ATHENS, Ga. – A trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game is out of the question this season for the Georgia Bulldogs.
They were nowhere to be found in Tuesday night’s release of the top 25 teams in the College Football Playoff rankings, and the Bulldogs will enter Saturday night’s game at Kentucky 4-4 overall and 2-4 in league play. This is the first time in 20 seasons the Bulldogs have entered November with only two league wins, but players insist there is still enjoyment to be found.
“You can have fun no matter what your record is,” junior nose tackle John Atkins said. “You’re supposed to have fun when you’re playing football.”
Having fun is not always a given, however, even among those pursuing a national title.
Bulldogs first-year coach Kirby Smart was Alabama’s defensive coordinator in 2014, when the Crimson Tide pulled out a 14-13 win at Arkansas. Alabama had lost at Ole Miss the week before, and the Crimson Tide were coming off a disappointing finish to the 2013 season that included a dramatic defeat at Auburn and a two-touchdown loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.