The wait is finally over for Georgia.
After roughly 20 practices of fall camp, the Bulldogs will finally get the opportunity to hit someone wearing a different uniform when they host Tennessee State on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said Monday that the season opener will provide the Bulldogs with their first real opportunity to see how much progress they’ve made throughout the offseason.
“We’ve got to play somebody else to get better,” Smart said. “That’s the stage we’re in.”
Tennessee State already has a game under its belt after opening the season Saturday night against Jackson State in the John Merritt Classic at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
The Tigers fell 26-24 in a back-and-forth contest. Tennessee State took a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Dayin Lee connected with Francisco Pratts III for a 5-yard touchdown.
Jackson State answered with a 15-play, 74-yard drive that took more than six minutes off the clock before Andrew Ivaniciuc converted a 21-yard field goal with 2:31 remaining.
Tennessee State still had a chance to win, driving into field-goal range in the final minute, but Jackson State’s defense prevented the potential 36-yard game-winning attempt from getting off the ground.
Georgia will now get its first look at a Tennessee State team that has already experienced the intensity of a game situation.
For the Bulldogs, Saturday will be about establishing their identity and sorting out several position battles and rotations.
One of the biggest areas to watch will be Georgia’s offensive line.
Smart expects roughly nine or 10 offensive linemen to be capable of playing winning football, making the opener an important opportunity to determine how the rotation develops.
The defensive interior is also expected to feature a committee approach, allowing several players to make their case for meaningful playing time.
The running back room will be another position to monitor.
Nate Frazier enters the season looking to take another step after a strong offseason, particularly as a pass catcher.
Georgia will also have the opportunity to see how its other backs perform once the games begin counting.
Frazier said the Bulldogs won’t take Tennessee State lightly.
“I don’t care if we’re playing Tennessee State or Harvard, I really don’t underestimate any team at all,” Frazier said. “You know, we’ve seen it happen before. If you go into a mindset like that, you’re going to lose the game.”
The weather could add another element to Saturday’s opener, with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-90s.
Smart said this has been one of the hottest camps Georgia has measured, meaning the Bulldogs have spent plenty of time preparing in difficult conditions. Still, playing a game in the heat presents a different challenge.
“I always worry about our players being acclimated to a game-type atmosphere and that heat,” Smart said.
Ultimately, Saturday is the first measuring stick for a Georgia team with high expectations.
The Bulldogs won’t have every question answered in the opener, but they’ll begin to find out how their players respond when the preparation ends, and the games begin.
“I want all those guys to perform at a high level, and do it regardless of who the opponent is,” Smart said. “It doesn’t matter who the opponent is; our opponent is ourselves.”