Georgia’s preseason tune-up ends with a real road test tonight, and the setting could tell the Bulldogs plenty about where they stand. After two home exhibitions against mid-major opponents, Georgia heads to Clemson for a 6:30 p.m. ET tip, looking to stay perfect in exhibition play against a much tougher opponent.
The Bulldogs are coming off an 87-67 win over Charlotte on Friday, a game they controlled early by catching fire from deep. Georgia shot 10-of-17 from 3-point range in the first half and got at least two triples from five different players. Blue Cain led that long-range surge with four made 3s.
Even with the comfortable margin, the numbers showed a few issues Georgia will want to clean up. Charlotte outrebounded the Bulldogs 36-33 and scored 40 points in the paint, two signs that the battle inside still needs work. Georgia also mixed and matched lineups throughout the night, which helped explain some of the uneven final stats.
“I don't know that we did anything great, but I liked our culture. I liked the way it moved late in the game, guys rooting for one another.
Played hard," Georgia coach Mike White said. "I think Charlotte's going to have a good year.
I think they're really good. They set the tone defensively from the tip.
Not surprising. Wes [Miller] had a really good defensive run at Cincinnati as well.
They execute well. A lot to learn from for both teams."
For Georgia, tonight offers a different kind of challenge. Clemson is playing its first exhibition of the season, though the Tigers already logged three games in Italy in late July and early August. They’re coming off a 24-win season and beat Georgia 97-94 in overtime last November.
This Clemson roster looks different, though not empty. Forward Carter Welling is the only starter back from that team, and he’s returning after tearing his ACL in the ACC Tournament in March. The Tigers also bring back guards Ace Buckner and Zac Foster, along with freshman guard Harris Reynolds.
White welcomed the rematch and also pointed to the atmosphere Georgia may face in Littlejohn Coliseum. Clemson’s football team hosts Virginia Tech on Saturday, so the Tigers are expected to have a sizable crowd on hand.
White also sees value in getting his team on the road now, with a trip to North Carolina waiting on Nov. 13.
For a Georgia team still sorting out rotations and combinations, this is the kind of game that can reveal more than the first two exhibitions did. As Smurf Millender put it: "It's going to be good for us."
In Other News...
Georgia May Be Missing A Crucial Defender Against Florida
Georgias defense could be waiting on a familiar name this week, as safety KJ Bolden works his way back from the injury he picked up against Alabama. Kirby Smart said Bolden is hopeful to return, but the final call will depend on whether he gets through the doctors protocol in time for the Florida game.
Bolden already missed the Auburn game, and his absence was part of the conversation around why the defense struggled. With Florida next on the schedule, Georgia would like to have one of its more important defensive pieces back in the secondary, but for now the situation remains uncertain. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Should Remember One Thing If Arch Manning Comes Up Again
Arch Mannings name still carries plenty of weight in recruiting circles, and it is easy to understand why Georgia fans would remember how close the Bulldogs once were to landing the highly touted quarterback before he chose Texas. But the reality in Austin has been more complicated than the buzz around his signing day, with Manning struggling to fully live up to the expectations that followed him into college. After recent losses, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has had to evaluate the position, even as Manning remains the starter.
If his situation at Texas keeps drifting in that direction, there will be plenty of chatter about whether he could eventually look elsewhere after the 2026 season. Georgia, though, would be wise to resist getting caught up in the same old name-value appeal and remember that roster-building works better when it is grounded in fit and production, not just recruiting drama. The Bulldogs have other paths to explore, and this one already comes with enough baggage to make caution the smarter play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Suddenly Has A Real Fight To Keep Jayden Wade
Georgias hold on its 2028 quarterback commitment is being tested in a way that felt far off only a short time ago. Five-star signal caller Jayden Wade is reportedly set to visit Michigan this weekend, giving another program a chance to make its case to one of the most important recruits in the cycle.
The trip is notable because quarterback development has been a question for Michigan, and the programs current situation at the position is part of what Georgia will have to navigate in keeping Wade on board. NIL could also become a factor in the recruitment if the Wolverines choose to make a major push, leaving this one as a real battle worth watching for the Bulldogs. [Read more 🡒]