Georgia reminded the rest of the SEC East why it’s the midseason favorite to win the division with a convincing 34-0 rout of Missouri in Columbia last weekend. The Bulldogs are now in a three-way tie with Missouri and Kentucky atop the East standings, as all three teams have one conference loss so far this season.

Even more impressive, the Bulldogs ran up the 34-point victory without star tailback Todd Gurley, who was suspended indefinitely by the NCAA less than 48 hours before the game kicked off. Gurley was replaced by freshman Nick Chubb, who had more touches in his first career start (42) than Gurley has ever had in a single game.

Chubb amassed 174 yards and a touchdown in the win over the Tigers, and he remains the team’s starting tailback as Gurley continues to await his fate while serving the indefinite suspension. But what if Gurley is reinstated by the NCAA this season? What will that mean for the Bulldogs’ backfield?

Suddenly, Georgia’s impressive depth at tailback would become the most compelling position battle in the East as we enter the second half of the season. Here’s how it could break down:

GEORGIA RB

Players involved: Todd Gurley, Nick Chubb

Who will probably start: Gurley

Who should start: Gurley

Before diving into this discussion, let’s get one thing straight: For the purposes of this article, we are pretending Gurley has been reinstated by the NCAA. Whether you think he will or he won’t, and whether you think he should or he shouldn’t, this is all based on a hypothetical, so please play along.

Now, onto the Gurley-Chubb discussion. (When you phrase it like that it sure doesn’t sound like we’re talking about football, does it?)

Gurley is clearly this team’s starting running back, and he deserves to step right back into that role as soon as he’s reinstated. Seriously, I don’t care if he’s reinstated 10 minutes before the game, he deserves to take snaps with the first team. You don’t accidentally find yourself atop Heisman watch lists from coast to coast, you earn that kind of hype and recognition.

Gurley is the single most talented non-quarterback in America, plain and simple.

However, his backup, Chubb, is a supreme talent as well, and he deserves to remain a factor in Georgia’s offense down the line. Head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo asked a lot of Chubb on short notice last week, and Chubb stepped up in a big way to help lead the offense to a big day.

Obviously, there are only so many carries to share between Gurley and Chubb, and the top priority remains to feed Gurley the ball. But Georgia could find a way to use both players on the field at the same time, especially considering both are more than capable as pass-catchers.

With both players on the field at the same time, defenses would have one more weapon to watch for on a given play, taking some pressure off faltering first-time starting quarterback Hutson Mason. It would take some getting used to for both players, but it could enhance the offense as Georgia makes a push at an East title and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Chubb could also help keep Gurley fresh for the stretch run if it does appear the Bulldogs have a chance at a spot in the four-team playoff, and that depth would benefit both players and their physical running styles. So while Gurley would remain the undisputed starter upon his return from suspension, he would no longer be the lone weapon out of the Bulldogs’ backfield.

Chubb showed flashes before Gurley’s departure from the lineup, but he’d be a true 1-B to Gurley’s 1-A when TG3 returns.