Why Georgia has one of the easiest schedules in the SEC

USA Today

4 days ago

The Georgia Bulldogs 2025 schedule has some similarities to 2024's schedule. Their SEC slate is the same except the venues from last season are flipped. Instead of playing several ranked opponents away, the Bulldogs will host them in Athens.
Between this and many other factors, Georgia comes into the 2025 season with one of the SEC's easiest schedules. Georgia's schedule is the No. 14 most-difficult in the SEC, according to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello. This comes a year after Georgia had the toughest schedule in the country.
Here are four reasons why Georgia's schedule is easier this season.
Georgia had a gauntlet on the road last year, playing against three ranked opponents (Alabama, Texas, Ole Miss) and one in a neutral site (Clemson). However, this season, Georgia only plays three total teams on the road. They play at Tennessee on Sept. 29, Auburn on Oct. 11 and Mississippi State on Nov. 8.
The Bulldogs play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this year (was set to be Georgia Tech's turn to host) and Florida in EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, so Georgia plays three road games and two neutral site games.
Georgia's home schedule is a gauntlet. Playing against Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss is not going to be easy, and it threatens Georgia's massive 31-home-game winning streak.
However, playing all three of those games in your home stadium is an absolute advantage. Sanford Stadium is the No. 4 hardest stadium in the nation, according to College Football 26.
Georgia was victorious on the road against the No. 1 Texas Longhorns last year and the Bulldogs had a fourth quarter lead on the road against the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. Safe to say, Georgia gets a favorable draw in their ranked games.
Rounding out the Bulldogs' SEC schedule, they play the Kentucky Wildcats on Oct. 4. With Kentucky finishing 3-9 last year and Mississippi State finishing 2-10, Georgia plays the two worst teams that are projected to be the worst in the SEC.
Of course, Kentucky gave Georgia a scare in the Bulldogs' Week 3 road matchup. However, now with the game being at home, Georgia has a much bigger advantage.
Mississippi State also played competitively with Georgia in their 2024 matchup, with Georgia winning 41-31. However, Georgia outgained Mississippi 605 total yards to 385 total yards. As long as Georgia can limit the turnovers, the Bulldogs should cruise in that game.
In 2024, the Bulldogs had a tough nonconference slate, playing against No. 14 Clemson (who would go on to win the ACC championship) along with Tennessee Tech, UMass, and of course, Georgia Tech.
This year, the Bulldogs play against Marshall, Austin Peay, and Charlotte this year. Marshall is ranked No. 94 in ESPN's FPI (Football Power Index), while Charlotte is ranked No. 116. Austin Peay isn't ranked in FPI because it is a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team and FPI only rates the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams.
Of course, Georgia will still have to play Georgia Tech, and the Yellow Jackets are progressing as a team. However, Georgia's relatively easy schedule should set them up nicely for that matchup. The Dawgs play Charlotte the week before facing Georgia Tech.