A Bold Forecast for the Bulldogs
CBS Sports analyst Brad Crawford predicts that the Georgia Bulldogs will finish the 2026 season with an 11‑1 overall record, dropping just one conference game to finish 8‑1 in the SEC.
The upcoming year will mark the first time SEC teams play a nine‑game conference schedule, a change that shapes the Bulldogs’ path and the broader playoff picture.
A Surprising Slip Against the Gamecocks
Crawford expects a surprising loss to South Carolina, a team that last beat Georgia in 2019 and is projected to finish 7‑5 overall and 4‑5 in the league, earning a berth in the Texas Bowl.
Despite that setback, the Bulldogs are slated to dominate other matchups, with predicted victories over Ole Miss, Alabama and Oklahoma, positioning them for a showdown in the SEC championship.
Championship Clash with Texas
The championship game is projected to pit Georgia against the Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Arch Manning, in a contest that could finally hand the Bulldogs a defeat before the playoff.
Should the Bulldogs secure the No.5 seed, they would meet the top‑ranked Group of Five champion in the first round, adding another layer of intrigue to the postseason.
The forecast underscores both the optimism surrounding Georgia’s talent and the unpredictable nature of the SEC, where even favored teams can face unexpected challenges.