Kirby Smart is 10-0 in SEC road openers since taking over at Georgia in 2015. Ten seasons, 10 conference road trips to begin league play, 10 wins.

But the streak has not always come easily.

Georgia has survived several close calls, including a 28-27 escape at Missouri in 2016, a 13-12 grind at Kentucky in 2024 and a 44-41 win at Tennessee last season. Those games show just how difficult winning on the road in the SEC can be, even as Georgia has established a decade-long streak of success.

The 10 Games:

2016 — at Missouri — W, 28-27 — Columbia, Mo.
2017 — at Tennessee — W, 41-0 — Knoxville, Tenn.
2018 — at South Carolina — W, 41-17 — Columbia, S.C.
2019 — at Vanderbilt — W, 30-6 — Nashville, Tenn.
2020 — at Arkansas — W, 37-10 — Fayetteville, Ark.
2021 — at Vanderbilt — W, 62-0 — Nashville, Tenn.
2022 — at South Carolina — W, 48-7 — Columbia, S.C.
2023 — at Auburn — W, 27-20 — Auburn, Ala.
2024 — at Kentucky — W, 13-12 — Lexington, Ky.
2025 — at Tennessee — W, 44-41 — Knoxville, Tenn.

Smart reminded his team this week that road games in the SEC are never routine.

“Playing on the road in the SEC, humility is always a week away,” he said. “There are no bad environments in the SEC. There are only raucous environments.”

That perspective fits the streak. Georgia has won comfortably in places such as Nashville, Knoxville and Columbia, but the close calls at Missouri, Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee show how quickly a road opener can turn into a fight.

Across the 10 games, Georgia has scored at least 27 points nine times, with the lone exception coming in the 13-12 win at Kentucky in 2024. The Bulldogs have also held their opponent below 20 points seven times.

Smart noted that a team’s first road trip can reveal things that might not surface at home.

“You get in one of those hornet-nest games and you’ve got to fight your way out of it,” he said.

What’s Next?

Today’s matchup at Arkansas gives Georgia a chance to make it 11 straight SEC road-opening victories under Smart.

The Bulldogs have already been tested in Fayetteville during this streak. Georgia opened its SEC schedule at Arkansas in 2020, overcoming a slow start before pulling away for a 37-10 victory.

This time, quarterback Gunner Stockton will be tasked with protecting the football and keeping Georgia’s offense efficient in its first road environment of the season. Talyn Taylor and the Bulldogs’ receivers can also help take the crowd out of the game by creating explosive plays early.

Defensively, Georgia will look to contain Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson and force the Razorbacks into obvious passing situations, allowing the Bulldogs’ speed and depth to become a bigger factor.

Kickoff is set for noon Eastern at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, with the game airing nationally on ABC.

Georgia has been dominant in some SEC road openers and forced to survive others. Through 10 seasons under Smart, however, the result has always been the same: Georgia has found a way to leave with a win.