The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bulldogs have benefit of first loss driving them
Re-centered, reinvigorated and refocused.
That was the message coming out of Georgia’s camp Sunday. A day after a humiliating 41-24 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game, the Bulldogs found out that their season will continue in the College Football Playoff.
No. 1 going into the final rankings of the season, Georgia came out ranked No. 3. And, as the third seed in the four-team national semifinals, the Bulldogs (12-1) will face Big Ten champion Michigan (12-1) in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 in Miami Gardens, Florida.
ESPN analyst Joey Galloway said after the announcement that the Bulldogs could make an argument for being ranked No. 2 and will be a “much more dangerous” team after their first loss of the season.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart agreed.
“The greatest learning experiences have come from losses,” Smart said in a live remote interview from the Butts-mehre football complex. “There’s no greater realization and attention to detail than what comes after a loss. Our guys are like sponges right now.”
It will be the third matchup between the Bulldogs and the Wolverines, the first since 1965. They’re 1-1 in the previous games, both played in Ann Arbor, with Michigan winning 26-0 in 1957 and Georgia winning 15-7 in ’65.
Georgia will be making its second playoff appearance after advancing to the CFP Championship game in the 2017 season. It’s the first playoff berth for Michigan, which remains the team with the most wins in college football history.
“It’s a great feeling,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “A lot of hard work from our players and our coaches. … We’re just a team that works hard and doesn’t talk a lot.”
Harbaugh’s sister, Joni, is married to Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean.
“I have tremendous respect for Georgia,” Harbaugh said. “My brother-in-law is the head basketball coach at Georgia, so in our household we find ourselves rooting for Georgia, especially my son, Jack. But their football team is going to be a big challenge because they’re a great team.”
As expected, Alabama (12-1) moved up to No. 1, leapfrogging the Wolverines in the process. The committee kept Michigan at No. 2 despite its 42-3 domination of Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game Saturday in Indianapolis. The Crimson Tide will face Cincinnati (13-0) — the only undefeated team remaining and the first Group of Five participant in the history of the playoff — in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, also Dec. 31.
CFP selection committee chairman Gary Barta was asked why Alabama was chosen over Michigan for No. 1.
“Let’s begin with that game last night,” Barta said of the Crimson Tide’s seventh consecutive victory over Georgia. “It wasn’t just that Alabama beat Georgia, but it was the way they beat Georgia . ... The committee came out with a strong consensus that Alabama was the No. 1 team.”