For the first time this year, the sentence “The University of Georgia football team will play a team from another university in Sanford Stadium this weekend” is finally true.
Those in the stands will be given a very warm welcome from the little star we call the Sun, but a Labor Day isn’t a true Labor Day unless you’re beet red and hoarse from a long Week 1.
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The Georgia Bulldogs v2026.0 start their quest for the program’s third national title in six years against a Tennessee State Tigers team that struggled through a 2-10 season in 2025. Things might be different if this game was on the road, but I feel pretty good about the Dawgs’ chance in this one.
Given that this game will be “televised” through a paid subscription to SEC Network Plus, only fans who are truly dedicated and financially stable will be tuning into this one. Even with the recent price increase, those subscription fees shouldn’t be an issue for famed Tennessee State alum Oprah Winfrey, who of course earned her communications degree from the school in the unseasonably warm spring of 1987.
Though the Tigers did aforementionedly go 2-10 last season, it wasn’t the fault of the defense, which held opponents to a respectable 27 points per game. Those numbers are skewed by the North Dakota State game where they said “You get a touchdown! You get a touchdown! Everybody gets a touchdown!” to the tune of a 59-3 whoopin’. Georgia fans are hoping for similar offensive success, starting with their Oprahning drive.
In a mismatch of this magnitude, you fully expect the bigger Georgia team to OWN the line of scrimmage. Returning QB Gunner Stockton should have a carefree afternoon, and there should be plenty of holes for the stable of RBs to gallop through.
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The main thing fans want to see is how the WRs perform. Seeing the disparity in team talent, a big day wouldn’t dispel all concerns fans have, but another game with no separation, drops, and dozens of screen passes would have fans uncomfortable moving forward.
Normally in this type of matchup you would expect a Corn Flakes type of offensive game plan, one that’s pretty bland and lacks flash, but ultimately gets the job done. But seeing as there are lots of new faces to be broken in, we might see some Reese’s Puffs. Throw in some gadget plays, work on some new concepts, and get a comfortable lead, then bench the starters and let them lay down for a little bit because they had too much and their tummy hurts.
On the other side of the ball, the vaunted Dawgs’ defense should have no problems against a Tiger offense that averaged just 13 points per game last season. With production returning at all three levels from a young unit that seemed to click at the end of last season, expect this defense to get off to a hot start.
While the game itself may not end up being much to write home about, Georgia football is back. Grills will be hot, the temperature will be hotter, and The Who will once again be ringing throughout the Classic City.
Make like a safe driver and buckle up, becuase this season should be one fun ride.
