Georgia Bulldogs 2017 Football Schedule: Return To SEC Greatness?

ATHENS, GA -- Red and black games, bitter SEC rivalries and good times between the hedges, it's all here again as the University of Georgia football prepares to begin their 2017 campaign next month. The team, now in its second season with head coach Kirby Smart, looks to capitalize on some key freshman recruits and to continue the maturation process of signal caller Jacob Eason.

The SEC East will be its usually loaded self -- not quite the monster gauntlet that is the SEC West -- with perennial great Florida, and a much-improved South Carolina, but it's the Bulldogs' out-of-division opponents that will make things a bit tricky. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

An early-season test against a formidable Notre Dame squad will test the Dawg's mettle, as well a visit to Jordan-Hare Stadium to play Auburn. In a contest between Bulldogs, Mississippi State will likely bring a much-improved defense to their showdown in Athens.

Here is the 2017 Georgia Bulldogs football schedule:

• Appalachian State Sept. 2 Athens, GA 6:15 pm ESPN
• at Notre Dame Sept. 9 South Bend, IN 7:30 pm NBC
• Samford Sept. 16 Athens, GA 7:30 pm SECNetwork Alt.
• Mississippi State, Sept. 23 Athens, GA
• at Tennessee Sept. 30 Knoxville, TN
• at Vanderbilt Oct. 7 Nashville, TN
• Missouri (Homecoming) Oct. 14 Athens, GA
• Off Oct. 21
• Florida Oct. 28 Jacksonville, FL 3:30 pm CBS
• South Carolina Nov. 4 Athens, GA
• at Auburn Nov. 11 Auburn, AL
• Kentucky Nov. 18 Athens, GA
• at Georgia Tech Nov. 25 Atlanta, GA
• SEC Championship Dec 2, Atlanta, GA

Smart is bullish on his freshmen players, but hesitant to tout their abilities to the media. He said recently that his comments can be blown out of proportion.

“When I say it and turn around – y’all got Ameer Speed as the next Deion Sanders,” Smart said, according to the Macon Telegraph. “It’s a long way from that. There are some guys doing some good things. I’m really proud of those guys working.”

Read more: Georgia State University's 2017 football schedule

Read more: Atlanta Falcons 2017 football schedule: Super Bowl or bust?

Image via Pixabay