The Peach State pecking order

I compared ESPN's Football Power Index for Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State year over year, from 2021 to 2026. Georgia has owned the state's top rating all six years, though its edge has slipped from 30.0 in the final ratings of 2021 to a 24.8 preseason mark for 2026, fifth nationally. Georgia Tech, at 4.2, is the only program to climb into positive territory over the stretch, while Georgia Southern (-8.7), Kennesaw State (-9.0) and Georgia State (-15.2) all rate below average.