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UGA football: wishlist of possible 2023 non-conference opponents

By Kyle Funderburk

ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Running back Knowshon Moreno #24 of the University of Georgia rushes upfield against the Michigan State Spartans at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 1: Running back Knowshon Moreno #24 of the University of Georgia rushes upfield against the Michigan State Spartans at the 2009 Capital One Bowl at the Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2009 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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UGA football has one more non-conference spot to fill in its 2023 schedule. The Bulldogs already have Georgia Tech, UAB and Oklahoma on the schedule.

No one can accuse UGA football of being scared of competition. Over the next 14 seasons, Georgia plays Clemson six times; UCLA, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Texas and Florida State twice each; and Oregon and Virginia once each. Those games are on top of the annual meetings with Georgia Tech.

The Bulldogs don’t just welcome tough competition, they seek it out. Which is why UGA football fans should keep an eye out for any 2023 schedule news. Georgia has one more non-conference spot left to fill after adding UAB to the schedule on Tuesday.

Oklahoma is already on the 2023 slate, but Georgia has proved it’s not against scheduling three power-five schools for one year. The Bulldogs have four such seasons on the docket from 2028-to-2031. The following is a wishlist of available power-five schools Georgia could add to the 2023 schedule.

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Central Florida Knights

Central Florida wants to play with the big-boys, and it will week-to-week someday. But before that day comes, the Knights need to play some more powerhouse schools in the regular season.

UCF has a few openings on its schedule, Georgia has one, both schools don’t currently have a game for the first week of the season. This can be UCF’s opportunity to prove it wants to immerse itself in elite competition, not just play it in bowl season.

Michigan State Spartans

Georgia and Michigan State have only played three times, but every game has been a barn burner. The Bulldogs and Spartans first met in the 1989 Gator Bowl, Vince Dooley’s last game. Andre Rison’s 252 receiving yards weren’t enough for Michigan State as Georgia held on to win 34-27.

Georgia beat Michigan State 24-12 in the 2009 Capital One Bowl. Knowshon Moreno scored a late touchdown to give the Bulldogs breathing room. Michigan State beat Georgia 33-30 in triple overtime in the 2012 Outback Bowl despite Brandon Boykin’s MVP performance.

Michigan State hasn’t been itself in recent years, but a meeting against the Bulldogs would still be a landmark game in the 2023 college football season.

Washington Huskies

Surprisingly, Georgia and Washington have never met. That needs to change. Both squads are among the best in their respective conferences. Georgia has dominated the SEC East as of late, while the Washington Huskies have been the class of the Pac 12 North since 2016.

Given the Pac 12’s history in the college football playoff era, a loss to Georgia could break Washington’s season, but a win could save the Huskies a spot in the top four as long as they don’t lose two games before bowl season.

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Is the risk worth the reward for Washington? Based on its scheduling habits, the answer is yes. Washington played Auburn in 2018 and already have home-and-home series’ with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State scheduled for the near future. Georgia likes playing elite competition outside of its conference, Washington does as well. More reason for both packs of “dawgs” to play in 2023.

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