Adapt or die. The only constant in life is change. While Kirby Smart ushered in a new era of excellence on the college football gridiron for Georgia, the game has changed quite a bit. NIL is everything now. Moreover, the College Football Playoff has expanded from four to 12 teams in recent years. Georgia made the last two playoffs as SEC champions, but has been unable to capitalized on a top-four seed.
Per Chris Low, Brett McMurphy, and Pete Nakos of On3, it will be a 12-team playoff again in yet 2026.
BREAKING: The College Football Playoff is expected to remain at 12 teams next season, @Clowfb, @Brett_McMurphy & @PeteNakos report🏆https://t.co/eIUry1lEXX pic.twitter.com/fFhKaQWLyx
— On3 (@On3) January 23, 2026
In Nakos' article for On3, he revealed that while the SEC, Notre Dame, and the other eight conferences were pushing for a 16-team playoff, the Big Ten wanted a 24-team one. Since all parties involved were unable to reach an agreement on Friday's extended deadline, it will be a 12-team one once again in 2026-27. That being said, there are a few more stipulations being put into this year's...
According to Low, McMurphy, and Nakos, "The field will not expand in 2026, but auto bids will go to each Power 4 champion, regardless of ranking, and Notre Dame is guaranteed an at-large bid if ranked in the top 12 of the final CFP poll." While the Notre Dame exceptionalism is utterly insane at this point, these changes do seem to be good for the Power Four leagues, and not the Group of Five.
Simply put, Smart and his Georgia program need to figure out how to win in a 12-team playoff fast.
What Georgia will need to do to win a 12-team College Football Playoff
Over the last two years, the eight teams who have gotten a first-round bye into the national quarterfinals went a disgusting 1-7 in those games. 2025 Indiana was the only team to win its first playoff game as a national quarterfinal. While two of those eight teams were massively overseeded teams in 2024 Arizona State and 2024 Boise State, Georgia is the only team to lose in both seasons...
So what is Georgia to do? Clearly, they have hit a bit of a wall as a program the last two seasons. Was falling back-to-back Sugar Bowls merely coincidental or a sign of something bigger at play? Well, the two losses can be explained, but that will not make Dawg Nation feel any better. The 2024 team was battered coming into the Notre Dame game. The 2025 team had to beat Ole Miss for a second time.
As far as what needs to happen is concerned, Georgia needs to make it a point of fielding an older and more experienced team in these playoff games. 2024 Ohio State and 2025 Indiana were both upperclassmen-laded teams. The two national runner-ups in 2024 Notre Dame and 2025 Miami were also incredibly seasoned teams. Being broken down or young is no longer going to cut it in the CFP...
What Smart and Georgia must do is either find ways to keep younger players from turning pro or transferring, as well as landing the right pieces in the transfer portal as upperclassmen that can take this team over the top. We are still very new to this 12-team playoff, but it does not seem like it will be this size for much longer. Bigger is always better, or so they say... Get ready for a 16-team playoff, y'all.
Having experience and being an older team is proving to be such a boon for any national title hopeful.