ATLANTA — Although many believed the Georgia Bulldogs were still one of the four best teams in the country following their tight three-point loss to Alabama in the SEC title Saturday, the Dawgs were ultimately left out of the College Football Playoff.
Georgia was ranked No. 6 in the final CFP rankings.
In possibly the most controversial leadup to the selection show in the CFP's 10-year history, there was just zero chance that the committee was going to be able to appease every fanbase that believed their team deserved to be dancing.
For UGA, however, it is quite hard for many fans to believe the Bulldogs weren't one of the best four teams in the country. Georgia was ranked No. 1 for most of the season, and their only loss came against a one-loss Alabama team at a neutral site in the conference championship.
In the eyes of many Bulldog fans, the committee took the four teams they could justify the easiest and the ones that "deserved it" more so than being the best on the field.
Here is the College Football Playoff top four:
- Michigan
- Washington
- Texas
- Alabama
Alabama-Michigan will square off in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, while Texas-Washington is the matchup in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
There was much debate about the Crimson Tide being selected at No. 4 over undefeated ACC champion Florida State. But without the Seminoles having their starting QB, many believe the committee made the right choice in that regard. FSU came in at No. 5.
Kirby Smart spoke after the loss about how he thought his team deserved to be in the playoff regardless of their loss because in his eyes, Georgia was clear-cut one of the four best teams.
"So, if you're going to tell me somebody sitting in that committee room and doesn't think that that Georgia team is not one of the best four teams, I don't know if they're in the right profession," later saying, "You know, go ask NFL talent evaluators, go ask NFL scouts. It's about the best teams and I have no question that it's one of the best four teams. One hundred percent."
Georgia will play No. 5 Florida State in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 30. Florida State was 13-0 in the regular season and felt disrespected by the CFP's decision to leave them out of the playoff.
