Is Georgia trying to duck a non-conference game? This Power Four head coach thinks so

As soon as the SEC decided to expand from an eight-game to a nine-game conference schedule, this was always bound to happen. While teams like the Georgia Bulldogs have usually done a great job of scheduling meaningful opponents in their non-conference, there are still only 12 regular-season games to be had. The game coming into question for the 2026 season is at the Louisville Cardinals.

Prior to the SEC's expected decision to go to nine conference games beginning in 2026, Georgia was slated to have a home-and-home with the Cardinals. The Dawgs would make their way to Louisville, with the Cardinals returning the favor in 2028. Since Georgia and Louisville have an instate rival in each other's respective conference, the Bulldogs will prioritize playing Georgia Tech above all else.

The notion of this upcoming home-and-home series going away rubbed Jeff Brohm the wrong way.

“I don’t know if I’m supposed to say. We want to play Georgia. We’ve gathered some information where that’s — you know, I don’t want to speak out of turn — but I don’t know if it’s vice-versa. I’m hopeful that we can play the game, but I don’t know where that’s at right now.”

The Louisville head coach seemed to poke the bear by implying Georgia is trying to duck his team.

There are complexities with Georgia potentially doing away with its home-and-home with Louisville.

Georgia may have to pay a pretty penny to get out of the Louisville game

For those wondering what Georgia has coming down the track, here is the list of its 2026 games.

• SEC (9): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida (Oct. 31), Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt
• Non-Conference (3): Georgia Tech (Nov. 28), Louisville (Sept. 19), Western Kentucky (Sept. 12)

Outside of The Cocktail Party, which is always played around Halloween, the only games with dates attached to them on Georgia's schedule are Western Kentucky (Sept. 12), Louisville (Sept. 19) and Georgia Tech (Nov. 28). Georgia will never do away with Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate. Having to buy out either Louisville or Western Kentucky would cost the Georgia athletic department a pretty penny, too.

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said the following on what UGA's non-conference plans are.

"A lot of that's going to be determined as we learn when and where our schedule is going to be in the next few weeks. That's something we're attacking right now to see what our options are going to be in 2026. So we're going to take it one year at a time right now. The first focus is going to be on 2026 and then 2027 and moving on. So still a lot of work to be done, and I work closely with Coach Smart and Mark Robinson and the league to kind of figure out what is that going to mean for our schedule moving forward."

While there is a chance Georgia could still try to get out of the Louisville game, they would not have to pay nearly as much to get out of the so-called fourth non-conference game on their schedule vs. the Tennessee State Tigers. Because they do not compete at the FBS level, and that game would be in Athens, it would not be as punitive to cancel that game. Plus, the Florida game will be in Atlanta, too.

As far as Georgia canceling the Louisville game, this would be a worst-case scenario. The Cardinals would conceivably be a high-quality road win if the Dawgs were to get it with regards to next year's playoff picture. While cutting this game would not impact Georgia's gate, it would put into question we have long held true about Kirby Smart and Brooks. they have always tried to schedule big games.

In the past, we have seen Georgia lose non-conference games with Oklahoma and UCLA due to realignment and a neutral-site affair with Virginia due to COVID. Heck, the even lost a rendition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate that season as well. While playing 11 Power Four opponents plus a well-thought of CUSA team in Western Kentucky could be challenging, Georgia should not be Nebraska.

Again, the fact Georgia will have Florida coming to Atlanta on Halloween should play a part in all this.

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