David Pollack Reveals Georgia's Biggest Issue This Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 4:00 PM ET

The No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs have just experienced their first loss of the season, falling to the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide with a score of 24-21. This loss marks Alabama's 10th victory in the last 11 games played between the two teams.

The Crimson Tide started strong, taking a 17-7 lead in the first half. Georgia attempted to rally in the second half, narrowing the deficit to three points. However, after closing the gap, the Bulldogs struggled, punting twice and then turning the ball over on downs deep in Alabama's territory during their next drive.

Slow starts have become a recurring issue for Georgia. On "See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack," the former Georgia All-American addressed this concern.

"What about these slow starts?" Pollack asked. "October 19th was the last time they had a first half lead against a Power Four team. They've played Tennessee, they've played Florida, they've played Ole Miss, they've played Georgia Tech, they've played Texas, they played Tennessee again and they played Alabama. They haven't had a first half lead. It's starting to become an issue."

To Pollack's point, the only other game Georgia played against a Power Four opponent this season was against the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers. The Bulldogs trailed 21-7 in the first quarter of that game. However, they were able to rally and get the game to overtime. Georgia would knock off the Volunteers 44-41 in the extra period.

Georgia’s latest stumble against Alabama might not just be about one missed opportunity. As Pollack pointed out, the Bulldogs have developed a troubling pattern of falling behind early and fighting uphill the rest of the way. Until Georgia figures out how to start faster against top competition, its championship ceiling could remain out of reach, no matter how much talent is on the roster.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: