Paul Finebaum assesses where Georgia stands after missing CFP

Georgia is just fine going into 2024 despite not making the College Football Playoff, according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.

Yes, the Bulldogs have a New Year’s Six date in the Orange Bowl with Florida State, but Georgia fell short of going for a three-peat. No matter.

The SEC is changing next season with Texas and Oklahoma and a division-less conference, but Georgia is still in great shape.

“Well, I think the reaction to this is fairly typical, and I mean, you can say and rant and do any kind of take you want about where Georgia is, but you mentioned that, I mean, you just can’t look past these last three years going through three regular seasons in the SEC and not losing a game and start making overreactions,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I mean, the one thing about Georgia they’ve been very quiet for two weeks. That’s smart. I don’t hear a lot out of Kirby Smart. 

“In fact that one interview I’ve seen with him, I mean, I genuinely felt sorry for him having to sit there on a Zoom call with Mike Norvell. I mean, I think that was one of the longest 10-15 minutes of his life. But I don’t have any doubt that the program is in great shape … We all know how Kirby Smart has built that program.”

Since 2016, Smart is 93-16 at Georgia, winning two national titles, making three title games and won three SEC titles.

Kirby Smart eager for Georgia-Florida State matchup

Speaking on a teleconference with reporters and his counterpart, Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell, after the matchup was announced, Kirby Smart lauded the history and recent success of both programs. He assured his team will be up for the matchup, despite missing out on the CFP.

“This should be a great matchup,” Smart said. “Two giants in college football across history and recently. And I always worry about, when you get in bowl games. the matchups you get to have. So this matchup is really exciting and I know our players are pumped and excited when they found out today who we get to play and the Orange Bowl is one of the best bowls we’ve ever been to in terms of the sunshine and the beach and getting to enjoy it and being in sunny south Florida.

“So major congratulations to FSU and coach Norvell and his staff. But also to the Orange Bowl committee and the people that host the Orange Bowl, our players are looking very much forward to it.”