Georgia

Georgia attains highest AP Top 25 ranking since 2003, with Florida on deck

Published

5 months ago

January 5, 2026

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Georgia attains highest AP Top 25 ranking since 2003, with Florida on deck

Georgia Bulldogs

No. 18 Bulldogs bring 13-1 record into Tuesday night game against defending national champion Gators in Gainesville.

Georgia coach Mike White (right) talks with guard Jeremiah Wilkinson during the Bulldogs’ win against Cincinnati in a Holiday Hoopsgiving game Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Georgia won 84-65. (Jason Getz/AJC)

ATHENS — Georgia basketball is back on the map, ranked in the AP Top 25 for a third consecutive week for the first time in nearly 23 years.

The Bulldogs (13-1, 1-0 SEC) are ranked No. 18 in the AP Top 25, up five spots from last week’s ranking, on the strength of a 104-100 overtime win over Auburn on Saturday.

It’s the highest Georgia has been ranked in the AP Top 25 poll since Jim Harrick coached the program and came in at No. 17 on Feb. 3, 2003 — the most recent season UGA has been ranked in the poll three or more consecutive weeks.

Unbeaten teams Arizona (14-0), Michigan (13-0) and Iowa State (14-0) hold the top three spots in this week’s AP Top 25, with UConn (14-1) and Purdue (13-1) rounding out the top five.

Vanderbilt (14-0, 1-0) is the SEC’s highest-ranked AP Top 25 team, coming in at No. 11, while Alabama (11-3, 1-0) is at No. 13, Arkansas (11-3, 1-0) is No. 15 and then No. 18 Georgia is the league’s fourth-highest-ranked team entering into this week’s games.

“Our guys have been so eager, probably like most teams in our league and throughout other leagues, at the highest level of college basketball,” UGA fourth-year coach Mike White said about the start of SEC play.

“We were playing a bunch of midmajors through the holidays, and you can’t let the moment be too big.”

Georgia’s schedule strength jumped from 298th to 231st with the win over Auburn, and it figures to get another boost when the Bulldogs play at Florida (9-5, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“Our confidence comes from within, we know what we have in our locker room,” said Georgia guard Jeremiah Wilkinson, a transfer from Cal who scored 31 in the win over Auburn and leads the Bulldogs with 18.3 points per game this season.

“We knew what we were capable of before coming into the (Auburn) game, and we told each other before the game: Let’s act like we’re supposed to win the game. Let’s act like we’re supposed to be here.”

Georgia leads the nation in scoring offense (99.4 points per game), fast-break points (27.0 per game) and blocked shots (8.0 per game).

The Gators, featuring preseason All-SEC players Alex Condon, Thomas Haugh and Boogie Fland, were the media’s preseason pick to win the league.

Georgia — which didn’t have a player picked on the first, second or third team — was picked to finish 14th in the SEC.

White, who coached Florida from 2015-2022, leading the Gators to four NCAA tournaments and an Elite Eight appearance in 2017, said Georgia is looking forward to the opportunity to play the defending national champion.

“We’ll fly around, we’ll play hard, we’ll be prepared,” White said. “This team has a pretty healthy level of intrinsic confidence, and you’ll need that to be competitive down there against a team that’s coming off a national championship.”

Georgia split with Florida last season, losing 89-59 in Gainesville, Florida, on Jan. 25 and then handing the Gators their last loss of the season, 88-83, on Feb. 25 in Athens.

“It’s nothing different than what we’ve just seen tonight (against Auburn),” said UGA guard Marcus “Smurf” Millender, who leads Georgia with 54 assists and a 40% 3-point shooting clip.

“They put their jerseys on like we put our jerseys on. We’re going to give them our best game and hope they bring it too.”

Florida fell out of the AP Top 25 poll this week after losing its SEC-opening game at Missouri 76-74 on Saturday and is among other teams still receiving votes.

Georgia has lost six consecutive games in Gainesville dating back to a 61-55 win on March 2, 2019, in Tom Crean’s first year leading the Bulldogs.

Mike is in his 10th season covering SEC and Georgia athletics for AJC-DawgNation and has 25 years of CFB experience. Mike is a Heisman Trophy voter and former Football Writers President who was named the National FWAA Beat Writer of the Year in January, 2018.

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Georgia

Josh Brooks defends Georgia football’s ‘sweet spot’ scheduling model

Published

12 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Press Room

Josh Brooks defends Georgia football’s ‘sweet spot’ scheduling model

Georgia Bulldogs

Kirby Smart wants CFP selection committee to ‘double that weight’ of schedule strength metric.

Georgia athletic director Josh Brooks said the CFP Selection Committee should take immediate note of the league moving to a nine-game schedule, with the SEC’s difficulty reflected in the rankings. (Mike Griffith/AJC)

MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. — Josh Brooks wants to see immediate results from the SEC adding a ninth conference game in the College Football Playoff Committee rankings this season.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey stated clearly on Wednesday that the league adding a ninth conference game this season should carry more weight, saying, “We are by far the most competitive, the strongest in football,” in his Wednesday presentation at the SEC Spring Meetings

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Mike covers Sports Business for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and has 32 years of journalism experience, the past 10 for AJC.com and DawgNation. Mike is a Heisman Trophy voter & former Football Writers President named National FWAA National Beat Writer of the Year in 2018 and inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2024

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Georgia

Georgia native brings ‘Beast’ to life on Fox Theatre stage

Published

1 day ago

May 27, 2026

Press Room

Georgia native brings ‘Beast’ to life on Fox Theatre stage

ATLANTA – You could say Caleb MacArthur just had a “beast” of a night.

The Oconee County native is a swing and understudy in the National Tour of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” — and last night, at the show’s opening performance at the Fox Theatre and in front of family and friends, McArthur stepped into the role of Beast.

It was a true full-circle moment for the University of Michigan graduate, who first entered the Fox as a middle school student, when his choir group took a trip to the iconic venue to see “Wicked.” MacArthur also has a long history with “Beauty and the Beast,” having done the show at a community theatre when he was in seventh grade.

The current National Tour of “Beauty and the Beast” stars Kyra Belle Johnson as Belle and Broadway actors Fergie L. Philippe and Stephen Mark Lukas as Beast and Gaston. As for the show itself…well…you already know everything there is to know about “Beauty and the Beast,” right? Adapted from the 1991 Disney film — the first animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards — the musical features a score of memorable tunes including “Be Our Guest” and the timeless theme song.

Performances will continue at the Fox Theatre through Sunday, presented as part of the current Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta season. For more information on showtimes and tickets, click here. And click the video player in this article to hear from Caleb MacArthur about his magical opening night!

The Source: This is a FOX 5 Atlanta original report.

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Georgia

These 8 Georgia towns are best for active seniors, WorldAtlas says

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Press Room

These 8 Georgia towns are best for active seniors, WorldAtlas says

Almost 16% of Georgians are at least 65 years old. It’s important that this age group stays fit, with plenty of resources to do so. WorldAtlas has a list of the eight liveliest towns in the Peach State to help them out:

Peachtree City

“Golf lovers will enjoy Peachtree City, where 135 holes of championship golf are spread across five clubs, both in town and in neighboring Newnan. … Battery Way Park and Boat Ramp sit along the East Lagoon at the east end of the lake. Here, residents launch off from the boat ramp and spend a day fishing, ideal for those whose idea of keeping on the go means being on the water. Northeast of the lake, the Glenloch Recreation Complex offers soccer fields, swimming pool, tennis courts, and exercise studios.”

Valdosta

“The city of Valdosta makes it easy to remain active thanks to the Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. … The tower is a hotspot for birdwatchers. … Fifth Day Farms offers a change of pace that keeps you outdoors while surrounded by wildlife. … However, if you want to stay closer to the heart of town, McKey Park is a popular green space that houses the Harry B. Anderson Tennis Center. … The surrounding park also includes a sand volleyball court and walking paths.”

Thomasville

“Known as the ‘City of Roses,’ downtown Thomasville hosts the annual Rose Show and Festival. … Events include an artisan market, antique car show, parade, and, of course, a flower show. … The heart of town is characterized by its Victorian-era buildings, many of which have stood for over a century. Among these, The Bookshelf is a popular local bookstore where you can select your newest read. … Afterward, you can wander around and explore plenty of other hot spots, including the Thomasville History Center.”

Dahlonega

“Seniors who find peace in the great outdoors will appreciate Dahlonega, a mountain town south of Lake Zwerner. Residents are welcome to walk the lake or launch from the boat ramp for a day of fishing. … Those looking to learn more about the town’s history can explore the Consolidated Gold Mining Company through its underground gold mine tour. … Dahlonega also hosts events, including the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, which gives locals a chance to celebrate Appalachian culture.”

St. Mary’s

“Outdoors-loving seniors will appreciate St. Mary’s, known as the gateway to adjacent Cumberland Island. Walks across the island take you along the Marsh Boardwalk and near the Ice House Museum. … You will also see the Dungeness Ruins, a former 59-room Queen Anne mansion with many of its walls still standing. If you prefer not to visit the island, you can spend time at St. Mary’s Waterfront Park. … Along the way, you can enjoy sights of the St. Mary’s River or even set out on the water from the boat launch. For those who would enjoy getting to know the town better, you can head out on the St. Mary’s History Walk.”

Woodstock

“Seniors stay engaged and occupied in Woodstock, thanks in large part to its walkable downtown, which is packed with activities. For those simply trying to stay out for the day, The Park at City Center features paths winding around the gazebo and fountain, both of which are notable landmarks. … The park is adjacent to the Woodstock Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater. Currently regarded as (n)orth Georgia’s best outdoor music venue, the amphitheater hosts the annual Woodstock Summer Concert Series that brings together musical acts from pop to rhythm and blues.”

Adairsville

“Those who want to get out under the sun can head to Manning Mill Park. This local favorite boasts a 5-acre lake where residents can take a stroll. Also, it includes a baseball field, plus basketball and tennis courts for seniors. Historic Downtown is also an easy way to get your steps in as you walk past 19th-century storefronts. The Little Rock Cafe on the north side of the district offers simple home-style Southern food, including catfish and fried taters. One of the liveliest events of the year is the Great Locomotive Festival, an annual event that has taken place for nearly 60 years.”

Decatur

“DeVry University sits in the heart of town just next to the DeKalb History Center Museum. This spot in Decatur Square includes highlights such as the John Lewis Statue, a tribute to the civil rights icon and congressman. While you are here, you can step into the DeKalb museum itself to learn about our country’s past. … Just across the street, you can pop into Foxtail Coffee for blueberry muffin chai or an espresso. Afterward, you can walk through the many stores in the area, for example, HomeGrown Decatur, a gift shop that focuses on handmade artwork.”

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.

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