ATHENS, Ga. — In the aftermath of Georgia’s 31-17 victory over Tennessee late Saturday night inside Sanford Stadium, the two head coaches were stating their cases for the College Football Playoff some three weeks before the 13-member selection committee reveals the first 12-team field in the event’s history.
Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs took a big step in the right direction, improving to 8-2 overall, 6-2 in Southeastern Conference contests and 3-2 against teams in the latest Associated Press poll, with that last stat unmatched by any other team vying for a bid. Georgia is No. 8 in the latest AP poll, with No. 3 Texas, No. 4 Penn State and No. 5 Indiana combining for one triumph over a team currently ranked (Penn State defeated No. 24 Illinois).
“I don’t know what they’re looking for. I really don’t,” Smart said in his news conference. “I really wish they would define the criteria, do the eyeball test and come down here and look at the teams we’re playing against. They’re not at Ole Miss in that environment playing against that defense, which is top five in the country with one of the best pass rushers in the country. They’re fired up, and they’ve got a two-score lead, and they’re coming every play. They don’t know that, and they don’t understand that.
“We just played against one of the best defenses in the country again tonight and went for 453 (yards) on them, and it could have been more.”
Josh Heupel’s Volunteers (8-2, 5-2) are No. 10 in the latest AP poll and likely will be viewed Tuesday night, when the next CFP rankings are released, as being on the outside looking in when it comes to the selection committee. Do not despair Tennessee faithful, because there are several scenarios that could help the Vols reach the playoff, provided they defeat UTEP and Vanderbilt to finish a 10-2 regular season.