The headlines pointing to Georgia's demise can be found everywhere. Seems most of the country wants to forget about Georgia this year in favor of the shiny new toys up in Big Ten land.
CBS Sports predicts surprising loss for Georgia football in 2026 - DawgNation
Sports analyst says Georgia has ‘slipped’, 2026 season will be a test for Kirby Smart - CBS Sports
Georgia football predicted to be dethroned in SEC championship - Yahoo Sports
Only the incomporable Phil Steele thinks Georgia is being overlooked this season, and that's probably the best thing you could hear as a Georgia fan. When everyone else is wrong, Steele is usually right on the money.
Phil Steele thinks Georgia is being overlooked entering 2026.
— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) July 7, 2026
"I agree with you 100%. I've got them No. 2 in the country... I still think Georgia is the best team in the SEC this year." pic.twitter.com/8MEXfdG8Lv
Maybe it's just fatique. Perhaps people outside of the Bulldog Nation are simply tired of seeing Georgia win...every...single...year. It could be as simple as lumping Georgia in with other SEC teams that are seeing diminishing results.
Whatever the reason, the talking heads and raging basement dwellers would do well to remember a few things about this 2026 Georgia team.
Georgia is returning one of the most experienced rosters in the country this season, with 14 starters coming back accounting for 68% of their production from last season -- a season in which they only lost one regular season game (Alabama) and tallied ranked victories over Texas, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech and a convincing thrashing of Alabama in the SEC title game.
And despite any perceived recruiting issues going on right now, Georgia still landed the No. 6 class in the nation last season, with some impact players that will certainly be taking the field in 2026.
Those youngsters will be led by one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, the most stacked running back and tight end groups in the country, and a roster that is loaded with talent.
Georgia being picked to have a down year is probably fine with Kirby Smart
When does Georgia play its best under Kirby Smart? When everyone is doubting them. When the Georgia head coach can use that doubt as means to really fire up his players. When he has a chance to remind the rest of the country exactly how "elite" is spelled...
D-A-W-G-S
It's not motiviation. Smart's teams are always motivated. It's just extra gas. It's a turn of the screw on the nitrous tank. It's pushing the "turbo" button on the PlayStation controller. Give Kirby Smart a negative headline and he'll use it to march up and down the field on the opposition.
Let everyone's eyes turn to Columbus, Austin, South Bend, and Eugene. Put all the pressure on them to perform up to expectations. Georgia will be fine just taking care of business and walking into Atlanta in Decmember for a record-setting sixth straight season.
Kirby Smart isn't going to wave his arms and yell, "Hey! What about us?", he'll just do what Kirby does, and Georgia will do what Georgia does and send the message to all the doubters and short-sighted analysts out there that the Dawgs aren't going anywhere.
They're just hiding in plain sight.
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