This week’s question to the DawgNation staff wasn’t exactly a question; more of a big-picture prompt: “Georgia will have its best shot at winning a national championship if …”
Before we get to that, though, was anyone at “Soccer in Sanford” last night? I was, and it was a special thing to witness.
With an attendance of 25,433 for Georgia’s 6-0 win against James Madison on Thursday, the Bulldogs broke the NCAA soccer attendance record for women’s soccer (previously 14,410 set in 1999) and set an overall attendance record (surpassing the men’s record of 22,512 set in 1980).
It was a crazy night, with Georgia coach Kirby Smart and the football team showing out to support as the soccer team dominated:
Georgia goalkeeper Jordan Brown leads the team through a banner before their "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, at Sanford Stadium in Athens. (Evan Frilingos/The Red & Black via AP)
Fans cheer before the start of Georgia's "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison at Sanford Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart speaks with fans before UGA's "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Members of the UGA Spike Squad cheer during Georgia's "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Georgia midfielder Leila Avila celebrates her goal with teammates during their "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Georgia midfielder Ava Stack (second from right) celebrates her goal with teammates during the first half of their "Soccer in Sanford" match against James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Soccer fans fill the seating section below the Dooley Field sign during the first half of the "Soccer in Sanford" match between Georgia and James Madison on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
OK, now let’s get into our Feature Friday prompt:
“Georgia will have its best shot at winning a national championship if …”
Mike Griffith: “ ... the Bulldogs’ rushing attack proves the best in the nation behind its powerful offensive line, because establishing the run game will open up the sort of play-action passing game that triggers explosive pass plays and keeps the team in positive down-and-distance situations that put defenses in run-pass conflict situations, unable to decipher if the play call is a run or a pass. A strong run game also increases red zone touchdown efficiency while also enabling UGA to control time of possession and keep opposing offenses off of the field.”
Georgia's Nate Frazier carries the ball during the first day of fall camp practices on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)
Georgia running back Nate Frazier runs 9 yards for a touchdown against Alabama during their SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Jeff Sentell: “As much as I’d like to get analytical and weave a point that involves a long-lost 1,000-yard receiver or rusher, it’s simpler than that … Georgia needs to be healthy in the playoffs. The Dawgs have had teams in each of the last three seasons that could have won titles. They’ve annually had one of the top four rosters in college football, but crippling injuries to Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Carson Beck, Drew Bobo and Gabe Harris have all happened in successive playoff years. Let’s see what they can do without losing a difference maker in December and January. Availability. That’s the ability the Dawgs need to win it all in Las Vegas in 2027.”
Georgia redshirt junior center Drew Bobo takes a rep during the first day of fall camp practices on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)
Georgia linebacker Gabe Harris Jr. wheels himself onto the field at the Caesars Superdome before their Sugar Bowl matchup against Ole Miss on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New Orleans. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Connor: “ … Gunner Stockton finds a few pass catchers he trusts. Georgia doesn’t have a Brock Bowers or George Pickens on this team. It’s also good enough elsewhere so that the Bulldogs don’t need them. But multiple players, be it Isiah Canion, London Humphreys, Talyn Taylor, Lawson Luckie or Jaden Reddell, need to show they can make plays at critical junctions during big games.”
Georgia wide receiver Isiah Canion warms up during the G-Day spring football game at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Athens. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
Georgia receiver Talyn Taylor sprints down the field during the first day of fall camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)
Georgia wide receiver London Humphreys (left) celebrates with wide receiver Noah Thomas after scoring a 30-yard touchdown reception against Texas at Sanford Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Athens. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Trivia time
Georgia football has been dominant at Sanford Stadium, particularly since 2020. Can you guess their record Between the Hedges?
And lastly, here’s my answer to “Georgia will have its best shot at winning a national championship if …”
Sarah: “ … Georgia’s pass rush takes a big step forward. The Bulldogs tallied 20 sacks last season, the fewest in the SEC and the lowest in the Kirby Smart era. Keeping opposing quarterbacks further off-balance will be key. I think Georgia has the talent to do this and am looking for big seasons from Elijah Griffin and Chris Cole, who led Georgia in sacks with 4.5 last year.”
Georgia's Elijah Griffin takes part in the second day of spring practice on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in Athens. (DawgNation)
Georgia junior LB Chris Cole participates during the first day of fall camp on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, in Athens. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)
Freshman Craig Dandridge proving ‘very, very explosive’ at receiver
Georgia freshman receiver Craig Dandridge was one of the most talked about players in offseason workouts, but those close to the program were wanting to see what would happen once the pads went on.
Was Dandridge tough enough to make an impact once the hitting started and he was confronted with elite defensive backs in 11-on-11 scrimmage situations?
Dandridge has been through one fall scrimmage, and he’ll be going through another this Saturday looking to prove his worth.
UGA coach Kirby Smart isn’t tipping his hand on what’s happened behind the closed practice gates, but sometimes the less Smart says about a player, the better.
“Craig’s great,” Smart said, asked on Wednesday to assess the national Top 100 recruit out of Cambridge High School.
“Craig’s continuing to work and get better and continues to work day in and day out. He’s a pleasure to work with.”
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder arrived at UGA with quite a resume, having caught more than 50 passes for more than 1,100 yards last season while running a 10.84-second time in the 100 meters in high school.
The athletic ability and football skills are all there, and now it’s only a matter of Dandridge believing in himself, according to junior receiver Sacovie White-Helton.
“Craig is definitely very, very explosive,” White-Helton said Wednesday. “He, as of right now, he’s one of the top freshmen right now doing what he needs to do, and we all believe in him.
“I think it comes down to confidence for him, allowing him to tell himself, ‘Hey, I’m good to go. I’m out here for a reason, and I’m at this school for a reason.’ His confidence is through the roof, and if he keeps that throughout the season, he’ll have a really good year for us.”
Swagger meets substance: Ellis Robinson embraces star role for Georgia
You would not believe it based on his answers from behind a podium, but Ellis Robinson is one of the best trash talkers on the team.
When speaking to reporters, Robinson keeps things short and to the point.
When he’s on the field, it’s a different story.
“Confidence, I’d say, is really high for me,” Robinson said. “You know, just playing last year, you have to have confidence out there on the field. So it all starts in practice. If you have confidence in practice, you have confidence in the game, too.”
Robinson knows there are certain lines that can’t be crossed when going against his Georgia teammates.
As for opponents, “nothing” is off-limits.
That mindset, along with his God-given ability, is a big reason Robinson is viewed as one of the top defensive backs in the country.
It became obvious during the 2025 season that Robinson was at last a confident player. During his breakout redshirt freshman season he started in 12 of UGA’s 14 games; led the Bulldogs in interceptions (4) and pass breakups (7); racked up 20 total tackles; and earned FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
“I feel like that award really wouldn’t be done without a team thing,” Robinson said. “So you know, I credit the guys that are on the defensive side as well, and really just the expectation part, I don’t really look at it like that. I just look at it as just going out there and playing.”
More than that, he became the lockdown corner Georgia was searching for to tag with now-Pittsburgh Steelers Daylen Everette.
Coming into the season, Robinson has really embraced the leadership role, taking what his former teammates did for him and passing it along to the underclassmen.
“Just being up there, stepping up into that role, it’s definitely been good though for sure,” Robinson said. “Trying to lead just the younger guys in general, too.”
As Robinson has shown in three weeks of fall camp, the preseason hype around him seems well deserved.
