Rankings nonissue for No. 2 Georgia

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia Coach Kirby Smart clearly was influenced by his former boss, Nick Saban, on the subject of dealing with national polls.

“They would talk about rat poison a lot and things like that,” Smart said Monday, referring to Saban’s description for rankings and praise for his Alabama team.

The comment drew a laugh, and even Smart smiled after using Saban’s phrase.

For Smart’s perspective, the first College Football Playoff ranking to be released today is little more than a distraction.

High rankings were commonplace in Smart’s time as Saban’s defensive coordinator. This week, No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Georgia held the top two spots in the AP Top 25 and also could lead the CFP poll.

Smart said there is nothing to be gained from seeing how his team is regarded in the first CFP ranking.

Georgia is in position for its best regular-season finish in 35 years — and a possible showdown with Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

Georgia (8-0, 5-0 SEC) will play South Carolina (6-2, 4-2) on Saturday after crushing Florida 42-7 last week.

Georgia can clinch the SEC’s Eastern Division title if it beats South Carolina and Mississippi beats Kentucky.

Based on responses from players made available for interviews Monday, Smart’s indifference toward polls has become team policy.

Wide receiver Terry Godwin insisted he didn’t know Georgia is No. 2 until told by a reporter on Monday.

Added linebacker Reggie Carter: “It’s not important. What is important is the game we play this week. … I don’t even have cable. I’m watching Netflix. I don’t even know what’s going on.”

Smart said there’s no reason to talk to his players each week about the rankings.

“We don’t really have to address it if you confront it from the beginning, so the rankings that have been coming out up until this point — the AP ones — are the same thing,” Smart