Georgia is one of the most accomplished programs in the College Football Playoff era. They have made five appearances in the playoff and have won two national titles since the playoff began in 2014.
The best part about that success though is that Georgia won their two titles before the playoff expanded to 12 teams. So while each title is still the same, there is a little more pride in winning one when it was much harder to make the playoff.
Georgia however has struggled since the playoff expanded to 12 teams. They have made the playoff in the two years since it expanded, but they are 0-2 in those appearances. Everyone expects much better than that, but they do have it a lot better than other teams.
Josh Heupel accepted that he can't accomplish what has become the norm at Georgia
One team Georgia has it a lot better than is Tennessee who is yet to make their first playoff appearance. Even programs like Michigan State, Cincinatti, SMU and Ole Miss have made the playoff, but the Vols just can't do well enough to receive an invite.
Making the playoff is Tennessee's No. 1 goal right now, and in order to do that head coach Josh Heupel has turned to begging for the playoff to expand to 24 teams.
NEW: Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel tells @Clowfb that he prefers a 24-team playoff format🏆
— On3 (@On3) March 2, 2026
"The way college football is constantly changing, that probably makes the most sense."
Exclusive: https://t.co/aL4kZfDNvn pic.twitter.com/gzRzy7npq2
If the playoff expanded to 24 teams then Tennessee would make it most years. This wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for Georgia either because they would certainly make it every year as well. That fact is likely what has led Kirby Smart to not hate the idea of further expansion as well.
But Heupel and Tennessee know that their only hope in ever making the playoff is expansion, and that is the key difference between Georgia and the Vols.