It will be harder than expected for those who thought Georgia Football would be in the 12-team playoff in 2024. If you look at it too closely, it could make your head spin. Outside of Florida, it is probably one of the hardest schedules in the country. Should Georgia be in the position it was this season, the CFP Committee will not leave them out.
Here is the 2024 schedule in order:
- 8/31 Clemson (Atlanta)
- 9/7 Tennessee Tech
- 9/14 @ Kentucky
- 9/21 Bye
- 9/28 @ Alabama
- 10/5 Auburn
- 10/12 Miss State
- 10/19 @ Texas
- 10/26 Bye
- 11/2 Florida
- 11/9 @ Ole Miss
- 11/16 Tennessee
- 11/23 UMass
- 11/30 Georgia Tech
Georgia opens up with Clemson in Atlanta this season. That game has been scheduled for a few years and now looks more in favor of Georgia than when it was scheduled. At that point, Georgia still would not have lost a regular season game in 3 seasons when it takes on the Tigers.
The home opener is against Tennessee Tech, which should be a barn-burner (sarcasm). Georgia’s home schedule is not all that great again, to the dismay of many season ticket holders. But hey, we have Auburn and Tennessee to look forward to.
The biggest games of note are the Alabama game and the Texas game. It will be the first time Georgia plays Alabama in the regular season since the 2020 season and the first time the Dawgs play the Tide since the SEC Championship loss. Georgia also has a bye week before they go to Alabama. Which should not be overlooked; that could be a massive advantage for the Dawgs.
Every SEC team will have two bye weeks in their schedules. Georgia first comes in week 4, and their last bye comes after the game against Texas and before Flordia. So, the other bye week is still where it has traditionally been. Speaking of Texas, this will be the Dawgs’ second trip to Austin. The first trip came in the fall of 1958 when the Dawgs lost 13-8. That game is famous for Fran Tarkenton, who put himself in the game, and it was the first action he saw in his Hall of Fame career.
Can we also talk about playing Alabama and Auburn in back-to-back weeks? Auburn cried and complained for years about having to play Georgia and Alabama in back-to-back weeks, so the SEC moved the Georgia game up a week so Auburn could have a warm-up game before the Iron Bowl.
But that did not make the Auburn people happy, so they cried some more, and Georgia capitulated and moved the game to October. Here we are a few years later, and Georgia has to play Alabama and Auburn in back-to-back weeks. Moral of the story: if you try to please everyone, you please no one!
Georgia must play two playoff teams, five rivals, and three cupcakes. Georgia has two cupcakes to finish the season strong with UMass and Georgia Tech. The schedule is no easy task, but with the Dawgs’ talent, they should be expected to be in the first 12-team playoff next season.