Right now, Georgia Bulldogs football fans are in a golden age. The Bulldogs won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 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 to win in recent years. This trio of Georgia rivals has each experienced turmoil, while Georgia has been in a state stability under Kirby Smart.
Georgia is so far ahead of many of its rivals that UGA’s SEC championship winning season in 2024 was considered a failure by many. However, none of Georgia’s top rivals (outside of Alabama) have won an SEC title since Auburn won the SEC in 2013.
When was the last time Georgia’s biggest rivals won a national championship in football?
Clemson Tigers
Last national championship: 2018
The Dawgs and Tigers often battle on the recruiting trail and renewed their rivalry in 2024. Georgia has gotten the better of Clemson in the Kirby Smart era. Clemson’s national championship years seem further and further away in the name, image and likeness era.
Auburn Tigers
Last national championship: 2010
College football has 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 13 of its last 15 games against Auburn since the Tigers won a national championship.
South Carolina Gamecocks
Last national championship: never
The Georgia-South Carolina rivalry is begining to decline in the expanded SEC. The teams no longer meet every year and aren’t scheduled to play in 2025. The Gamecocks 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 Gamecocks would settle for a second SEC championship appearance at this point.
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 16-team SEC. Florida is Georgia’s top rival and appears to be on the rise under Billy Napier.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
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 become competitive recently in the Brent Key era, but Georgia still holds a significant winning streak in the series.
Georgia Tech isn’t winning a national title any time soon. The Tech rivalry certainly intensified thanks to Georgia’s eight overtime win in 2024.
Alabama Crimson Tide
Last national championship: 2020
Georgia and Alabama are not traditional rivals. However, they are two of the top programs in college football. Alabama derailed Georgia’s national championship hopes in the 2012, 2018, and 2023 SEC championship games.
The Crimson Tide and Dawgs have met twice in national championships since. Georgia defeated Alabama in the 2021 national title and looks like the top program in college football under Kirby Smart. Alabama is in a new era under Kalen DeBoer, who has the tough job of replacing Nick Saban.
Tennessee Volunteers
Last national championship: 1998
Tennessee Volunteers 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 over 25 years since 1998.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: The last time Georgia’s biggest rivals won a national championship
