The Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers mutually agreed to cancel their future series, set for 2029-2033, on Monday evening. Dabo Swinney wasn’t a fan of the decision, but pointed to nine conference games as reason for it. A day later, Kirby Smart more or less did the same.
Smart spoke with reporters about the Clemson cancellation on Wednesday. He told them coaches have to prioritize what’s best for College Football Playoff positioning over a high-profile game each weekend.
“Look, I would love to play those games. I think those games are what the fans want. It’s what the players want. It’s what everybody really wants, ultimately, at the end of the day,” Smart said during Wednesday’s SEC teleconference. “But I can promise you all those same people want to make the playoffs as well.”
The Bulldogs have nine SEC games and an end-of-season affair with Georgia Tech on its schedule each year. Eleven meetings with Power 4 foes would be quite the slate, but an extra — theoretically avoidable — loss keeping a team out of the CFP would be devastating. Games vs. Group of Six or FCS teams are also immensely valuable to those athletic departments.
Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC) faces the Oklahoma Sooners in Athens this Saturday (3:30 p.m. E.T., ESPN).
