It wasn’t just ESPN analysts like Kirk Herbstreit promoting Georgia as a top-four team in the College Football Playoff. A coach of one of the Bulldogs’ division rivals joined the discussion.

During a conversation with media about the Belk Bowl matchup with Virginia, South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said he believes Georgia is one of the four best teams in the country, and should have been in the playoff. Georgia, though, was ranked No. 5 in the final rankings, behind Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and Oklahoma.

A Georgia alumnus, Muschamp is perhaps more aware of the type of team it takes to reach the top five because his Gamecocks faced Clemson and Georgia this season.

South Carolina lost to both teams, but played considerably better against Clemson two weeks ago, especially on offense, as QB Jake Bentley put up 510 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Perhaps he was sticking up for his conference, but Muschamp isn’t typically one to go out of his way to promote something that he isn’t directly connected to, such as his current employer.