Welcome to Tuesday, Bulldog fans! We’re not in mid-season form yet, but we are in full pads and live hitting. There’s a few new wrinkles in the playbook we haven’t installed, but the vanilla packages are getting nailed down and ready for game action.
You’ve seen the Coaches Preseason poll, which is like when the El Sombrero waitstaff drop off chips and salsa at your table. Now you’ve got the AP Preseason poll, akin to the same waitstaff bringing out the queso: much better, but everyone is dipping into it and you won’t get enough. We have some months until the CFP rankings – sizzling fajitas alongside the 2nd pitcher of margs sauntering through the throngs of drooling cheapskates who ordered ACP.
Tex-Mex aside, there aren’t glaring differences between these canapés. The Bulldogs come in at #3 behind the loaded rosters at an Ohio State and Oregon. Notre Dame, Texas, Indiana, and Miami round out the top 7. So while UGA is the highest ranked SEC team, they and the Horns Downs are the only SEC teams ranked that high, and also the only two of those seven NOT to receive any first place votes. Even the Beckless Hurricanes received a vote for #1. Is that SEC fatigue? The blatant ESPN-led Big 10 bias? I don’t know, better ask Mr. Owl.
Who else might feel disrespected? The #6 Hoosiers, who (probably) have never been ranked this high before the autumnal equinox. Did they complete a perfect championship season a scant 7 months ago? Sure. Did they land a good high school recruiting class, and bring in transfers to replace key losses? Absolutely. So not being ranked in the top 3, much less #1 slot is anothe sign of disrespect, eh? Their angst, their perceived slight, their social media frustration for this meaningless ranking is misplaced. Remember that every team above them has a returning starter at quarterback, and they brought in a gunslinger who throws more picks than Carson Beck at a big away SEC game. And in terms of votes, Indiana is closer to the #2 ranking than current #2 Oregon is to #1. So just relax, will ya?
And if they’re still mad, maybe complain to the Athletic Department in Bloomington. Because all these other schools, plus a few more are spending over $40 million on their roster. The Bulldogs, according to #sources, were just under that mark.
Some of that money is Athens is no doubt directed to sophomore DB Ellis Robinson IV and senior signal caller Gunner Stockton. Both valuable returners to Kirby Smart’s 2026 squad, and now both on the Walter Camp Player of the Year Watchlist.
That should get your Tuesday going. Thanks for staying with us, or tuning back in, or picking us up for the first time. We’re glad you’re here and will enjoy the season alongside you. Enjoy your day, and as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!