KIRBY SMART

A person familiar with negotiations says new Florida coach Billy Napier agreed to a seven-year, $51.8 million contract that makes him the fifth-highest-paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.

Bryce Young stunningly carved up the nation’s best defense, giving Nick Saban and Alabama a shot at another national championship.

Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide have faced sporadic challengers during their long reign over the Southeastern Conference.

It's rivalry week across the Southeastern Conference, with plenty of stakes beyond bragging rights.

Standout defensive tackle Jordan Davis scored his first career touchdown and No. 1 Georgia’s stout defense was again dominant in a 56-7 rout of Charleston Southern.

Alabama coach Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart continue to make their ability to field elite defenses a big part of their formula for maintaining consistently elite programs in the Southeastern Conference.

Stetson Bennett ran for a touchdown and threw for another as top-ranked Georgia remained perfect, wrapping up its Southeastern Conference schedule by routing Tennessee 41-17.

Top-ranked Georgia and No. 3 Alabama appear headed for a showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Stetson Bennett passed for 255 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to former starter JT Daniels, leading No. 1 Georgia to a 43-6 win over Missouri.

No_ 1 Georgia and its top-ranked defense dominated Florida in the annual rivalry known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party."

No_ 1 Georgia is a two-touchdown favorite against rival Florida in the game known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”.

Georgia's first game as the nation’s No. 1-ranked team since 2008 was a big success.

Georgia finds itself in a most unusual position.

Alabama and Georgia, the top-ranked teams in the country and the favorites to win their Southeastern Conference divisions, are preparing to face the league’s biggest early season surprises.

The Southeastern Conference is moving away from early season cupcakes.

Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari says he contracted COVID-19 after being vaccinated, but points out that he is relieved the shot did its job in leaving him with mild symptoms.

Christopher Smith returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and No. 5 Georgia turned in a defensive effort for the ages, toppling third-ranked Clemson 10-3 on Saturday in the opener for both teams.

No team has lost its opening game and reached the Bowl Championship Series title game of the College Football Playoff.

Southeastern Conference officials are trying to get back to normal on football game days, with stadiums filled with fans and grills being fired up outside, even in a portion of the country where the states have among the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates.

The Southeastern Conference still has its usual array of potential national title contenders, even if the quarterbacks have changed.

Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason college football poll for fourth time in the past six seasons.

College coaches are trying to get a handle on the recruiting impact of athletes' ability to profit off their fame.

College football coaches around the country are spending much of the offseason urging their players to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Georgia went from a program with very little quarterback talent to a program with a lot of quarterback talent. This year, the Bulldogs are heading into the season with arguably the most talented quarterback in the entire SEC, JT Daniels, and that should just tell you where their expectations are for this Bulldogs offense this fall. They're pretty high.

The rich got even richer in the Southeastern Conference when the transfer floodgates opened wide.

Former Georgia and Miami football coach Mark Richt has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Smart said Wednesday that Muschamp, also a former Florida head coach, will focus on defense. He played at Georgia as a defensive back from 1991-94 and is a former defensive coordinator at Auburn, Louisiana State and Texas. “It's very valuable to have a guy who has been a head coach in two different places in our conference,” Smart said. “He’s going to be able to help coach the coaches.”Muschamp's role as analyst may be only a short-term situation. Another former Georgia player and assistant coach, Mike Bobo, served as South Carolina's interim coach after Muschamp was fired.

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)Georgia will open up its season against Clemson and wrap things up with rival Georgia Tech as things get somewhat back to normal on the football field in 2021. The Bulldogs face Clemson on Sept. 4 in Charlotte, one of two neutral site games for Georgia. The Bulldogs face rival Florida in their annual showdown in Jacksonville on Oct. 30. The Bulldogs face Georgia Tech in their regular season finale in Athens. Georgia 2021 football scheduleSept. 4 vs. Clemson (in Charlotte)Sept. 11 vs. UABSept. 18 vs. South CarolinaSept. 25 at VanderbiltOct. 2 vs. ArkansasOct. 9 at AuburnOct. 16 vs. KentuckyOct. 23 BYEOct. 30 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville)Nov. 6 vs. MissouriNov. 13 at TennesseeNov. 20 vs. Charleston SouthernNov. 27 at Georgia Tech

(AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)Steve Sarkisian is the latest Alabama coordinator to be drawing up game plans for a national title showdown before leaving for a new head coaching job. The Longhorns fired Tom Herman and hired Sarkisian eight days before the national championship game Monday night against No. The difference this time is the accelerated time frame from Sarkisian’s hiring to the title game. Alabama beat Oklahoma in the semifinals before a 44-16 loss to Clemson in the national title game. Nearly a month passed from his hiring to the January 2012 title game rematch against LSU, which ’Bama won 21-0.

Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant (6)makes the catch against Georgia during the second half of the Peach Bowl NCAA college football game, Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, in Atlanta. 6 Cincinnati its only loss of the season with a dramatic 24-21 victory in the Peach Bowl on Friday. Georgia trailed 21-10 in the fourth quarter, but its defense clamped down on Desmond Ridder and Cincinnati and JT Daniels helped rally the Bulldogs with his arm. Podlesny’s third field goal was his longest of the season and gave Georgia a 22-21 lead. Zamir White's 9-yard TD run trimmed Cincinnati's lead to 21-16, but Daniels' pass on the 2-point attempt was incomplete.

“Thrill a minute,” Smart said dryly on Monday when asked about his team’s status with COVID-19 testing results. Georgia’s final regular-season game against Vanderbilt was canceled after the Commodores’ roster fell below minimum requirements due to COVID-19 problems. Smart wouldn’t say his team will be without any player due to COVID-19 testing. He said “we’re in a good place” with COVID-19 testing but said he’s also wary of changes before the game. Smart said his Bulldogs are facing three opponents: “Cincinnati, Cincinnati and COVID.”He said a season of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic has been stressful.

6 Cincinnati has a lot on the line in its Peach Bowl game against No. Fickell said the Jan. 1 bowl game is a chance for the Bearcats to show they deserve the same respect given to such Power 5 teams as Georgia in future playoff deliberations. 9 Coastal Carolina, as the top Group of Five team when making a choice for the New Year’s Six bowl game in Atlanta. The bowl game in Atlanta, a short drive from Athens, gives Georgia seniors a new opportunity for a final game with their families in the stands. Georgia is 2-0 against Cincinnati but the teams haven’t played since 1976, when the Bulldogs took a 31-17 home win.

“I could be here all day talking about how different this is,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said on the Big Ten Network. As of late Wednesday afternoon, Alabama had signed five of them and was expected to land at least one more. Even with the coach's future still to be determined, day signing was OK for the Wolverines. On the positive side for the Wolverines on signing day: In-state running back Donovan Edwards, a four-star, signed with Michigan. Smith had indicated his final decision would come down to a choice between LSU, Alabama, Georgia and Miami.

So much of the 2020 season was built on getting a win vs Georgia, but the Gators can’t stop there. David Waters is joined by Will Miles (ReadandReaction.com) as the two discuss what the win over Georgia means as the Gators move forward and accomplish more of their goals for the season. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher

Finally, Gators fans, after three straight losses to Georgia, the Gators get back on the winning side after a dominant 44-28 victory. David Waters is joined by Nick de la Torre (Gator Country) and Graham Hall (Gainesville Sun) to review how the Gators turned the tide in the rivalry behind Kyle Trask’s big day and an improving defense. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher

He’s hard to block. … What he’s really good at is rushing the passer like all the Florida guys they’ve had over the past. …“He’s playing really well for them. He’s playing physical. He’s playing hard.

Dan Mullen has brought the Florida program back to national relevances with only one step remaining… beat Georgia. David Waters is joined by, former Gators great WR and SEC Network analyst, Chris Doering to preview the big, top-10 matchup. Also, Robert Steltenpohl, hops on to dive even deeper to the game and gives a Georgia perspective. Get Gators Breakdown merchandise at https://www.ebay.com/str/gatorsbreakdownLISTEN: Catch up on previous episodes of Gators BreakdownFollow David Waters on Twitter @GatorDave_SEC to stay plugged in, or click one of the following to tune in:Megaphone | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Google Play | Stitcher

3 Georgia in the second half of a 41-24 victory Saturday night. “The goal was just to win the game,” Jones said. The Tide has won the last six meetings with Georgia, including a 3-0 record against Saban's former defensive coordinator, Kirby Smart. The first two came in the January 2018 national championship game and the SEC championship game the following season. POLL IMPLICATIONClemson hasn't done anything to weaken its claim to the top spot, but perhaps Alabama's decisive win will close the gap some.

10 Florida's game against defending national champion LSU was postponed Wednesday to tentatively Dec. 12 after the SEC postponed Missouri-Vanderbilt on Monday. Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason is going through a similar situation. To play, the SEC requires at least 53 on game days. Timing is critical depending on the day of the week a positive test or tracing result returns. “Every time you’re taking a test," Mason said, “you're crossing your fingers ... you don't have anybody in harm's way."

Bouncing back from a goal-line stand at the end of the the first half, the No. “They really outplayed us in the second half,” coach Jeremy Pruitt said. All those good feelings evaporated when Tennessee turned it over on its first two possessions of the second half. Tennessee's defense held Georgia to a pair of field goals after those miscues, but the Vols offense just couldn't get anything going. SILLY MISTAKESWhile it didn't matter in the end, Georgia made plenty of mistakes that irritated Smart.

A Sept. 30 memo after the opening weekend of the SEC season included a reminder to coaches to be mindful of masking up and following other sideline protocols. According to the latest memo, going forward SEC schools will be “assessed a $100,000 reduction in Conference revenue” for failure to adhere to requirements. Repeat offenders will face an increase in lost revenue by $100,000 per offense and even suspensions, the memo said. The NFL has fined several coaches $100,000 for improper use of face coverings and docked their teams $250,000. Georgia coach Kirby Smart acknowledged this week he had been talked to by the commissioner and others about keeping his mask on.

Stetson Bennett threw for 240 yards and a touchdown, solidifying his hold on the quarterback job as No. Postal Service cap in an effort to get noticed, Bennett was never viewed as a starting candidate for the Bulldogs. No matter the time of year, Georgia kept the upper hand with a fourth straight victory over Auburn. Georgia star Richard LeCounte got the boot in the second period for a helmet-to-helmet collision with Auburn receiver Shedrick Jackson. His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher, left, talks with quarterback Kellen Mond (11) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

including the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry, highlights the fifth week of the college football season. 4 Georgia on Saturday night as the second month of the season starts, but only the second week of SEC play. The first of three games that decide the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy might have sneaked up on college football fans. The Falcons will play six conference games to go along with Navy and Army. ___Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/ap-top-25-college-football-podcast/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

4 Georgia: Two of the SEC’s four top-10 teams meet in an interdivisional matchup in prime time. Both overcame challenges to win their openers, with Georgia rallying for 32 unanswered points with two passing touchdowns by backup quarterback Stetson Bennett to beat Arkansas 37-10. 23 Kentucky for three quarters before pulling away in the fourth for a 29-13 win behind two of Bo Nix's three passing touchdowns. 13 Aggies held Vanderbilt to just 150 yards passing and registered two interceptions, including one in the fourth quarter, to preserve a narrow win. The Wildcats outgained Auburn and played the Tigers tough for three quarters before the game slipped away in the fourth.

Gone, too, are some of the league’s best players, including LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and much-anticipated new Georgia quarterback Jamie Newman. In the season of COVID-19, SEC teams finally open their 10-game league only schedule on Saturday. Even SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said Wednesday: "I still am in the hold my breath moment a bit.”So are coaches. Most SEC coaches are playing it close to the vest in identifying players who will miss the game because of COVID-19, if they have any. Vandy center Grant Miller said it's not altogether new, comparing losing those players to teammates suddenly going down with injuries.

Still, Smarts Bulldogs may lean on their experienced defense in the pandemic-delayed season. Georgia, which is ranked fourth in the country, denied the allegations and said it would share its full response to Reese’s waiver application if he is granted permission. Reese released a statement Tuesday night on Twitter expressing frustration that his waiver had yet to be granted. Reese said he decided to transfer because his 1 1/2 years at Georgia “took a devastating mental toll on me. Another Georgia transfer, offensive lineman Cade Mays, is still awaiting a decision on whether he can play right away for Tennessee.

Kirby Smart gives much credit to first-year Arkansas coach Sam Pittman for helping to make No. Smart and his Bulldogs will be reunited with Pittman when Georgia opens its pandemic-delayed season at Arkansas on Saturday. In four years as Georgia’s offensive line coach, including the 2019 season with the added title of associate head coach, Pittman was a key member of Smart’s staff. After Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman opted out of the season, Mathis is competing with JT Daniels, freshman Carson Beck and junior Stetson Bennett. Coach Pittman, he was my guy for two years.

4 Georgia on Saturday provided no clarity to the quarterback competition that continues without a top contender. After Wake Forest transfer Jamie Newman announced his decision to opt out on Wednesday, the competition took on a different look. Smart said another transfer, former Southern Cal starter, JT Daniels, and DWan Mathis worked with the first-team offense in the scrimmage. Nobody has really taken charge and taken over. I am under the assumption that that is going to happen, but that is not my decision, Smart said.

ATHENS, Ga. Jamie Newman, the Wake Forest transfer who was the projected starting quarterback for No. 4 Georgia, is opting out of the season to prepare for the 2021 NFL draft. Former walk-on Stetson Bennett, who was Jake Fromms top backup last season, freshman Carson Beck and DWan Mathis are the Bulldogs other quarterbacks. Newman announced in January he would transfer to Georgia for his final year of eligibility. In his statement, Newman thanked Smart for extending the offer for me to be a part of the University of Georgia football program.