The Georgia Bulldogs have one of the most interesting and challenging schedules in the country for the 2024 college football season. Georgia’s schedule features three road games against potential top-10 opponents in Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss. Additionally, Georgia has two tough neutral site games against Florida and Clemson.
The Bulldogs and other college football teams have much more room for error than in previous years in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, so Georgia’s playoff hopes won’t end if they lose one game like they did in 2023.
In 2024, Georgia plays against 10 Power Four opponents, so there’s a lot to love about Georgia’s schedule. We do still view Georgia’s home schedule as weak in terms of the quality of games. We rank just one of Georgia’s home games in the top seven of the Bulldogs’ most intriguing games this fall.
Georgia is scheduled to play in only two games before 1 p.m. ET this year with one of them being Georgia’s season opener against Clemson. Most Georgia fans prefer late games, so they will have plenty of opportunities to watch the Bulldogs play in prime time. Here’s how we rank Georgia football’s 12 regular season opponents by level of intrigue.
12
Week 13: UMass Minutemen (home)
Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK
Date: Nov. 23 at 12:45 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
Can we please end having games against non-Power Four opponents in November? UMass is a better team than Tennessee Tech, but November games against crumby opponents after playing a full SEC schedule are just lame.
11
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles
Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
Date/time: Sept. 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET (home)
Georgia’s home opener lacks a notable opponent, but we will still be learning a lot about the 2024 edition of the Dawgs at this point in time, so we think Tennessee Tech will be more interesting than UMass.
10
Mississippi State Bulldogs
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK
Date: Oct. 12 (home)
Georgia hosts Mississippi State in the UGA’s least intriguing SEC home game, but this is still an interesting dynamic for this one. Mississippi State is in year one of the Jeff Lebby era. Georgia will be heavily favored in this one, but it comes the week before Georgia travels to Texas, so Georgia could get caught sleeping in the first half of this one.
9
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Online Athens
Date: Nov. 29 (Black Friday) at 7:30 p.m. (home)
Georgia’s Black Friday game against Georgia Tech has a little more intrigue after the Yellow Jackets gave Georgia a close call in 2023. Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key’s recent comments make it clear that beating Georgia is one of the Yellow Jackets’ top priorities.
8
Auburn Tigers
John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Oct. 5 (home)
Georgia scheduling Auburn for homecoming week instantly adds some fuel to this game. The Tigers aren’t happy about that and are looking to make a statement after nearly upsetting Georgia last season in the Bulldogs’ 27-20 road win.
Get more Auburn news, analysis and opinions on Auburn Wire
7
Kentucky Wildcats
The Courier-Journal
Date/time: Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET (away)
Georgia plays its first true road game of the 2024 season at Kentucky. There’s no doubt that Georgia is looking forward to facing former Bulldogs’ quarterback Brock Vandagriff and linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. Kentucky usually plays Georgia tough, but the Dawgs demolished the Wildcats in Athens in 2023.
UK Wildcats Wire
6
Week 10: Florida Gators (neutral)
Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Date/time: Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. (neutral site/Jacksonville, Florida)
Can Georgia get Florida coach Billy Napier fired? Will Billy Napier and the Gators be able to navigate their extremely difficult schedule? Georgia fans, players and coaches would love to be the nail in the coffin for the Billy Napier era.
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz is a steady passer. The Gators have some juice on offense and have one of the best receivers in the SEC in Eugene Wilson. There’s a lot of reason for excitement if Florida’s season goes well.
Get more Florida news, analysis, and opinions on Gators Wire
5
Tennessee Volunteers
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Nov. 16 (home)
It is unfortunate that Georgia doe not have a better home schedule in 2024. Don’t worry Georgia fans. The 2025 home slate is incredible.
Georgia is coming off a 38-10 win over Tennessee. We think the Georgia-Tennessee game is the Dawgs’ best home game in 2024. Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava should put up big numbers in his first season as the Volunteers’ starter.
Get more Tennessee news, analysis and opinions on Vols Wire
4
Ole Miss Rebels
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Date: Nov. 9 (at Ole Miss)
Head coach Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss return a lot of talent from 2023’s team that went 11-2. Georgia derailed Ole Miss’ season last year with a 52-17 blowout in Athens. We expect Ole Miss to play much better at home. The Rebels and quarterback Jaxson Dart should have one of the best offenses in the country. If you like tailgating, then this may be the best Georgia road game to go to this year!
3
Clemson Tigers
David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
Date/time: Aug. 31 at noon ET (neutral site/Atlanta, Georgia)
There is always more intrigue for Week 1. The Dawgs open their 2024 college football season against Clemson in Atlanta. The Tigers don’t have the most consistent offense, but always have a strong defense. Clemson held Georgia to just 10 points in their last meeting (2021) and will look to slow down Carson Beck and company in the latest chapter of the Clemson-Georgia rivalry.
Get more Clemson coverage on Clemson Wire
2
Alabama Crimson Tide
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Date/time: Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET (at Alabama)
Georgia is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Alabama in the 2023 SEC championship game. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide have won nine of the last 10 SEC championships. We’d rank the Alabama game as Georgia’s most important game, but don’t think that it is Georgia’s most interesting one.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is one of the top players Georgia faces all season. Georgia’s September road trip to Alabama will also have an interesting coaching match-up. Does Kirby Smart get the better of Alabama in the post-Nick Saban era?
1
Texas Longhorns
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Date: Oct. 19 (at Texas)
Georgia faces Texas for the first time in conference play. The Longhorns have one of the most talented teams in the country and are a new and exciting opponent for Georgia to play. Texas made the playoffs last season and is expected to be a powerhouse in the SEC. Georgia’s October road trip to Texas could go a long way in determining who ends up playing in the SEC championship game.
Get more Texas news, analysis and opinions on Longhorns Wire
