Dawn of the Dawg
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Reflecting on every exciting Georgia football opening victory under Kirby Smart

By Payton Wilkerson

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs leads his team onto the field before their game against the Clemson Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 04: Head coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs leads his team onto the field before their game against the Clemson Tigers in the Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Georgia football coach Kirby Smart is preparing for his seventh season as the head man of his alma mater, and each year seems to bring more and more excitement.

After spending many years with Nick Saban at Alabama, LSU, and even the Miami Dolphins, Smart finally got an opportunity to be a head coach, and what a resume he has built for himself.

During his tenure, Smart has won 66 games, an SEC Championship, four New Year’s Six Bowl games, and the 2021 CFP National Championship. His success has helped cement Georgia as one of the elite programs in the country today.

This year marks the first time since 1981 that the Dawgs will be the defending National Champions at the beginning of the season after defeating Alabama 33-18 back in January.

Let’s reflect on all six Georgia football opening game victories under head coach Kirby Smart.

After a historic 2021, Coach Smart will look to keep building the Dawgs into the next great college football dynasty with another standout year in 2022. The road back to the College Football Playoff begins in Atlanta on September 3, when Georgia will face off against the Oregon Ducks.

Georgia and Oregon have only faced each other once. They met in Athens to start the 1977 season, with Georgia winning 27-16.

Since 2000, Georgia has only lost three opening games, the last one being against Clemson in 2013. Smart is 6-0 in openers, and his Bulldogs are 17.5-point favorites to take down the Ducks in Mercedes-Benz Stadium this year.

As we anxiously await Saturday, let’s look back at every Georgia football opener under Smart.

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