The road to the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff is already underway, with Kirby Smart completely revamping a number of areas through the transfer portal, namely the wide receiver room.
Whether it’s Gunner Stockton or Ryan Puglisi, the Bulldogs starting quarterback will have a ton of weapons to throw to; however, none of that will matter if the offensive line doesn’t improve. Georgia’s big uglies up front performed much lower this past season than the standard that has been set in Athens, and the group is losing four starters to the NFL.
The defense, particularly on the edges, will also be completely overhauled, while Malaki Starks will have to be replaced on the backend. Even with the transfer portal additions that come throughout the offseason, the Bulldogs will be much younger and inexperienced than they have been in quite a long time.
With that being said, Kirby Smart is one of one. He recruits better than anyone, and his ability to develop that talent is second to none. The oddsmakers in Las Vegas know that as well as anyone, which is why the Bulldogs have still been given the second-best odds to win next year’s national championship at +650, slightly behind Ohio State at +450 and tied with SEC foe Texas.
2026 National Title Odds
- Ohio State — +450
- Georgia Bulldogs — +650
- Texas Longhorns — +650
- Oregon Ducks — +700
- Penn State Nittany Lions — +850
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish — +1200
- Alabama Crimson Tide — +1600
- Tennessee Volunteers — +2000
- LSU Tigers — +2000
- Clemson Tigers — +2000
- Ole Miss Rebels — +2500
—
More than ever, this past season exemplified the changes in college football. NIL and the transfer portal have evened the playing field for the top schools. The days of absolute domination from start to finish appear to be in the rearview mirror. Like the NFL, it’s now about playing your best football at the right time. Ohio State showed that this season, and the hope is that a young Georgia Bulldogs team can eventually peak similarly this time next year.
—
Photographer: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.