ATHENS — Georgia already knew what awaited it Saturday night in Tuscaloosa.

A top-10 matchup with Alabama. A packed Bryant-Denny Stadium. And another important SEC game for two undefeated teams.

Now, the weather could add another challenge.

Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to move toward the Gulf Coast this weekend, bringing the possibility of heavy rain and strong winds to the area around the time No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

As of Wednesday, the game remains scheduled as planned. Alabama and the SEC are monitoring the storm and its potential impact on Saturday’s game.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is being kept in the loop, but he isn’t spending much time worrying about something he can’t control.

“I’m focused on trying to prepare our team and game plan and scheme and all those things,” Smart said Wednesday. “I have an update, and they keep me updated with what’s going on, meetings, decisions, how things are leaning, things like that, but not as far as input.”

For Smart, there is already plenty to worry about with Alabama.

Georgia enters the matchup 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the SEC after pulling away from Vanderbilt for a 38-14 win Saturday. Alabama is also 5-0 and 3-0.

Georgia preparing for wet conditions

The weather has become another storyline as the week has gone along, but it isn’t exactly a new conversation inside Georgia’s program.

The Bulldogs thought they might have to deal with heavy rain against Vanderbilt last week before the forecast changed.

“Weather obviously can be a factor,” Smart said Monday. “This time last week, we thought there was going to be a monsoon for the Vanderbilt game. You have to plan based on it, and you’ve got to change the plan based on future forecast.”

Georgia tries to account for those situations throughout the year rather than waiting for bad weather to show up in the forecast.

That includes the kicking game.

Senior kicker Peyton Woodring said Monday the Bulldogs go through wet-ball drills every week. When wind is a factor, Woodring gets a feel for it during pregame warmups by kicking from both ends of the stadium.

Smart said Georgia’s specialists have worked on those situations plenty.

“I don’t get too much into the kickers and talking to them about it because they practice against it; they work in it,” Smart said. “We do that in the offseason. We do it in preseason camp, and we do it every week.”

Alabama remains Georgia’s biggest concern

Whatever the forecast ultimately brings, Georgia still has to deal with Alabama.

Smart called the Crimson Tide an “extremely physical football team” earlier this week and praised Alabama in all three phases. Georgia also knows firsthand how difficult it can be to win in Tuscaloosa.

The Bulldogs lost 41-34 in their last trip to Bryant-Denny Stadium in 2024.

Saturday gives Georgia another opportunity in the same stadium, this time with two undefeated teams meeting in a game that could have major implications in the SEC race.

The conditions surrounding that matchup remain uncertain. Georgia will continue preparing for Alabama while the SEC and school officials keep an eye on the storm.

For Smart and the Bulldogs, however, the focus remains on what they can control.

“It’ll be a great challenge for us to go into a really tough environment to go play,” Smart said, “and our players are looking forward to it.”