Connect with us

Georgia

Birmingham Bowl will be Sun Belt vs. Sun Belt after several teams opt out

Published

on

Birmingham Bowl will be Sun Belt vs. Sun Belt after several teams opt out


Georgia Southern will meet Appalachian State in the JLab Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 29 at Protective Stadium, bowl officials announced Sunday.

After several qualified teams opted out of the postseason this year, the Birmingham Bowl was forced to pair two Sun Belt teams in a rematch from the regular season. The Eagles (6-6) accepted the invitation earlier in the day, but several other 5-7 teams reportedly turned down a chance to play in the game before the Mountaineers finally accepted about two hours after all 81 of the other bowl slots were filled.

Georgia Southern won the regular-season meeting with App State 25-23 on Nov. 6 in Boone, N.C. Both teams are making their first trip to the Birmingham Bowl.

“Georgia Southern is proud to accept an invitation to the JLab Birmingham Bowl and we look forward to a matchup against App State,” Georgia Southern athletics director Chris Davis said. “Competing in the postseason is always a special opportunity, and it reflects the hard work and commitment of our student-athletes, coaches and staff. Our team is excited for the chance to represent Eagle Nation, our institution and our alumni on ESPN, and we’re grateful to Executive Director Mark Meadows and the Birmingham Bowl committee for this opportunity.

Advertisement

“Our great fans have always traveled to each of our previous seven bowl games, and I have no doubt they will descend upon Birmingham for this game. Hail Southern!”

Notre Dame (10-2) turned down a bowl bid after being left out of the College Football Playoff, while Iowa State (8-4) and Kansas State (6-6) opted out of the postseason following coaching changes, resulting in a trickle-down effect involving several bowls.

Various bowl officials then made their way through the 5-7 teams by order of their Academic Progress Rate scores, but Mississippi State opted for the Duke’s Mayo Bowl and Rice accepted an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl. Auburn, Florida State, Baylor, Kansas, Central Florida and Temple all turned down a trip to Birmingham, according to a report by On3’s Brett McMurphy.

Georgia Southern and App State are not only Sun Belt rivals, but longtime adversaries dating to their days as FCS powerhouses. In the rivalry known as “Deeper Than Hate,” the Mountaineers lead 22-18-1 all-time.

“We are honored and excited to accept the JLab Birmingham Bowl’s invitation to play Georgia Southern on December 29th‚” App State AD Doug Gillin said. “Playing postseason football is special. It’s another opportunity to display the App State brand in front of a national audience.

Advertisement

“We are excited for our football program and for App Nation for this opportunity to watch our team compete for a bowl championship.”

Kickoff for the 2025 JLab Birmingham Bowl is set for 1 p.m. Central on Dec. 29, with television coverage on ESPN.



Source link

Georgia

Georgia lawmaker proposes renaming Sawnee Mountain for Trump

Published

on

Georgia lawmaker proposes renaming Sawnee Mountain for Trump


A Georgia lawmaker is proposing a new name for Sawnee Mountain in Forsyth County — “Trump Mountain.”

(Forsyth County Parks and Rec)

Advertisement

What we know:

According to a post on social media, Rep. David Clark of Buford introduced a resolution to rename the mountain after President Donald Trump.

Clark called Trump “one of the most transformative Presidents in the nation’s history.” Sawnee Mountain is currently named after a celebrated Native American chief.

Advertisement

(Joyce Lupiani/FOX 5 Atlanta )

Clark is running to become Georgia’s next lieutenant governor.

Advertisement

Rep. David Clark joins growing race for Georgia lieutenant governor

Georgia PoliticsDonald J. TrumpForsyth County



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Georgia

Weekend snow possible in parts of North Georgia

Published

on

Weekend snow possible in parts of North Georgia


While the workweek remains quiet, far eastern North Georgia and the Carolinas are bracing for a potential winter weather blast this weekend. 

Chance for snow in Georgia

What they’re saying:

Advertisement

FOX 5 Meteorologist Jonathan Stacey says that while uncertainty remains, the ingredients for a Saturday snow event are beginning to align.

The primary window for impact is early Saturday morning through early Sunday. High-pressure conditions are expected to keep things clear through Friday, but a shifting weather pattern could open the skies just as temperatures plummet well below freezing.

Advertisement

By Sunday, models suggest the system will push offshore into the Atlantic, likely clearing the way for a sunny but cold end to the weekend.

Forecast could change

What they’re saying:

Advertisement

Current forecasting models are in “good agreement” regarding the timing of the front, though they differ slightly on how much moisture will reach the Atlanta metro area.

The European Model: Suggests the bulk of the snow will fall on the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains in the Carolinas. The big question for North Georgia is whether that moisture will cross the state line to impact eastern communities.

The American (GFS) Model: Offers a more conservative outlook, keeping the “lion’s share” of accumulation in the Carolinas and leaving Georgia with only meager flurries in the easternmost counties and higher elevations.

Advertisement

Georgia snow accumulation

What they’re saying:

With temperatures expected to stay below freezing all day Saturday and Sunday, meteorologists have to account for snow ratios. Typically, warmer snow (near 32°F) is heavy and wet. However, in deep cold, snow becomes “fluffier” and stacks higher.

Advertisement

For example, the same amount of liquid that produces one inch of slushy snow at freezing might produce two inches of dry, powdery snow at 28°F.

While an expansion into metro Atlanta is possible, it is not yet considered likely. Current probabilities favor Northeast Georgia and the Lake Country:

Advertisement
  • Athens 40%
  • Blairsville 40%
  • Gainesville 30%
  • Eatonton 30%
  • Atlanta 20%
  • Canton 20%
  • Dalton 20%
  • Ellijay 20%
  • Rome 10%
  • Carrollton 10%
  • LaGrange 10%
  • Griffin 10%

Sun after weekend

What’s next:

Looking toward next week, there is a silver lining. By Groundhog Day, the sunshine is expected to return. Regardless of whether the groundhog sees his shadow, a gradual warmup is likely to follow the weekend deep freeze.

Advertisement

The Source: This is a FOX 5 original report with all information coming from the FOX 5 Storm Team. 

Winter WeatherNewsGeorgiaWeather Forecast



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Georgia

Georgia football projected defensive depth chart, starters for 2026 season

Published

on

Georgia football projected defensive depth chart, starters for 2026 season


ATHENS – With the transfer portal closed and the NFL draft deadline past, we know what Georgia’s roster next season will look like.

The Bulldogs had 15 players depart the program via the transfer portal, while four players declared early for the NFL draft. Seniors such as Daylen Everette, Oscar Delp and Brett Thorson will all move on to the NFL.

With so much turnover, it can be hard to know how things stand with the Georgia roster.

But after the frenzy of early January, we now know that the Bulldogs will have one of the most talented rosters in the sport.

Advertisement

As the offensive depth chart below shows, the Bulldogs bring back plenty of key contributors. There are some holes that need to be filled, specifically in the secondary, but Georgia has a number of promising players eager to step up.

Georgia football 2026 depth chart, defense

Defensive tackle

  1. Elijah Griffin (Soph.), Xzavier McLeod (Jr.)
  2. Jordan Hall (Jr.),
  3. Nasir Johnson (R-Soph.), Carter Luckie (Fr.), Preston Carey (Fr.)

Nose tackle

  1. Jordan Hall (Jr.), Xzavier McLeod
  2. Nnamdi Ogboko (R-Fr.)
  3. Valdin Sone (Fr.)

Defensive end

  1. Gabe Harris (Sr.), Amaris Williams (Jr.)
  2. Joseph Jonah-Ajonye (R-Soph.), JJ Hanne (Soph.)
  3. Justin Greene (R-Soph.),
  4. AJ Lonon (Fr.), PJ Dean (Fr.)

Analysis: Much like the wide receiver position on the offensive side of the ball, don’t focus too much on who lines up where. Georgia is going to move guys around on the front. For a group that was super young this past season, Georgia brings back plenty of experience while also having a lot of upside. It could easily be the best defensive line Georgia has had since the 2021 Georgia team. With how Griffin finished this past season, he could very well be one of the best players in the country with further development.

Outside linebacker:

  1. Quintavius Johnson (Jr.)
  2. Isaiah Gibson (R-Fr.), Chase Linton (R-Fr.), Darren Ikinnagbon (Soph.)
  3. Khamari Brooks (Fr.)

Analysis: Harris will help here and Johnson really played well to close the 2025 season. It will be very interesting to see how Gibson, Linton and Ikinnagbon develop this offseason, as the Bulldogs will lean on them to help a pass rush that was among the worst in the SEC.

Inside linebacker:

Mac:

Advertisement
  1. Justin Williams (Jr.)
  2. AJ Kruah (R-Fr.)
  3. Nick Abrams (Fr.)

Money:

  1. Raylen Wilson (Sr.), Chris Cole (Jr.)
  2. Zayden Walker (Soph.)
  3. Elijah Littlejon (Fr.), Terrence Penick (Fr.)

Analysis: Even losing a likely first-round pick in CJ Allen, Georgia is simply loaded at this position. Cole and Wilson will see the field plenty, while Williams figures to soak up a lot of Allen’s former snaps. With how much talent Glenn Schumann has at the position, it will very interesting to see how Georgia gets Walker on the field. He’s a clear talent, as his performance against Texas and Alabama showed.

Cornerback:

Right cornerback:

  1. Ellis Robinson (R-Soph.)
  2. Braylon Conley (R-Soph.)
  3. Justice Fitzpatrick (Fr.)

Left cornerback:

  1. Demello Jones (Jr.), Gentry Williams (Sr.)
  2. Jontae Gilbert (R-Fr.), Caden Harris (Fr.)

Analysis: Robinson’s emergence as one of the best cornerbacks in football helps solve the departure of Daylen Everette. Georgia went into the transfer portal to add Williams and it will be interesting to see how he and Jones split reps in the secondary. Georgia likes the 2026 signees it got in Harris and Fitzpatrick, though the latter enters Georgia having suffered a significant knee injury at the end of his high school career.

Free Safety:

  1. KJ Bolden (Soph.)
  2. Jaylan Morgan (R-Fr.), Jordan Smith (Fr.)

Strong Safety:

  1. Kyron Jones (Jr.),
  2. Zion Branch (Sr.), Ja’Marley Riddle (Jr.)
  3. Todd Robinson (R-Fr.),
  4. Blake Stewart (Fr.)

Star:

  1. Rasean Dinkins (Soph.), Khalil Barnes (Sr.)
  2. Tyriq Green (Fr.), Zech Fort (Fr.)

Analysis: Like at cornerback, Georgia dipped into the transfer portal to add reinforcements. Riddle is more likely to help at the safety spot, while Barnes could very well help at the star position. Jones is worth watching, given how much time he missed in the second half of the season due to injury. Georgia really likes Dinkins and don’t be surprised if one of the four freshmen safeties finds a way to make an impact for the Bulldogs.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending