The latest College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings were unveiled sparking renewed debate about Georgia’s placement. Despite being ranked No. 8 in the AP Top 25 poll and holding head-to-head victories over Texas (No. 3) and Tennessee (No. 11), the Bulldogs were ranked No. 10 by the CFP committee.
This decision has reignited ongoing discussions about why Georgia isn’t receiving more recognition for its challenging schedule, which includes multiple wins over ranked teams.
CFP Committee chair Warde Manuel addressed the controversy during a post-rankings conference call (via ESPN). When asked about the disparity between Georgia and Texas, Manuel emphasized the committee’s reasoning.
“Georgia has a very good win at Texas,” he noted. “However, when comparing the body of work, Texas—with a top-five defense and a high-performing offense led by Quinn Ewers—emerged as a strong candidate for the No. 3 spot, despite Georgia’s accomplishments. Georgia, while a great team, struggled against Ole Miss on the road but secured an impressive win over Tennessee last week.”
Manuel added that the committee will continue to assess both teams in the coming weeks.
When asked whether Georgia’s strength of schedule and wins over ranked opponents warranted a higher ranking or even a chance to host a playoff game, Manuel confirmed the topic had been thoroughly debated.
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“Yes, there was extensive discussion about Georgia, along with teams like Mississippi, Miami, and Alabama,” he explained. “The committee had intense conversations, comparing teams and weighing the very small margins separating them. It was a comprehensive and detailed process over the past few days.”
Georgia will conclude its regular season with games against UMass and Georgia Tech. The final CFP rankings will be released on December 8.
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