The Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up for the 2024 season with high expectations, once again favored to contend for the National Championship. Head Coach Kirby Smart, who has led the Bulldogs to back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, faces a challenging road ahead as the team navigates one of the toughest schedules in college football.
According to the College Football Network, Georgia’s 2024 schedule ranks as the ninth most difficult in the FBS. The Bulldogs will be tested with road games against formidable opponents like Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. Despite their loaded roster filled with five-star talent, the Bulldogs may face a couple of setbacks during the regular season.
Potential Losses for Georgia Football in 2024
Kentucky
The Kentucky Wildcats should not be overlooked in 2024. This road game could pose a significant challenge for Georgia, as they will face former Bulldogs quarterback Brock Vandagriff, who transferred to Kentucky this offseason.
Vandagriff’s experience is invaluable, having spent three seasons in Athens as a backup to Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck while being part of two National Championship teams. His familiarity with Georgia’s system, combined with Kentucky’s returning talent, makes the Wildcats a formidable opponent at home.
Additionally, Kentucky’s defense will be bolstered by another Bulldog transfer, linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson. During his time at Georgia, Dumas-Johnson recorded 125 tackles and 9.5 sacks, and his leadership will be crucial for the Wildcats’ defense, which already returns nine starters, including leading tackler D’Eryk Jackson.
Georgia Tech
In what could be a surprising outcome, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets may finally break through in their annual rivalry against the Bulldogs. Under head coach Brent Key, Georgia Tech made significant improvements from 2022 to 2023 and is expected to be even stronger in 2024.
Quarterback Haynes King returns after throwing for 2,842 yards and 27 touchdowns in his first season as a starter in 2023. With improvements in his decision-making, King could lead the Yellow Jackets into a more competitive position against Georgia. The Yellow Jackets also return 17 starters, including leading rusher Jamal Haynes and key receivers Malik Rutherford and Eric Singleton Jr., making them a much tougher opponent than in years past.
How Georgia’s Losses Could Benefit Them
While the prospect of losing two regular-season games might be concerning, these potential setbacks could actually work in Georgia’s favor. The grueling SEC schedule, now including the addition of Texas and Oklahoma, was always going to be challenging. An early-season matchup in Austin against the Longhorns, combined with the physicality of the SEC, could toughen the Bulldogs for the rest of the season.
It’s important to remember that under Kirby Smart, Georgia has only gone undefeated once. These losses, rather than being detrimental, could help prepare the Bulldogs for the College Football Playoff, where they would still be strong contenders even with two defeats. As always, Georgia remains a force to be reckoned with, but the road to the championship will be anything but easy in 2024.
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