Georgia has college football's hardest schedule, per ESPN analyst

The powerhouses in college football don't always have the hardest schedules.

That's not the case for the Georgia Bulldogs this year.

Kirby Smart's team opens up the 2024 season with a matchup against the Clemson Tigers, followed by a gauntlet of SEC teams that includes the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Longhorns, Ole Miss Rebels, and other emerging contenders in the conference.

It's a tough slate of games for the Bulldogs, and ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy believes that they have the toughest schedule in the country.

“They play the hardest schedule in the country. I don’t care what anybody says,” McElroy explained . “Having to go to Tuscaloosa, to Austin and to Oxford, Miss., not to mention a neutral site game against Florida who at times has played them really well even with sub-standard rosters compared to what Kirby has had since he’s been there. And Clemson, who might have a top-five defense in the country with what they bring back.”

The good news for Kirby Smart's team is that they're still loaded on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Carson Beck and defensive lineman Mykel Williams are both in the running to be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft. Meanwhile, Malaki Starks is the currently top-ranked safety on early consensus boards , not to mention other draft prospects like Tate Ratledge and Trevor Etienne on offense.

With so much talent on both sides of the ball, Georgia should still be considered a College Football Playoff contender. It just won't be as easy of a journey as other teams have in the SEC.