For almost a century, The Varsity meant something to most people in the Classic City, no matter their background. It was Saturday in the fall, red and black and full of optimism. It was prom night.

When the Varsity Blues scandal hit in 2019, it rocked American academia in unprecedented ways. The federal case alleged that wealthy parents cheated to get their kids into elite universities.

The Varsity, a Georgia-based fast-food chain, opened a new location in Watkinsville, near Athens. The new location is smaller than the previous Athens Varsity, which closed in 2021. The menu ...