Georgia crossed a line Monday night when it put a week one highlight video from its win over Tennessee State behind a paywall.
The video had been the kind of content fans were used to getting for free. This time, though, anyone who wanted to watch it had to subscribe to “Glory Glory Georgia” and help contribute to Georgia’s NIL collective. The price of entry was a minimum of $20, and that charge would continue monthly for access to content like this for the rest of the season.
🎥 Watch the full Victory Highlights on https://t.co/Fackoy85Rn and the Glory Glory app pic.twitter.com/zD6WEwYLag
- Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) September 7, 2026
That decision lands at a time when fans are already being asked to stretch their wallets in every direction. Ticket prices keep climbing, concessions cost more, parking is expensive, and schools are constantly looking for another way to get supporters to chip in for NIL.
At first, that push felt like part of the new reality of college football. But asking fans to pay $20 a month just to see a highlight video goes too far.
There’s a big difference between paying to attend a game and being locked out of content that used to be free. For fans who can’t afford to go in person, this kind of move cuts off even more of the experience.
Georgia still has a chance to fix it. The pushback online has been loud, and the simplest answer is the obvious one: put the video back up for everyone.
The move also puts a spotlight on Kirby Smart’s standing in the NIL era. Smart has made it clear he doesn’t want Georgia defined by NIL. He knows it matters, and he’s not ignoring it, but he has never come across as a coach chasing NIL dollars.
That’s why this feels off for Georgia. Smart may not have had anything to do with the decision to place the highlight behind a paywall, but it still reflects on his program. If he wants to, he can step in and ask the people behind “Glory Glory Georgia” to make the video free again.
This won’t erase Smart’s reputation in the NIL space, but it does open the door to a bigger concern among fans: whether Georgia is starting to care too much about NIL. Up to now, Smart has projected a focus on player development and the health of the program rather than a grab for quick money. This could be the kind of shift that fans don’t want to see.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Kirby Smarts First Injury Update Leaves Georgia With Early Questions
Kirby Smarts first injury update after Georgias season-opening win offered a clearer picture of the Bulldogs health, even if it did not answer every question. Center Drew Bobo was back from a foot injury and took part in the first five series, giving Georgia a familiar presence in the middle of the line as the team moved through the opener and into the grind of a new season.
Elsewhere, the early concern centered on linebacker Linton, who is expected to be week-to-week, while running back Dante Dowdell remains sidelined after a serious offseason ATV accident. Smart said the medical staff is staying in close contact with Dowdell, but his timeline remains one of the lingering unknowns as Georgia sorts through its first real injury test of the year. [Read more 🡒]