If you spent any time watching Kirby Smart pace the sidelines in 2024, you know he wasn't exactly thrilled about those brutal road trips to Austin, Tuscaloosa, and Oxford. Honestly, it was a gauntlet. But the university of georgia 2025 football schedule basically flipped the script. It’s one of those rare years where the scheduling gods—or the SEC office in Birmingham—decided to hand Athens a massive advantage.
The biggest story? Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss all had to travel to Sanford Stadium.
People keep talking about the "toughness" of the SEC, but they forget how much the "Between the Hedges" factor matters. In 2025, it mattered a lot. Georgia didn't just play a schedule; they navigated a minefield that ended with a second straight SEC Championship trophy.
The Core Matchups: University of Georgia 2025 Football Schedule
The season kicked off with some low-stakes games, but things escalated quickly. You've got to look at the September 13th trip to Knoxville. That was the first real test. Tennessee is never easy, especially when Neyland is rocking, but Georgia pulled it out in a 44-41 overtime thriller. It's the kind of game that either breaks a team or makes them.
Then came the one everyone circled: Alabama.
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Breaking Down the September and October Grind
After a much-needed bye week, the Crimson Tide rolled into Athens on September 27th. It was the first time 'Bama had played at Georgia since 2015. Think about that for a second. An entire decade went by without that rivalry hitting Sanford Stadium.
- Aug 30: Marshall (W 45-7)
- Sept 6: Austin Peay (W 28-6)
- Sept 13: at Tennessee (W 44-41 OT)
- Sept 27: Alabama (L 24-21)
- Oct 4: Kentucky (W 35-14)
- Oct 11: at Auburn (W 20-10)
- Oct 18: Ole Miss (W 43-35)
The Alabama loss was a gut-punch. A 24-21 final. It ended a home winning streak that felt like it would last forever. But the Bulldogs didn't crumble. They handled Kentucky and then went into Jordan-Hare to beat Auburn.
You sort of expect the Auburn game to be weird, but 20-10 is a classic "Kirby Smart" score. It wasn't pretty. It was just effective. Then came the Ole Miss game on October 18th. After Lane Kiffin’s crew embarrassed Georgia in 2024, the Bulldogs returned the favor with a 43-35 shootout.
Why the November Stretch Was Different This Year
Most years, November is about survival. This time, it was about revenge and a new face in the neighborhood.
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Texas came to Athens on November 15th. This was historic. The Longhorns had never played a game at Sanford Stadium before. Ever. The hype was unreal, especially with Arch Manning likely under center for the Horns. Georgia’s defense played like they had something to prove, suffocating Texas in a 35-10 blowout.
The Florida game in Jacksonville on November 1st was its usual chaotic self. Georgia won 24-20, but it wasn't the blowout fans wanted. Honestly, that game is just a coin flip every year regardless of the records.
The Final Regular Season Push
- Nov 8: at Mississippi State (W 41-21)
- Nov 15: Texas (W 35-10)
- Nov 22: Charlotte (W 35-3)
- Nov 28 (Fri): at Georgia Tech (W 16-9)
The "Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate" game against Georgia Tech moved to a Friday this year and was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium instead of Grant Field. It was a slugfest. A 16-9 win isn't what you want against your rival, but a win is a win when you’re heading into December.
The Postseason Twist
The university of georgia 2025 football schedule didn't end in Atlanta. Well, it did, and then it didn't.
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Georgia got their rematch with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game on December 6th. This time, the result was different. A 28-7 dominant performance by the Bulldogs. It secured the SEC title and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.
But the season had one last sting. In the CFP Quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2026, Georgia met Ole Miss again. The Rebels took that one 39-34. It was a wild end to a 12-2 season.
One thing people get wrong is thinking Georgia "failed" because they didn't win the natty. Navigating an 8-game SEC slate plus a conference title game with only one regular-season loss (by three points!) is incredibly difficult.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you are looking back at this season to prepare for the 2026 cycle, here are the real takeaways:
- Home Field is King: Georgia’s ability to host Texas and Alabama in the same year was the deciding factor in their SEC Championship run.
- The Bye Week Strategy: Notice how Georgia’s byes were placed before Alabama and Florida. This gave Kirby Smart extra time to prep for the two biggest emotional hurdles on the calendar.
- Scheduling Shift: The move of the Georgia Tech game to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on a Friday represents a shift in how the SEC and ACC are handling rivalry week for TV ratings.
To stay ahead of the next season, start tracking the 2026 recruiting class early. The depth issues that showed up in the Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss are already being addressed in the current transfer portal window. Check the official UGA athletics site for the latest spring practice dates to see who is filling the shoes of departing seniors like Carson Beck.