In its continuing efforts to bolster its non-conference schedules in the future, Georgia announced Thursday a deal with Ohio State to play a home-and-home series in 2030 and 2031.
The Buckeyes will play in Athens on Sept. 14, 2030, and the Bulldogs will play in Columbus to open the 2031 season. The traditional powers have never played in each others campus stadiums. In fact, they’ve played only one time previously. Georgia and quarterback Eric Zeier defeated Ohio State and quarterback Kirk Herbstreit 21-14 in the Cirtus Bowl in Orlando in the 1992 season.
“We are committed to playing in as many big games as possible, keeping Georgia on the national stage,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said in a news release. “Matchups with a team like Ohio State are one of the many reasons great players come to Georgia.”
This is indeed just the latest big-game announcement among a slew of them that have have come from the Bulldogs in the last year. Georgia is among many Power-5 teams moving to strengthen its schedule in anticipation of that being an increasingly weighted factor in being able to play for the national championship.
“Some teams are heading in that direction; I don’t think everybody is,” Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity said. “Some schools are making the commitment to upgrade their non-conference schedules. I think we’ve been a leader in that area, for years really.”
In the past 10 years, Georgia has played Arizona State, Colorado, Boise State, Clemson, North Carolina and Notre Dame.
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Georgia previously announced home-and-home series with Power 5 non-conference opponents, including two with Clemson (2029 in Clemson and 2030 in Athens, and 2032 in Athens and 2033 at Clemson); Texas (2028 in Austin and 2029 in Athens); UCLA (2025 in Pasadena and 2026 in Athens); Florida State (2027 in Tallahassee and 2028 in Athens); and Oklahoma (2023 in Norman and 2031 in Athens). The Bulldogs also have three neutral-site Power 5 games in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium: 2020 vs. Virginia; 2022 vs. Oregon; and 2024 vs. Clemson.
Georgia and Ohio State actually signed a memo of understanding for a home-and-home in 2010, but the Buckeyes backed out of the deal after Urban Meyer arrived as head coach in 2012.
