ATLANTA — Georgia won 29 games in a row, including back-to-back national championships, then lost by a field goal.
In the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee, that was enough to keep them out of college football's final four. It's a tough pill to swallow for many UGA fans, but there will nonetheless still be one more chance to see the Dawgs in action this year.
On Dec. 30, UGA will be playing against Florida State in the Orange Bowl.
There were six teams that had realistic arguments to make the four-team CFP field: Michigan, Washington, Texas, Alabama, Florida State and Georgia. The first four of those teams made the playoff, and the Seminoles’ fate — undefeated, ACC champions, and snubbed anyway — even had other schools who made the playoff shaking their head.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart lobbied unsuccessfully for his team following the SEC title game loss to Alabama. The Bulldogs had been No. 1 in the AP Top 25 all season until Sunday and were either No. 2 or No. 1 in every CFP ranking released before Sunday.
Georgia and Ohio State were the only two teams ranked No. 1 during the regular season by the CFP committee. Neither wound up in the playoff. Since this format was introduced in 2014, there has never been a season where every team ranked No. 1 in the regular season failed to get picked for the playoff field; the only others to go from No. 1 at any point to completely out at the end were Tennessee (one week in 2022) and Mississippi State (three weeks in 2014).
“You’re going to tell me somebody sitting in that committee room and doesn’t think that Georgia team is not one of the best four teams, I don’t know if they’re in the right profession,” Smart said after the SEC title game.
Evidently, the committee didn't see it Smart's way. He was upset for his team — and felt for Florida State as well.
“I empathize with anybody that goes undefeated and doesn't get in,” Smart said. “I empathize with our players because I personally feel like we deserve to be in. We've got a really good football team, we're considered No. 1 in the country all year and then fell. We've got a whole hornet's nest around here of some players that are disappointed too.”
The Orange Bowl game will kick off at 4 p.m. on Dec. 30.