No, the Georgia Bulldogs are not playing football today, Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Honestly, if you're looking for Kirby Smart’s squad on your TV screen right now, you're a few weeks late or a several months early. The 2025-26 college football season has reached its absolute peak, but the Dawgs aren't the ones climbing the final mountain this time around. Instead, the sports world is currently fixated on the NFL Divisional Round and the massive College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship scheduled for tomorrow night.
It’s a weird feeling for Georgia fans. Usually, January is synonymous with "Go Dawgs" and red-and-black confetti. But today, the Sanford Stadium grass is quiet.
Are the Georgia Bulldogs playing football today or anytime soon?
The short answer is a flat "no." The Georgia Bulldogs are officially in the off-season. While today is Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Bulldogs' most recent campaign ended earlier this month. They had a hell of a run, but the bracket didn't break their way in the end.
Last we saw them, Georgia was battling in the CFP Quarterfinals. They faced off against Ole Miss in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. It was a high-stakes rematch of their regular-season thriller, but despite a valiant effort in New Orleans, the Bulldogs couldn't secure the win needed to advance to the semifinals. Since that loss at the Caesars Superdome, the team has shifted focus to recruiting, the transfer portal, and preparing for the 2026 season opener in September.
If you’re desperate for Georgia sports today, you’ve got other options. The men’s basketball team just came off a huge 90-76 win over Arkansas yesterday, and the women’s basketball team is actually hosting No. 16 Ole Miss right now (noon tip-off) at Stegeman Coliseum. But for football? The pads are packed away.
Why Georgia isn't in the National Championship game
If you’re wondering why you aren't seeing are the Georgia Bulldogs playing football today in the context of the title game, it's because the CFP finale is set for tomorrow, Monday, January 19, 2026.
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The matchup is a bit of a shocker: No. 1 Indiana versus No. 10 Miami.
Yeah, you read that right. Indiana.
The Hoosiers have been the juggernaut of the season, and Miami—led by former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, who transferred for his final year—found a way to sneak through the bracket. Georgia’s path was blocked when they fell in the Sugar Bowl. It’s a bitter pill for Athens faithful, especially seeing a familiar face like Beck leading the Hurricanes into Hard Rock Stadium while the Bulldogs watch from home.
The 2025 season in the rearview
Georgia finished the 2025 regular season with an impressive 12-1 record. Their only regular-season blemish was a tight 24-21 loss to Alabama in September. They even managed to exact revenge on the Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship, winning 28-7 to secure the No. 3 seed in the expanded 12-team playoff.
But the expanded format is a gauntlet.
By the time they hit New Orleans on January 1, the wear and tear of a 14-game schedule showed. Ole Miss, playing with a chip on their shoulder after a regular-season loss in Athens, managed to upend the Dawgs. That loss effectively ended the Bulldogs' quest for another trophy, leaving fans to ask about the schedule for next year.
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Looking ahead: The 2026 Georgia Bulldogs schedule
Since they aren't playing today, the next time you can catch a game is Saturday, September 5, 2026. The school recently finalized the dates, and it’s a doozy of a schedule.
Georgia starts the 2026 season at home against Tennessee State.
But the real meat of the schedule follows quickly. They have a massive road trip to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama on October 10 and a "home" game against Florida that will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium due to the renovations happening in Jacksonville.
Here is what the start of that 2026 run looks like:
- Sept 5: vs. Tennessee State (Athens)
- Sept 12: vs. Western Kentucky (Athens)
- Sept 19: at Arkansas (Fayetteville)
- Sept 26: vs. Oklahoma (Athens)
- Oct 3: vs. Vanderbilt (Athens)
- Oct 10: at Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
It's a long wait. Eight months, to be exact.
What to watch while the Dawgs are out
If you’re a football addict and the realization that Georgia isn't playing today has left a void, today’s NFL slate is actually incredible.
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The Divisional Round is in full swing. At 3:00 PM ET, the Houston Texans take on the New England Patriots. Later tonight, at 6:30 PM, the Rams travel to Chicago to play the Bears. There are plenty of former Bulldogs scattered across these rosters—guys like Matthew Stafford (Rams) and Quay Walker are still carrying the "G" in the pros.
Also, don't forget to set your DVR for tomorrow night. Even if it hurts to see Miami or Indiana lift the trophy, that National Championship game is going to be a fascinating look at where the sport is headed.
Basically, the "today" part of your search is a quiet Sunday in Athens. The coaching staff is likely grinding through film of high school recruits or scouting the portal for a defensive tackle. The players are in that brief window of recovery before winter workouts begin.
For now, the hedges are resting.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the GeorgiaDogs.com site for tickets to the 2026 G-Day spring game, usually held in mid-April.
- Keep an eye on the transfer portal window; Kirby Smart is expected to be aggressive this month to bolster the secondary.
- Follow the NFL Divisional Playoffs today to see former Georgia stars in action as they hunt for a Super Bowl ring.