TAILGATE SHOW: 8 a.m. on News 95.5 & AM-750 FM
KICKOFF: 12 p.m.
2015 RECORDS: Nicholls State (2-8, 2-6 Southland); Georgia (10-3, 5-3 SEC)
LOCATION: Sanford Stadium -- Athens, Ga.
TV: SECN
2016 RECRODS: Nicholls State (0-0); Georgia (1-0, 0-0 SEC)
LINE: N/A
WHAT'S AT STAKE: Georgia will be playing its first home game with first-year coach Kirby Smart, a warm-up for its Southeastern Conference opener at Missouri next week. Goals will be to gain more clarity in the quarterback rotation between Greyson Lambert and Jacob Eason and to avoid injuries. Nicholls has not beaten an FBS team since defeating Western Michigan in 2013.
KEY MATCHUP: Georgia TB Nick Chubb vs. Nicholls S B.T. Sanders. The Colonels' defense returns nine starters, and the leader of the group is Sanders, a senior who earned all-Southland honors in 2015 after ranking second on the team in tackles and forcing three fumbles.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Nicholls: QB Tuskani Figaro, a senior, is a dual threat. He is 10th on the program's all-time rushing list and has seven career games with at least 100 yards rushing. Figaro's 2015 season ended in his ninth start with a collarbone injury at the end of a 75-yard run against Lamar. Georgia: Even if Lambert retains his starting job, Eason could be given extended time to gain experience. Eason's arm strength was obvious, especially on his 51-yard pass to Isiah McKenzie last week. Smart said he remained more comfortable in Lambert, the senior, in some situations.
FACTS & FIGURES: Nicholls lost to Arkansas 73-7 in 2014 in its last game against a SEC team. ... The Colonels are looking for their first winning season since 2007. ... Tim Rebowe is opening his second season as the Nicholls coach, following a 3-8 debut season. ... After Saturday's game, Georgia begins a stretch of eight straight SEC games. ... Chubb ran for 222 yards and two TDs against North Carolina, his third career 200-yard game. Only Herschel Walker (nine) has more 200-yard games in school history. ... Freshman TB Elijah Holyfield, the son of former boxing champion Evander Holyfield, could make his debut for Georgia.
SERIES HISTORY: First meeting
- This is the second time Georgia has played a team from the Southland conference. It beat Northwestern State 45-7 in 2002.
2016 Schedule
* Game played in neutral location