The 2024 Associated Press preseason college football poll was released on Monday, placing the Georgia Bulldogs in the top spot for the second consecutive year. Despite this accolade, former Georgia player David Pollack remains skeptical about the Bulldogs’ ability to maintain their position at the end of the season.
Pollack, who has previously voiced concerns about Georgia’s prospects, continues to assert that it will be extremely challenging for the Bulldogs to stay at the top. He expressed his doubts, noting the daunting nature of Georgia’s schedule. Pollack remarked, “I understand why Georgia is ranked #1 to start the season, but I would be completely surprised if they finish the regular season in that spot. Their schedule is incredibly tough. Best of luck to Coach Kirby Smart.”
This season, Georgia faces a significant challenge with four road games against top-15 teams: Texas (No. 4), Alabama (No. 5), Ole Miss (No. 6), and Clemson (No. 14). These challenging matchups are expected to test the Bulldogs’ resilience and might impact their standing. Pollack has even suggested that Georgia could struggle to make it to the SEC Championship game due to their grueling schedule.
During an appearance on Outkick Hot Mic, Pollack elaborated, “Georgia might be the best team, but with the current format, there are at least four teams that could be contenders, and possibly even a third. I believe Georgia’s tough schedule might prevent them from reaching the SEC Championship game. They could end up watching the SEC Championship from home and then head to the playoffs. This scenario is quite plausible this year.”
While Smart typically disregards external opinions and rankings, the intensity of the criticism is hard to ignore, especially given the high stakes of the program. The Bulldogs will have an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities and address Pollack’s concerns when they face the Tigers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on August 31.
