Everything is set up for Mark Richt's program to return to the national stage in 2012, as Georgia starts the year at No. 6 overall in the first edition of the coaches poll.
More importantly, with No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Alabama not on the regular season schedule, there isn't a higher-ranked opponent standing in the Bulldogs way until a potential SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
While pre-season polls are only an arbitrary snap-spot of overall strength, they do create a pecking order at the top of the rankings, with voters loathe to jump a team until they have lost a game.
Georgia Tech, meanwhile, starts 2012 in the others receiving votes category.
The SEC leads the way with seven schools in the top 25, with five in the top 10, while the ACC has only two ranked schools -- No. 7 Florida State and No. 14 Clemson.
For more on Georgia and the SEC check out Dawg Sports and Team Speed Kills along with SB Nation Atlanta. For more college football news and notes check out SB Nation's College Football hub page.