Georgia football: 2019 schedule revealed and it’s brutal

Georgia football recently revealed its 2019 schedule and it features two off weeks and games against Notre Dame and Texas A&M.

The relative ease of the 2018 Georgia football should be enjoyed while it lasts, because the 2019 schedule is an absolute gauntlet. Featuring games with Notre Dame and Texas A&M, and trips to Tennessee and Auburn, the most difficult aspect isn’t so much about who the Dawgs play, it’s about when.

For the first time since 1995, Georgia starts the season with a conference game. The Bulldogs travel to Nashville on August 31 to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores before hosting the Murray State Racers a week later.

The Arkansas State Red Wolves come to down on September 14. By the way, they’ve won five Sun Belt Conference Championships since 2011 and six since 2005. They’re probably the last non-power-five school you want to face before hosting the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who will most likely be ranked heading into that game.

Georgia is granted an off-week before riding up U.S. Highway 129 to the University of Tennessee to play the Volunteers in year two with Jeremy Pruitt. Without the typical squash match against Vandy coming a week later, Georgia hosts the South Carolina Gamecocks instead. They’re 2019 squad is a bit of a mystery right now as they’re still developing depth for 2018. But they’re still a rival so you cannot count them out until the final buzzer sounds.

Kentucky is up next on October 19 in Athens and then Georgia gets a second off-week. THis is the first time since 2013 that Georgia gets two off weeks. Which is to be expected when the season starts in August and November has two Saturdays. The SEC Championship Game isn’t going to move from the first Saturday in December.

But after that off week, as always, is the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party,” or “War for the Oar” if you’re into that kind of stuff. The Florida Gators should still have Dan Mullen. They’re not too crazy down in Gainesville, Florida when it comes to coach firings. In his second year, the Florida offense should be as Dan Mullen-ey as possible.

The trip to Jacksonville is actually where the season really gets tough. The Missouri Tigers land in offense, where they will immediately take back off because that’s how their offense works. They’ll be as hard to stop as ever. On November 26, Georgia plays Auburn on the road. The Dawgs have struggled in Jordan Hare lately, losing three of the last five (One of those years, Auburn was basically a division III school).

Then the big one. November 23, at home against the fighting Jimbo Fishers, the Texas A&M Agriculture students (or Aggies as most people have called them since the 20th century). This is the first meeting between the two since the 2009 Independence Bowl in which Georgia won 44-20. Plus it’s the fifth meeting all time, A&M leads 3-2 but Georgia won the two most recent games (2009 and 1980). But this is the first time UGA and TAMU meet as SEC rivals. Making this one of the most highly anticipated SEC games in Georgia football history.

Oh, then Georgia plays the North Avenue Trade School on November 30 in Atlanta, Bobby Dodd Stadium, the second home of the Georgia Bulldogs. You know, gnats are annoying, much like the triple option in college, Paul Johnson, and most NATS fans.

All jokes aside, this is one of the best schedules Georgia football has ever had. It’s brutal yes. If the Dawgs go 12-0 in this stretch and go on to win the National Championship, they’ll be in the discussion for the greatest team of all time. But Notre Dame, Texas A&M and South Carolina all coming to town, and Missouri can put on a show as well, if you have season tickets, you’re getting your money’s worth next year.