If you’re looking for a simple number to answer what ranking is Georgia Bulldogs, you actually have to look at two different scoreboards. It’s mid-January 2026, and the "Dawg Nation" is in that weird transitional phase where the football pads are being packed away while the basketball shoes are squeaking louder than they have in decades.
Right now, the headline is the basketball team. For the first time in what feels like forever—specifically since the 2002-2003 season—Georgia Hoops is a legitimate national player. As of the latest AP Poll released this week, the Georgia Bulldogs basketball team is ranked No. 21 in the nation. They also hold the No. 22 spot in the Coaches Poll.
On the football side, the dust is still settling from a wild postseason. After a bittersweet exit in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, Kirby Smart’s squad finished the 2025-2026 season ranked No. 2 in the final AP Poll and No. 3 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) standings.
The Basketball Surge: Why No. 21 Feels Like No. 1
It’s honestly kind of jarring to see Georgia basketball ahead of traditional powerhouses in the SEC standings. Coach Mike White has turned Stegeman Coliseum into a "no-fly zone." The Bulldogs are currently 14-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.
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They aren't just winning; they’re playing a brand of basketball that’s exhausting to watch. They lead the entire country in scoring offense, averaging a massive 96.4 points per game. If you like dunks and fast breaks, this is your team. They currently rank No. 1 nationally in fastbreak points and, perhaps most impressively, they lead the nation in blocks per game (7.8).
"We're not just trying to win games; we're trying to dictate the tempo of the entire sport," Mike White recently noted.
The advanced metrics love them too. KenPom has them ranked No. 2 in adjusted tempo. Basically, they play faster than almost anyone else in Division I. Somto Cyril has been a revelation, shooting over 82% from the field. It’s rare to see a Georgia team this dominant on the hardwood while the football team is in the offseason.
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Football's Final 2025 Standing: What Ranking is Georgia Bulldogs?
Now, let’s talk about the pigskin. If you’re asking about the football ranking because you’re still processing the Sugar Bowl, here’s the reality. Georgia finished the season with a 12-2 record.
They were the SEC Champions after a dominant 28-7 win over Alabama in Atlanta. That win propelled them to the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff. However, the season ended on a sour note with a 39-34 loss to Ole Miss in the CFP Quarterfinals.
Despite that loss, the AP voters kept them high. Because they beat Alabama (who also finished with four losses) and played a brutal schedule, the Bulldogs ended the 2025 season as the No. 2 team in the AP Top 25.
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The 2025 Final Standings Breakdown
- Indiana (The surprise 15-0 champion)
- Georgia (12-2, SEC Champs)
- Ohio State (12-2)
- Texas Tech (12-2)
- Oregon (13-2)
It’s a bit of a "what if" season. Many fans feel like the Bulldogs were the most talented team in the country, but the new 12-team playoff format is unforgiving. One bad night in New Orleans and the title dreams vanished.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Preseason Outlook
Even though we are months away from the 2026 kickoff, the "Way-Too-Early" rankings are already everywhere. Most analysts, including those at ESPN and Fox Sports, have Georgia as a top-three lock for the 2026 preseason polls.
Kirby Smart is facing a bit of a rebuild, though. Gunner Stockton is expected to be the guy at QB after Carson Beck's departure, and the transfer portal has already seen some movement. The 2026 schedule is also a gauntlet. For the first time, Georgia will play a nine-game SEC schedule. They’ve traded their usual game against Tennessee for a road trip to South Carolina and a massive home game against Oklahoma on September 26.
Other Rankings You Should Know
- Baseball: The Diamond Dawgs are currently ranked No. 15 in the Perfect Game preseason rankings.
- NET Ranking (Basketball): The hoopers currently sit at No. 25 in the NCAA’s NET metric, which is crucial for March Madness seeding.
- Recruiting: Georgia’s 2026 football recruiting class is currently hovering around the No. 3 spot nationally, trailing only Ohio State and LSU.
Actionable Insights for Bulldog Fans
If you’re trying to keep up with these rankings as they fluctuate, here’s what you should do:
- Watch the Wednesday Night Games: The basketball team’s ranking is the most volatile right now. Their matchup against Ole Miss tonight will likely decide if they crack the Top 20 next week.
- Monitor the Portal: Football rankings in the "offseason" are driven by roster retention. Keep an eye on the defensive line depth, as that’s where the 2026 ranking will be won or lost.
- Check the NET, not just the AP: For basketball, the AP Poll is a beauty contest. The NET Ranking (found on the NCAA website) is what actually determines if Georgia gets a high seed in the tournament.
The bottom line is that whether it's on the field or the court, Georgia is currently a Top 25 program in every major sport that's currently in season. That’s a rare feat, even for a school with this much history.