Georgia’s opening-week statement was enough to move the Bulldogs up a spot in the AP Top 25, and that leaves them sitting at No. 2 behind Ohio State in the first poll of the 2026 season.
Ohio State held onto the top spot and picked up 46 first-place votes. Georgia, fresh off a 63-3 home win over Tennessee State, climbed into the No. 2 slot just as it did in the Coaches Poll.
Notre Dame checks in at No. 3, followed by Texas at No. 4.
The SEC is stacked near the top of the rankings. Texas sits at No.
4, LSU at No. 8, Ole Miss at No.
9, Texas A&M at No. 10, Oklahoma at No.
11, Alabama at No. 12, Tennessee at No. 18 and Missouri at No.
- That gives the league five teams in the top 10 and nine in the top 25.
Georgia did exactly what it needed to do against Tennessee State. The Bulldogs punched in touchdowns on their first five possessions and rolled from there, building a commanding first half before coasting through the final two quarters. It was a clean, lopsided opener, and Kirby Smart said the team largely met the standard he wanted to see.
"Yeah, I thought our guys, the message was, you know, first impression," Smart said Saturday after the game. "And first impression of this team would be judged by how they handled the opponent and how well they played to our standard or not.
And I thought, you know, for three quarters there - first, third, and fourth - we did that. Second, we had some sloppiness, didn't do some things well.
"But I thought the guys played really hard. I thought they beat the heat.
I didn't feel like the heat impacted us. And, you know, a lot of credit and respect to Tennessee State.
He's trying to turn his program around, and that's tough to do. A really tough battle last week, and then came in today and they fought.
So respect to Coach and his staff and program."
The full Week 1 AP Top 25 also includes Indiana at No. 5, Oregon at No.
6, Miami at No. 7, Texas Tech at No.
13, USC at No. 14, BYU at No.
15, Penn State at No. 16, SMU at No.
17, Washington at No. 19, Utah at No.
20, Iowa and Houston tied at No. 21, Louisville at No. 24 and Virginia at No.
The AP rankings are based on a simple points system: 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 for second, and so on down to one point for the No. 25 team. The totals determine the order.
Georgia now turns to Western Kentucky, with the Bulldogs set to host the Hilltoppers on Sat. Sept.
- Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
ET, and the game will air on SEC Network.
In Other News...
Georgia Just Turned A Routine Hype Video Into A Fan Debate
Georgia footballs week-one hype video has become a lot more than a simple cut-up of highlights. What used to be a free social-media perk is now being kept behind a paywall on the schools Glory Glory Georgia platform, where fans have to subscribe and also help the NIL collective to get access. For a program that has built one of the loudest online followings in the sport, the move was always going to get noticed.
The reaction has already spilled onto social media, where some Georgia fans have pushed back on the idea of charging a minimum monthly payment just to watch a video that used to be shared openly. It is a small piece of content in the grand scheme of a season, but it also reflects how quickly the business of college football keeps creeping into the everyday fan experience, even for something as routine as a hype video. [Read more 🡒]
SEC Pushes LSU Toward Punishment That Could Shake The Entire League
The SEC has escalated its case against LSU in a way that could send ripples well beyond Baton Rouge, filing an amended complaint that seeks to expel the school from the league over what it says is a lack of institutional control. The dispute stems from comments made by Lane Kiffin about former NFL players returning to college football, and the conference's filing leans heavily on the idea that LSU's leadership has offered no response while Kiffin has been public on the matter.
For Georgia and the rest of the SEC, the next step matters because expulsion would require a two-thirds vote from league presidents, with that meeting expected soon. Even before any vote, the complaint has turned a coaching-side issue into a conference governance test, and the silence from LSU is now part of the broader argument hanging over one of college football's most powerful leagues. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Smart Is Already Raving About One Georgia Freshman Receiver
Craig Dandridge wasted little time making an impression in his first college game for Georgia, popping up in multiple spots during the Bulldogs season opener against Tennessee State. The freshman wide receiver finished with two catches for 36 yards and also handled a 30-yard punt return, a small but noteworthy glimpse of the versatility that has already made him stand out in the receiver room.
Kirby Smart has been quick to notice more than just the box-score production. The Georgia coach praised Dandridges intelligence, versatility and quickness, even while noting the freshman had missed part of camp. With other receivers also contributing in the opener, Dandridges debut did not have to carry the entire passing game, but it did offer an early sign that he may have a larger role ahead. [Read more 🡒]