ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia might have viewed Friday night’s nonconference rivalry game against visiting Georgia Tech as another playoff game of sorts, but that was before an avalanche of upsets in the Southeastern Conference last weekend secured a spot for the Bulldogs in next month’s SEC championship game.
Georgia (9-2), which finished its SEC regular-season schedule 6-2, was sixth in the latest rankings from the College Football Playoff committee Tuesay night, and the Bulldogs can wrap up a spot in the first 12-team edition of the CFP by beating Texas or Texas A&M in the SEC title game on Dec. 7 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Texas visits Texas A&M on Saturday night with the league title bid on the line.
As for the Bulldogs, a loss to Georgia Tech (7-4) — which went 5-3 against Atlantic Coast Conference competition this year — wouldn’t necessarily knock them out of the playoff, but it would be highly unwelcome.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who is his ninth season as head coach at his alma mater, has tried to make sure no one on his team is looking ahead with Peach State bragging rights on the line.
“My thoughts are on Georgia Tech,” Smart said. “I mean, it’s a great honor to be able to play in the SEC championship game. … My concern 100% is with Georgia Tech because of what that game means to so many in this state, so many on our team, and what it means to this season and these seniors playing at home. So that’s the focus.”
Only one week ago, Smart said he didn’t consider speculation about his team’s chances to play for the conference championship to be relevant. A rash of losses last week by some of the SEC’s top teams dramatically changed things. The league announced late last Saturday that losses by Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M meant the Bulldogs had secured the first spot in Atlanta this season — and Georgia’s fourth straight trip to the league title game.
The SEC’s drama was of no interest to Georgia Tech and its head coach, Brent Key, who is in his second full season in charge at his alma mater. If the Yellow Jackets can end their six-game losing streak in the series Friday night at Sanford Stadium, it would make their season.
Speaking at an alumni event in June, Key, a former offensive lineman for the Yellow Jackets, didn’t hold back on his feelings about the Bulldogs in the rivalry known as “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate.”
“There’s nothing I hate more in the world,” Key said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s probably the only thing I actually hate. When I say hate, like, truly despise everything about it. I really do.”
Asked this week about Key’s comment, Smart said he prefers a different approach.
“I don’t think you get really emotional about things like that,” Smart said. “I think you’re a lot better coach when you stay composed, and you coach your players, and you teach your players what it’s going to take to win the game. It will be an emotional game, but I don’t get emotional about it.”
Georgia senior linebacker Smael Mondon said Key’s comments provide no extra motivation.
“Yeah, I see it,” Mondon said. “I don’t really pay too much mind to that. I feel like he’s supposed to feel like that for the rivalry. … So it doesn’t really add anything. You know, we’re still going to prepare like we normally would.”
The preparation has been a bit different for Georgia Tech — but in a good way. After playing a Thursday night game last week, the Yellow Jackets had more than a full week to get ready for the Bulldogs.
Georgia, meanwhile, was facing a short week after last Saturday’s 59-21 win over Massachusetts due to a rare Black Friday game for this series. Smart said the practice week went “great” despite an accelerated schedule.
“We had a good plan for it, and we just keep calling today Wednesday,” Smart said after Tuesday’s practice.
Georgia Tech’s plan at quarterback is certainly of interest — not that it’s clear to the Bulldogs.
Key has rotated quarterbacks Haynes King and Aaron Philo in recent games. Philo, a freshman, passed for a career-high 265 yards in the Yellow Jackets’ 30-29 win over N.C. State on Nov. 21 and added the late go-ahead touchdown with an 18-yard run.
“You have to prepare for both of those styles of game and know which quarterback is in,” Georgia linebacker C.J. Allen said.
Key would like for Georgia to be uncertain about the Yellow Jackets’ intentions behind center.
“I mean, who’s to say we use both of them?” Key said when asked about his tandem of quarterbacks. “… Every week is a new week and a new defense, new scheme, new coaches, new ways to attack things. So really, one week has no bearing on the next when it comes to putting a plan together.”
Meanwhile, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has ended criticism about his midseason turnover woes. Beck has thrown six touchdown passes with no interceptions in the past two games. After four touchdown passes last week, the fifth-year Bulldog and second-year starter has 23 for the season with 12 interceptions.