College football documentary debuts on Netflix, but one SEC team isn’t featured. Here’s why

The much anticipated Netflix documentary, SEC Football: Any Given Saturday, is set to debut on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The sports series will take fans deep inside the Southeaster Conference’s 2024 season with deep access to some of the most successful programs in the game.

However, the University of Georgia won’t be one of the teams featured in the doc and there are other notable exclusions including Alabama, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Texas.

Why did UGA opt out?

Head Coach Kirby Smart’s decision is based on strategic reasons deeply rooted in their program’s culture. The decision aligns with Smart’s philosophy of maintaining strict focus and controlling team information.

Smart’s approach is epitomized by his statement after defeating Texas: “We didn’t come here to take pictures. Our intent was to eat.” Although Smart declined the official offer from the streaming company, he has previously used the documentary concept as a motivational tool.

Last fall On3 media reported, “During a practice session, he asked players, ‘If they were doing a Netflix documentary on you this week, who would you want to watch it?’”

Long-time Dawgs fans will understand this decision is not out of character for the team’s culture. It reflects their commitment to privacy and allows Kirby and the team to maintain control of their story, focusing entirely on their on-field success rather than media representation.

What we know about the Netflix series

The docuseries is from the same production company that created Box to Box Films and the team behind “Formula 1: Drive to Survive” and promises “unfiltered access” to coaches and players of the participating teams.

Aside from the high-profile exclusions, there are still quite a few teams willing to be featured:

• Arkansas
• AuburnFlorida
• Kentucky
• Louisiana State
• Mississippi State
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas A&M
• Vanderbilt

The documentary is modeled after the popular series “Drive to Survive,” which follows the drivers, team owners and other key figures of the Formula One World Championship.

The Formula One series dramatically increased the popularity of the sport and SEC officials hope to garner the same results. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey enthusiastically described the series in a Netflix press release.

“This behind-the-scenes docuseries will bring all the drama and pageantry of Southeastern Conference Football to a worldwide Netflix audience,” he said.

Are you still going to watch? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.

This story was originally published August 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "College football documentary debuts on Netflix, but one SEC team isn’t featured. Here’s why."