ATHENS, Ga. — The location is new, and the predicament is rare.
Georgia will conclude a football season in Charlotte for the first time in program history when the No. 13 Bulldogs face No. 20 Louisville on Dec. 30 in the Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs are in a bowl for an 18th consecutive season and a 14th straight year with Mark Richt as coach, but this is only the second time under Richt in which Georgia enters the postseason after a loss to Georgia Tech.
“I think we’ll be ready,” senior receiver Michael Bennett said. “We had a really awful weekend with Missouri winning the East and us losing to Tech, so I think we’re looking forward to getting back on the field and getting a win.
“Ten wins is a big deal. It’s my last game, and it’s against a ranked opponent. It’s all motivation.”
Georgia was in the College Football Playoff picture — albeit a longshot — on Thanksgiving, when the Bulldogs were 9-2 and ranked No. 9 by the CFP’s 12-member committee. During the two ensuing days, however, Georgia surrendered the SEC East title when Missouri rallied past Arkansas and then lost the state title when the Yellow Jackets pulled out a 30-24 overtime triumph at Sanford Stadium.