In Athens on a fall Saturday, football is in the air all around. Starting early in the days, the whole town is giddy about the game about to be played at Sanford Stadium. Unfortunately, UGA basketball does not compare. UGA is a football school, now and for the foreseeable future, and that is simply reality.

When the postseason arrives, the contrast between UGA football and basketball becomes more stark. Georgia football has established itself as a powerhouse especially come late December. Basketball on the other hand, is still developing.

In 2021 and 2022, Georgia football repeated as national champs. Led by head coach Kirby Smart, the Dogs went 28-1 in those two years. In the 2021 National Championship, Georgia took down the Heisman-led Alabama Crimson Tide. The following year, Georgia dominated TCU by 58. This was the largest margin of victory in a National Championship Game, ever.

Under Smart, Georgia has made the College Football Playoff five times. In two of those appearances, the Bulldogs made the championship, and won both. In all of the Bulldogs’ CFP appearances, they have outscored their opponents 295-213. That amounts to about a 10 point average margin of victory in their eight playoff games. Additionally, the Georgia program has produced 17 first round draft picks since 2017, including Jordan Davis and Brock Bowers, each at the 13th pick, and Travon Walker, drafted at number one overall.

Georgia basketball does have some history. Dominique Wilkins, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Anthony Edwards all came through Athens. The program has made a total of 16 NCAA Tournament appearances all-time. Despite all of the talent, UGA hoops has never claimed a national title. The SEC has generated twelve national champions.

Georgia has not made it past the Sweet Sixteen since 2011, and has not won a tournament game for more than a decade. Additionally, from 2015 through 2025, it had not even made the tournament. While the basketball team was sitting at home, while the football team was collecting W’s, and cementing its place as one of the best programs in college football in the century.

Perhaps funding is a problem. Sanford Stadium, home of Georgia football, seats 93,000 fans and sells out almost every Saturday. Stegeman Coliseum, on the other hand, seats 10,500 and very rarely is able to sell all of its tickets to Georgia basketball games. In fact, this year, UGA basketball only sold out three home games despite going 22-10, and being well on the way to March Madness.

Obviously, Georgia fans will always sport their red and black, show up for games, and support their teams. But, the reality is that the basketball team can have a dominant season, go 22-10, and make a solid case for a deep March run while never seeming to fill seats like in football. UGA basketball has never received that same level of enthusiasm and, for now, they won’t for a while.After all, when Georgia basketball has made it to the Big Dance, it has not made a compelling case to watch it. 

Georgia basketball is a lot like Michigan basketball as of late. The two teams have been mediocre outside of UM’s appearance in the natty in 2018. Michigan’s record from 2021-2024 was 87-72 and Georgia’s from during that period was 72-87. Both teams hovered around .500 over those years. The big difference between the two teams is how they have responded to mediocrity. Michigan hired Head Coach Dusty May, a proven mastermind who had just come off of a Final Four run with FAU. In 2022, Georgia hired their current head coach, Mike White. Now, Michigan is viewed as a National Championship favorite and Georgia is not in the conversation because the team has not shown up when it matters.

In 2022, White had just left Florida, hoping to start a new chapter. At Florida, he succeeded an all-time great head coach, Billy Donovan, who led the Gators to two championships. The farthest White took UF was to the Elite Eight. He had multiple seasons with the Gators which ended with the Gators falling short of the tournament. 

Should White be fired White now after four seasons with the Dawgs? No. But, if Georgia doesn’t compete this March or next, UGA should consider moving on.

Georgia basketball might have all of the pieces to reverse the trend, but something needs to change. Maybe the coach should be first.