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Georgia looks to buck trend after ranking No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25
The Associated Press released its Top 25 preseason college football poll on Monday. Unsurprisingly, Georgia ranked No. 1, but that doesn't guarantee the Bulldogs will win another national championship.
BREAKING: Georgia is No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 and Ohio State is No. 2 as expanded SEC and Big Ten dominate.
— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) August 12, 2024
See full poll: https://t.co/7dTTUiSC1j pic.twitter.com/xhzCrzACze
Per Brad Crawford of 247Sports, no preseason No. 1 has won the national championship since Alabama in 2017. Unlike the Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide were a unanimous top team. Georgia has 46 first-place votes in the poll, ahead of Ohio State (15) and Oregon (one).
Georgia's daunting schedule includes Southeastern Conference road games against No. 4 Texas, No. 5 Alabama and No. 6 Ole Miss. ESPN's Football Power Index rates the Bulldogs' schedule as the third-most difficult in the country behind Mississippi State and Florida.
Georgia, however, has won two national championships over the past three seasons. Bulldogs defensive back Malaki Starks recently suggested they could raise the benchmark in 2024.
"We don't talk about [national championships], we win them," Starks said at SEC Media Days. "That's the biggest thing for us right now. Keeping our head down and keeping the standard the standard. I think the goal every year is to raise the standard and that's just football."
Along with a stingy defense — which ranked first in the SEC in points allowed last season (16.6) — the Bulldogs feature star quarterback Carson Beck. As of Monday, ESPN Bet gives Beck the second-best Heisman Trophy odds (+800) behind Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel.
Last season, Georgia went 13-1 but missed the College Football Playoff after losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Making the CFP could be easier this season as it's expanding from four to 12 teams. Still, the Bulldogs aren't an overwhelming national title favorite. As of Monday, Ohio State and Georgia are tied for the best odds (+325) to win the championship, via ESPN Bet.
Georgia should be in the thick of the national championship hunt in 2024, but don't be shocked if the Bulldogs fail to capture another title.
More must-reads:
- One thing that must happen for each of these would-be College Football Playoff contenders
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