The Georgia Bulldogs won the SEC Championship for the second consecutive year. However, for the second year in a row, this resulted in the team losing its first game in the College Football Playoffs.
Since winning back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, the Bulldogs have not won a playoff game. Head coach Kirby Smart aims to change that in 2026 and restore the Bulldogs to their place at the top of college football.
The Bulldogs are set to gain a significant advantage this upcoming season with 14 returning starters, tied for the second-most in the country, just behind the USC Trojans, who have 15. One of the key returnees is quarterback Gunner Stockton, who passed for 2,894 yards, threw 24 touchdowns and had five interceptions.
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
As the team returns several of its starters, there are expectations for national championship contention. FanDuel anticipates a strong season for the Bulldogs, setting the over/under win total at 9.5 for the upcoming season. This figure ties them with the Texas Longhorns for the highest win total in the SEC. If the season unfolds as expected, this could lead to a rematch in the 2024 SEC Championship Game.
For Georgia, 2026 is less about potential and more about results. The standard inside the program hasn’t changed, but the narrative around it has, this is now a team trying to prove it can finish, not just contend. That subtle shift brings a different kind of pressure, especially in the postseason where recent shortcomings have defined the conversation.
The path forward will likely come down to how Georgia handles the biggest moments. Close games, playoff execution and in-game adjustments have been the difference between deep runs and early exits. Those are the margins that separate contenders from champions, and they’re the areas where this team must evolve.
If Georgia can clear that hurdle, the ceiling remains as high as anyone in college football. The opportunity is there not just to return to the playoff, but to reestablish itself as the program everyone else is chasing.
Related: David Pollack Rips Georgia’s ‘Lack of Ballers’ Following College Football Playoff Failure
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
