No. 12 Georgia Makes Strong Case to CFP Committee, Defeats No. 7 Tennessee

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia coach Kirby Smart wouldn’t say whether the Bulldogs’ No. 12 ranking by the College Football Playoff committee fueled their determination in Saturday’s 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee.

After a disappointing 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, Georgia was on the brink of missing the playoff, ranked just outside the 12-team bracket. Boise State, ranked No. 13, would have taken the last spot as the fifth-highest ranked conference champion.

But after dominating Tennessee, the Bulldogs likely improved their standing.

“I don’t know what they’re looking for,” Smart said of the CFP committee. “I wish they’d define the criteria. They should come see the teams we play. TV doesn’t show everything. But that’s not for me to decide. I’m focused on our team.”

For the first time in weeks, Georgia excelled on both sides of the ball. After falling behind 10-0, the Bulldogs rallied to a 17-17 tie at halftime. Tennessee managed just eight first downs and failed to score in the second half. It was the ninth time in Josh Heupel’s tenure that his team scored fewer than 20 points, with four of those losses to Georgia.

The Bulldogs extended their home winning streak to 29 games and defeated Tennessee for the eighth consecutive time, all by double digits.

“Our kids showed resilience,” Smart said. “I’m proud of them. Just a week ago, people had written us off. It’s tough to play in this league, week in and week out, especially on the road.”

After the loss to Ole Miss, Georgia dropped from third to 12th in the CFP rankings. Michigan AD Warde Manuel, CFP committee chair, cited the Bulldogs’ inconsistent offense and turnovers as reasons for the drop.

“They’re not in that environment,” Smart said of the committee. “They weren’t at Ole Miss, facing one of the best defenses and pass rushers in the country. They don’t understand that.”

Georgia has played the toughest schedule in FBS, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index, and boasts the third-best strength of record, reflecting how its record compares to an average Top 25 team’s.

The Bulldogs also lost 41-34 at Alabama on Sept. 28, after falling behind 28-0 in the first half. They defeated Clemson 34-3 in their opener and won 30-15 at Texas on Oct. 19.

A dominant win over Tennessee boosts Georgia’s CFP chances. They close the regular season with two non-SEC home games, against UMass on Saturday and rival Georgia Tech on Nov. 29.

“It’s a week-to-week tale,” Smart said. “We aim to be a consistently strong team, not an emotional roller coaster controlled by people in a room who may not understand football the way we do. As coaches, we focus on how to improve. I respect their decisions, but it’s different in our league.”

One reason for Georgia’s success against Tennessee was quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 347 yards, completing 25 of 40 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He had thrown 12 interceptions in the previous five games.

Beck also ran for a 10-yard touchdown, giving Georgia a 24-17 lead with 5:32 left in the third quarter.

“I didn’t feel any pressure,” Beck said. “I told the team on Monday that what’s happened is behind us. We can only control what’s ahead.”

Georgia’s offensive line kept Beck clean, not allowing a sack, while the Bulldogs sacked Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava five times. Georgia totaled 453 yards and went 5-for-5 in the red zone.

“I think everyone understood the situation,” Beck said. “When our backs are against the wall, the only way out is through what’s in front of us.”