Right now, Georgia fans are in a golden age. The Bulldogs have won back-to-back national championships to silence rival fan bases. Dawg fans suffered for a long time before Kirby Smart and Georgia won a championship in 2021. Now, opposing fan bases can no longer flaunt that Georgia has not won a title since 1980.
To make things even better for Bulldog fans, several of Georgia’s rivals are having a rough time winning. Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech are all struggling mightily. This trio of Georgia rivals has each replaced a coach within the past two years.
Let’s take a look at when the last time each of Georgia’s biggest rivals won a national championship in football?
Clemson Tigers
(Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Last national championship: 2018
Can Clemson get its offense back on track in 2023? The Dawgs and Tigers often battle on the recruiting trail and will renew their rivalry in 2024.
Clemson’s 2023 preseason national title odds (via FanDuel): +1,600
Clemson Wire
South Carolina Gameco*cks
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Last national championship: never
With there being no 2024 game scheduled between Georgia and South Carolina, will the Georgia-South Carolina rivalry begin to decline? The Gameco*cks and Dawgs have faced off every season since 1992. A pandemic couldn’t stop the rivalry, but a conference expansion is putting a temporary hold on it.
Is South Carolina a national title contender in the future? The Gameco*cks would settle for a second SEC championship appearance at this point.
South Carolina’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +15,000
Alabama Crimson Tide
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Last national championship: 2020
Georgia and Alabama are not traditional rivals. However, they are the two top programs in college football. Alabama derailed Georgia’s national championship hopes in the 2012 SEC championship.
The Crimson Tide and Dawgs have met twice in SEC championships and national championships since then. Georgia defeated Alabama in the 2021 national title and won another title in 2022 to be the latest program to challenge the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +600
Roll Tide Wire
Tennessee Volunteers
The Knoxville News-Sentinel
Last national championship: 1998
Tennessee fans thought that 2021 was going to be their year (like they do every year when they are decent) until they faced the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.
The Volunteers seem to be back on track under head coach Josh Heupel. However, it has now been 25 years since 1998.
Tennessee’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +2,500
Vols Wire
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Last national championship: 1990
Georgia Tech fans will say we are their biggest rival, but Georgia fans don’t feel the same about the Yellow Jackets. Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate games have not been competitive recently.
Georgia Tech isn’t winning a national title any time soon. It will be interesting to see if the Tech rivalry intensifies with the SEC expansion reducing how often Georgia plays some of its other rivals.
Georgia Tech’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +50,000
Auburn Tigers
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Last national championship: 2010
Things have changed a lot since Cam Newton and Auburn won the 2010 national championship. One thing has stayed the same: Auburn’s program has been in almost continuous turmoil.
Georgia has won 12 of its last 14 games against Auburn since the Tigers won a national championship.
Auburn’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +25,000
Auburn Wire
Florida Gators
Last national championship: 2008
Alabama has won six national championships since Florida last won a title. Georgia has won back-to-back national titles and even Florida State has won a championship since 2008.
The Gators and Bulldogs will keep playing each other every year in the new SEC alignment. 2023 will be the last year that the two foes battle in the SEC East.
Florida’s 2023 preseason national title odds: +20,000
Gators Wire
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