The College Football Playoff committee released their updating rankings Tuesday night, and to nobody’s surprise Georgia football dropped a good amount. But what was surprising is that the Bulldogs fell all the way to No. 12.
This ranking puts Georgia just outside of the 12-team field because No. 13 Boise State jumps the Bulldogs as one of the five highest ranked conference champions.
Before these rankings were released on Tuesday, there was a lot of talk about how Kirby Smart and Georgia were a team who could make it into the playoffs with three losses. But is that sentiment still true after these updated rankings?
Georgia’s one path to make the CFP
The committee stated very clearly what Georgia needs to do to make the playoffs this season. No they didn’t come out and specifically say what they must do, but their ranking says it loud and clear.
Georgia must win their final three games to make the playoffs. One more loss and they’re on the outside looking in.
Finishing the season 3-0 will not be an easy task for Georgia. Up next is a date with No. 7 Tennessee. Thankfully this game is in Athens and Tennessee’s star quarterback may be out with an injury. But still, that is the furthest thing from a guaranteed win.
After Tennessee the Bulldogs get UMass, which is a guaranteed win. But UGA’s season finale is once again against Georgia Tech, which doesn’t look like an easy win anymore. Not only is that the case because of how Georgia’s been playing, but the Yellow Jackers just handed Miami (FL) their first loss of the season on Saturday.
So based on that alone, it does seem possible for Georgia Tech to take down the Bulldogs in the season finale.
Georgia however needs to take it one game at a time. Their goals are all still in front of them, even if they appear more distant than they once were. But Georgia’s focus right now needs to only be on beating Tennessee and making the playoffs, then they can start worrying about making a national championship run.