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Kirby Smart sends a shot at the CFP selection committee after win over Tennessee
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Kirby Smart credited Georgia fans for the role they played in Saturday night’s 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee.
The Bulldogs trailed 10-0 going into the second quarter and then just chipped away at Tennessee little by little. They scored 17 in the second, then outscored the Vols 14-0 in the second half. Quarterback Carson Beck played his cleanest game in more than a month. Georgia tight ends stepped up in a major way. And the Dawg defense recorded 5 sacks. The atmosphere inside Sanford Stadium was electric and Georgia fed off it.
After the game, Smart was asked what message he thought his team’s performance sent to the College Football Playoff selection committee.
“I don’t know because I don’t know what they look for,” he said. “I really don’t know what they look for anymore.
“I would welcome anybody in that committee to come down and play in this environment. It’s a tough place to play.”
— no context college football (@nocontextcfb) November 17, 2024
The Bulldogs were placed at No. 12 by the committee in last Tuesday’s rankings reveal. Had the Playoffs started this week, Georgia would have been on the outside looking in.
That surely won’t be the case anymore.
With an 8-2 record on the season and games remaining against UMass and Georgia Tech, Georgia is likely bound for the CFP no matter what happens. With a little help, Georgia can also still make it to Atlanta to play in the SEC Championship Game.
Saturday’s game against Tennessee had the makings of an elimination game for Georgia. It sent a message loud and clear to the rest of the sport — and the selection committee — that it is far from done.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
