Smart vital of CFP committee after UGA victory

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Elder WriterNov 16, 2024, 11:53 PM ET

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  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of 7 books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

ATHENS, Ga.– Georgia coach Kirby Smart wouldn’t state if being ranked 12th by the College Football Playoff selection committee motivated the Bulldogs to prove a point in Saturday night’s game versus No. 7 Tennessee.Coming off last week’s unsightly 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, their 2nd defeat of the season, the Bulldogs would be the first string neglected of the playoff if the 12-team bracket was based upon the present rankings. No. 13 Boise State would have gotten the automated quote as the fifth-highest-ranked conference champ and have leapt them.That’s most likely not the case any longer, after Georgia manhandled Tennessee 31-17 at Sanford Stadium.Editor’s Picks 2 Related “I don’t understand what they’re

looking for. I really do not,”Smart stated of the CFP selection committee.” I want they might truly define the requirements. I wish they could do the eyeball test where they boil down here and look at individuals we’re playing against and look at them. You can’t see that stuff on TV, and so I don’t understand what they try to find. However that’s for someone else to choose. I’m worried about our team. “For the very first time in a while, Georgia looked respectable on both sides of the ball versus Tennessee. The Bulldogs fell back 10-0 in the first quarter however came back to connect the score at 17 at the half. Tennessee had only eight first downs and didn’t rating in the last 30 minutes. It was the ninth time a Josh Heupel-coached team has scored fewer than 20 points; four of them came against Georgia.The Bulldogs won their 29th consecutive game in the house and defeated the Volunteers for the eighth straight time, all by double digits.”Our kids showed resilience,”Smart said.”I take pride in them. Look, it was a week back, a number of hours, that we

were dead and gone. Individuals had actually composed us off. It’s hard to play in this league, week in and week out, on the roadway.”After the Ole Miss loss, Georgia fell from third to 12th in the CFP rankings. Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, the chairman of the CFP selection committee, said the Bulldogs’irregular offense and turnovers were reasons.”They’re not in that environment, “Smart said.”They’re not at Ole Miss in that environment, betting that defense

, which is top 5 in the nation with among the best pass rushers in the country, and they’re fired up. They got a two-score lead, and they’re coming every play. They don’t understand. They do not comprehend that.” Georgia has played the most tough schedule in the FBS, according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index, and has the third-best strength of record

, which shows whether a typical Leading 25 group would have a team’s record or much better versus its schedule.The Bulldogs likewise lost 41-34 at Alabama on Sept. 28 after falling behind 28-0 in the first half. They beat Clemson 34-3 in their opener and won 30-15 at Texas on Oct. 19.

Including a dominant victory over Tennessee should assist Georgia’s CFP opportunities. It closes the regular season with two non-SEC games at home, versus UMass on Saturday and rival Georgia Tech on Nov. 29.” It’s simply the tale of each week, and we’re attempting to be the cumulative, entire, actually good quality team and not be on this emotional roller rollercoaster that’s managed by individuals in a room somewhere that may not understand football like we do as coaches,” Smart stated.” We as coaches, take a look at individuals and say,’What can we do much better? How do we improve?’I respect their choice. I appreciate their viewpoint. But I indicate, it’s different in our league.”One of the big reasons for Georgia’s success against Tennessee was quarterback Carson Beck, who finished 25 of 40 passes for 347 backyards with 2 goals and no interceptions. He had tossed 12 interceptions in the previous six games.Beck likewise scored on a 10-yard run that provided Georgia a 24-17 lead with 5:32 left in the 3rd quarter.”I didn’t really feel any pressure, to be honest,”Beck stated. “I stood in front of the group on Monday and spoke to them about how I felt about how our season has gone. I informed them that whatever

has happened has occurred and that all we can manage is what we can control moving forward.

“Georgia’s offensive line didn’t enable a sack, while the Bulldogs sacked Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava five times. Georgia had 453 lawns and went 5-for-5 in the red zone. “I think everybody understood the circumstance that we were in,”Beck stated.” When our backs are against the wall, the only escape is through

what is in front of you.”