The Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes have canceled their future home-and-home football series, Sicemdawgs.com has learned through documents obtained from UGA.
Georgia and Ohio State were tentatively scheduled to meet in 2020 and 2021 after signing a memorandum of understanding in December 2010. But the two schools were unable to schedule dates for the games which has resulted in their cancellation.
On May 17, Eugene D. Smith, Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics of Ohio State, wrote the following letter to UGA’s Greg McGarity:
This letter is to confirm our recent conversation that the varsity men’s football team representing The Ohio State University is unable to assign a date for our proposed football games for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Thus, according to the terms of the letter agreement signed on December 15, 2010, the letter agreement is canceled and both “institutions are free to arrange games with other teams in 2020 and 2021 with no obligation to the other institution.”
Thanks again for attempting to schedule the games and hopefully we can re-engage the conversation in the future.
Greg McGarity sent the following reply to Gene Smith on May 18:
Thank you for your letter regarding the varsity men’s football game between the University of Georgia and The Ohio State University. To confirm and pursuant to the letter of agreement signed on December 15, 2010, we understand and agree that the games scheduled in the 2020 and 2021 seasons will be canceled.
I hope that we are able to revisit a potential series between our institutions in the future. Good luck with the upcoming season and thank you for your help with this matter.
According to the original memorandum of understanding, the two schools had until no later than June 30, 2012 to determine exact dates and locations for the games or the letter agreement was automatically canceled.
UGA Athletics Director Greg McGarity told Macon.com that Ohio State canceled the series “due to the Big Ten-Pac 12 game that was added recently.” He also told OnlineAthens.com that “The bottom line, they said they couldn’t play.”
The cancellation leaves Georgia with three non-conference openings from 2017 forward. The Bulldogs have one non-conference game to schedule in 2015 and two in 2016.
Here is a look at Georgia’s future non-conference schedule through 2016:
- 09/01 – Buffalo
- 09/15 – Florida Atlantic
- 11/17 – Georgia Southern
- 11/24 – Georgia Tech
- 08/31 – at Clemson
- 09/07 – Appalachian State
- 09/21 – North Texas
- 11/30 – at Georgia Tech
- 08/30 – Clemson
- 11/08 – South Alabama
- 11/22 – Charleston Southern
- 11/29 – Georgia Tech
- 09/05 – Southern
- 11/07 – ULM
- 11/28 – at Georgia Tech
- 11/19 – Georgia Southern
- 11/26 – Georgia Tech
Football Schedules: