Game of the Century? AP Top 25 poll puts Tennessee-Georgia in elite company

The upcoming weekend of college football will feature a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup between the No. 2-ranked Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 1-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

This is an interesting one that truly showcases how things have shifted across the college football landscape with this matchup not at all resembling many of the ones before it as far as teams and opponents go. Since 2000, games between the No. 1 and No. 2 team in the nation have been ones between LSU and Alabama, Ohio State and Michigan and Ohio State and Texas.

Here’s a look at what those looked like:

A look at @AP_Top25 No. 1 vs. No. 2 regular season games since 2000:

2 @Vol_Football at 1 Georgia, 2022
1 LSU at 2 Alabama, 2019
1 LSU at 2 Alabama, 2011
1 Ohio State vs. 2 Michigan, 2006
1 Ohio State at 2 Texas, 2006

— Bill Martin (@Bill_Martin) October 30, 2022

Hardly anyone predicted that the rankings would be quite in this order ahead of the season and it will serve as a measuring stick as to just where these two teams stand ahead of what will be an interesting College Football Playoff.

Crissy Froyd

Crissy covers SEC football news for Saturday Down South.