Kirby Sensible strode down an extended hallway within the bowels of Mercedes-Benz Stadium final December, his coronary heart ripped out of his chest. Nicely, figuratively.
Georgia had simply suffered a bitter three-point loss to Alabama within the SEC Championship Sport. Fifty yards from getting into a deathly silent locker room, Sensible stared down the community reporter with a microphone in his hand.
Because the coach approached, he signaled for the reporter overlaying the dropping locker room to come back nearer.
“Are you going to ask in regards to the playoff?” Sensible requested.
“That is my first query,” the reporter replied, the CBS digital camera bearing right down to file Sensible’s reply.
Pleading his case was all of the coach had left after the loss eradicated his group from final season’s School Soccer Playoff. Sensible nonetheless spoke to the thousands and thousands watching that day however, finally, did not get by way of to the CFP choice committee.
Again then, 12-1 wasn’t ok.
A few weeks in need of a 12 months later, there are completely different conclusions to achieve: No. 12 Georgia could have slipped, the CFP has positively gotten greater — to wit, Georgia can be out of the 12-team playoff even at No. 12 as of final week — and, Kirby, we completely can have that dialog in regards to the playoff once more.
That a lot was assured with a 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee, which had been marketed because the final, greatest, true significant sport of the season for playoff positioning.
That, in fact, was nonsense. Oregon escaped Wisconsin. BYU struggled deep into the night time in opposition to Kansas and misplaced. Lose this one, and the Dawgs would have been all however eradicated (once more), even with these extra accommodating 12 playoff spots beckoning. Three losses simply aren’t going to chop it for anybody, actually, this season.
On Saturday, Georgia performed prefer it.
The Dawgs’ desperation was the mom of motivation. They fell behind 10-0, completed on a 31-7 run, and restored religion in themselves.
Contemplating what was at stake, they performed their greatest sport of the season. For the primary time in 5 video games, Carson Beck did not throw an interception. The offensive line stored him upright. The protection, whereas not of 2021 or 2022 classic, was sufficient to clamp down on rising stars Nico Iamaleava and Dylan Sampson, maybe the SEC’s greatest tailback.
In the long run, that coronary heart Sensible had snatched from his chest? It was beating within the bosom of a real Dawg. There was that a lot redemption Saturday night time at Sanford Stadium.
A bunch of backups who needed to play due to accidents and suspensions have been the inspiration for Georgia getting again to wanting like … Georgia.
Tennessee — or its collective — spent $8 million (together with incentives) on Iamaleava, the redshirt freshman sensation quarterback. Nico was sharp early however did not full a move longer than 17 yards.
After beginning 4 of 12, Beck completed finishing 21 of his subsequent 28. His 32 speeding yards have been a profession excessive. With main rusher Trevor Etienne out with an harm, freshman Nate Frazier ran for 68 yards. Ten gamers caught a move.
Ole Miss embarrassed the Dawgs final week with 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss. Alabama had scorched them, no less than for a half. There was no room for error Saturday.
“We do not have something to lose at this level,” Beck stated after the sport.
Really, the season nonetheless hangs within the stability. Tuesday’s CFP rankings will reveal that Georgia is someplace again within the playoff hunt. The Dawgs (8-2, 6-2 SEC) are additionally one in all 4 SEC groups presently with two convention losses.
Both Texas or Texas A&M can also be assured to endure no less than a second convention loss after they meet Thanksgiving week.
Is the SEC the brand new Massive 12 or the outdated Pac-12, the place there are/have been few dominant groups? Instance: Georgia now has the tiebreaker over Tennessee within the SEC standings however not Alabama or Ole Miss.
However this was an evening for celebration at Sanford Stadium. It had turn into troublesome to keep in mind that the Dawgs are nonetheless gunning for a 3rd nationwide championship in 4 years and in reality have the third-shortest odds as of Sunday morning.
Earlier than the primary industrial, it was 7-0 Vols. Boo Carter’s 26-yard punt return arrange a subject aim to make it 10-0. Georgia receivers dropped three extra passes Saturday to remain within the Energy 4 lead in that division.
No, they are not good, and time will inform if they’re certainly again. However Georgia did turn into the primary group this season to attain no less than 20 on Tennessee. That was assured when Beck ran 10 yards for what turned out to be the profitable rating 9 ½ minutes into the second half.
Georgia’s protection constricted extra as the sport went on. Definitely not like within the Nolan Smith or Jalon Carter days, however sufficient to make an announcement that the outdated Georgia hasn’t gone utterly away.
Tennessee held the ball for 12 performs and the primary 6:13 of the fourth quarter. It additionally did not rating, barely crossing the 50 and finally having to punt.
Georgia then took greater than six minutes to drive 92 yards for the insurance coverage landing. It was the Dawgs’ longest drive of the season.
Georgia ultimately beat Tennessee prefer it all the time does — this time for the eighth straight time. It was nearer than the earlier seven, which Georgia gained by a mean of 4 touchdowns.
However the outcome nonetheless had that who’s-your-daddy really feel to it.
Georgia accomplished its convention schedule and has solely UMass and pesky Georgia Tech to go. Any individual please inform the choice committee: This Georgia is value contemplating once more. For now.
“I do not know what they search for anymore,” Sensible stated on the sector after the sport. “I’d welcome anyone from that committee to come back down and play on this league.”
