Georgia slips multiple spots in ESPN’s power rankings after Week 1
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Georgia rolled up a ridiculous 660 yards of total offense, rumbled for 272 yards on the ground and piled up 31 first downs in a breathtaking offensive showcase on Saturday in a season-opening 63-3 pounding of Tennessee State in Athens.
But the Dawgs, who were ranked 3rd before the new AP Poll was released, were also ranked 2nd in ESPN’s preseason power rankings. But despite the dominance that Georgia showed in Week 1, those ESPN power rankings didn’t take completely kindly to what the Dawgs did on the field, dropping Kirby Smart‘s team 2 spots in Tuesday’s updated power rankings.
For what it’s worth, Georgia now sits 4th in the ESPN power rankings, behind SEC rival Texas, which is at No. 3, as well as No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Ohio State.
ESPN analyst Mark Schlabach didn’t particularly take Georgia to task for anything it did wrong last Saturday. He merely gave the Dawgs a fictional check mark for a blowout victory that was supposed to happen.
Here is what Schlabach wrote in explaining the Bulldogs’ ranking:
There isn’t much you can take away from Georgia’s 63-3 rout of Tennessee State, other than the Bulldogs did exactly what they were supposed to do against an overmatched FCS opponent. (Quarterback Gunner) Stockton played nearly flawlessly, completing 15 of 16 passes for 202 yards with three touchdowns in less than two quarters. Georgia piled up 660 yards of offense, while allowing the Tigers to gain only 109.
OK, so again it wasn’t like Georgia was particularly being penalized for anything it did poorly by ESPN’s updated rankings. Schlabach also pointed out that a slew of playmakers emerged for the Bulldogs in the victory, which could help Georgia in replacing its top 4 receivers from last season. It would also help Stockton, Schlabach said, so the ESPN analyst implored Stockton to “continue to build chemistry with them in next week’s home game against Western Kentucky.”
Georgia might have slipped in the new ESPN power rankings, but the Bulldogs are still 1-0 and seeking that 3rd straight SEC title in December. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Georgia’s chances to pull off that SEC championship 3-peat:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
