The short answer is no. If you’re checking the TV guide or scrolling through sports apps to see is georgia football playing today, you’re going to find a whole lot of nothing on the gridiron.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for Dawg fans. Usually, January is the month where Kirby Smart is hoisted onto shoulders or at least prepping for a trophy presentation. But the 2025-2026 season ended a bit earlier than most people in Athens expected. After a wild run through the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs officially wrapped up their season on New Year’s Day.
The Sugar Bowl Heartbreak and Why the Season is Over
Basically, the season hit a wall in New Orleans. On January 1, 2026, Georgia faced off against Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. It was a chaotic mess of a game—the kind that keeps you up at night wondering "what if."
Georgia actually went into that game as a 6.5-point favorite. For a while, it looked like they had it under control. Daylen Everette scooped up a fumble for a 46-yard touchdown that put the Bulldogs up 21-12 right before the half. But the second half was a different story. Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro nailed a 47-yarder with 50 seconds left to seal a 39-34 upset.
Because the Bulldogs lost that quarterfinal matchup, they didn't advance to the semifinals or the National Championship. That's why the stadium is quiet today. While teams like Indiana and Miami are still gearing up for the title game on January 19, the Dawgs have already headed back to the Classic City to start the long process of rebuilding.
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When Do the Dawgs Actually Play Again?
You've got a long wait ahead of you. The 2026 season doesn't officially kick off until Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Georgia will open things up at Sanford Stadium against Tennessee State. It’s not the high-stakes primetime matchup fans are used to for a season opener, but it'll be the first chance to see what the new-look roster looks like after some massive departures to the NFL.
Key Dates for the 2026 Georgia Football Schedule:
- September 5: vs. Tennessee State (Home)
- September 12: vs. Western Kentucky (Home)
- September 19: at Arkansas (Away)
- September 26: vs. Oklahoma (Home)
- October 10: at Alabama (Away)
The mid-season stretch is brutal. Playing Oklahoma at home and then heading to Tuscaloosa to face Bama just two weeks later? That’s going to define whether Kirby Smart can get this team back into the 12-team playoff conversation.
The "Is Georgia Football Playing Today" Roster Shakeup
Part of why people are so curious about the team right now is the sheer amount of turnover. The NFL Draft deadline just passed on January 14, and the news wasn't exactly great for Georgia’s depth chart.
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We know for sure that guys like Zachariah Branch, Dillon Bell, and Colbie Young are moving on. Losing Branch is a massive blow to the special teams and the deep threat game. On the defensive side, First-Team All-American linebacker CJ Allen has declared for the draft. He’s projected as a safe first-round pick, and you simply don’t replace that kind of production overnight.
However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Gunner Stockton hasn't officially jumped ship, and Nate Frazier—the team’s leading rusher—announced he’s staying for his junior year. Getting Frazier back is huge, especially since Georgia is losing six of their top seven pass catchers. Expect a lot of "ground and pound" football when they finally take the field again.
What to Watch While the Bulldogs are Idle
If you’re absolutely craving Georgia sports today, you’re not totally out of luck, even if the football team is on vacation.
The Georgia men’s basketball team is actually in the middle of a solid season. They’re ranked No. 21 in the country right now and are coming off a heartbreaker against Ole Miss (seriously, Ole Miss is having a year against UGA). They play Arkansas tomorrow, January 17, at 4 p.m. EST. It’s not football, but Jeremiah Wilkinson is putting up nearly 18 points a game and is legitimately fun to watch.
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Also, the GymDogs are hosting No. 2 LSU today, January 16. If you want to see a Top 10 matchup in Athens, Stegeman Coliseum is the place to be.
Actionable Steps for Georgia Fans
While the answer to is georgia football playing today is a disappointing "no," there are a few things you can do to stay plugged in during the offseason:
- Monitor the Transfer Portal: Kirby Smart has already snagged Dante Dowdell from Kentucky to beef up the running back room. Expect more moves as the spring window opens.
- Mark the G-Day Date: Keep an eye out for the official announcement of the spring game in April. It’s the first real look at the quarterback battle and the freshman class.
- Check the 2026 Ticket Sales: Non-conference single-game tickets for the September games just went on sale yesterday (Jan 15). If you want to be there for the opener against Tennessee State, now is the time to grab them before prices jump on the secondary market.
The road back to the playoffs starts now, even if the scoreboard is dark today.