasons prove the trend.
2024 at Alabama, Digging a 28-0 Hole
Georgia’s trip to Tuscaloosa in 2024 looked like a heavyweight bout on paper. Instead, Alabama came out swinging, racing to a 28-0 lead before the Bulldogs found their footing. Carson Beck eventually orchestrated a furious rally, but by the time Georgia finally threw its best shot and taken the lead the Tide stormed back and landed the haymaker. Georgia fell 41-34 in a game that showcased both their resilience and their maddeningly slow start.
2024 Sugar Bowl vs. Notre Dame, Sleepwalking into Halftime
In the College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Notre Dame, Georgia opened scoreless in the first quarter. The Irish built a 13-3 halftime lead, and even though the Bulldogs battled back in the second half, the early drought proved costly. On a national playoff stage, the inability to fire out of the gate turned into an uphill climb they couldn’t fully overcome.
2025 vs. Tennessee, Giving Life to a Rival
In Knoxville against Tennessee Volunteers, the slow start script showed up again. The Vols struck first, capitalizing on Georgia’s defense not playing up to their standard.The Bulldogs’ superior depth and talent eventually wore Tennessee down, but a better opening could’ve turned a rivalry showdown into a statement win.
2025 vs. Alabama, Same Script, Different Year
When Georgia hosted Alabama in Athens this past Saturday, fans expected lessons learned. Instead, it was déjà vu. Alabama again seized early momentum, forcing the Bulldogs into another chase game. The Dawgs clawed back, but the energy spent digging out of the opening deficit left little room for error down the stretch. Once more, Georgia played from behind instead of dictating terms and it ended up costing them with another loss.
So why does Georgia, a program with elite talent, depth, and preparation, consistently stumble out of the gate in big games?
Why Georgia struggles out of the gate
Georgia’s slow starts aren’t just about X’s and O’s, they’re tied to the current reality of college football and the way Kirby Smart builds his team.
The NIL Era Has Changed Georgia’s Depth
During the back-to-back title runs, Georgia’s biggest advantage was overwhelming depth. They could rotate five-star players two and three deep at nearly every position. But the NIL era has shifted that balance. Players who might’ve been content to wait their turn in Athens are now transferring elsewhere for bigger roles and bigger paychecks. That means Georgia doesn’t have quite the same luxury of throwing out fresh legs in the first quarter without a drop-off in execution.
A Young Team Learning on the Fly
Georgia continues to recruit at an elite level, but when you lean on younger players, there’s a natural adjustment period. Quarterbacks finding rhythm, offensive linemen settling in, receivers gaining trust, those hiccups usually show up early.
The Bulldogs often need a drive or two before the talent and confidence start to shine through. Even on defense the Bulldogs just haven’t come out with the same aggression the last few years. It’s almost like they wait a quarter or two to make adjustments then they show their true potential of what they can be.
Closing Thoughts
Georgia can’t afford to keep living like Rocky in that first fight with Apollo Creed taking punch after punch early, rallying late, but ultimately losing on the scorecards. The College Football Playoff won’t reward “moral victories” or close calls; it demands complete performances from start to finish.
The Bulldogs have the talent, the coaching, and the pedigree to beat anyone in the country. But if they don’t fix these slow starts, they risk turning every big game into a desperate comeback? and sooner or later, like Rocky against Apollo, the clock will run out before the knockout punch lands.