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Jalon Walker explains how Georgia's Sugar Bowl loss compares to being left out of CFP last year

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•01/08/25•

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Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Jalon Walker was asked how Georgia’s loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals compared to missing out on the CFP last season.

It’s an odd comparison, but Walker noted how Georgia was able to finish it off last season. That came in the form of a dominating Orange Bowl victory over Florida State.

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But losing to Notre Dame was tough for Walker and crew, seeing their season end a couple of games short of a national title.

“Yeah, it hurts,” Walker said. “Last year, we didn’t have our appearance in the College Football Playoff, but we did have the appearance in the Orange Bowl. And we ended that off the right way against Florida State. Unfortunately, we didn’t end it off in the right way this year. I just know that we played and gave it all. Offense and defense gave our all.

“So I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything at all. It was just a great, hard-fought battle. All respect to Notre Dame. Physical offense. Hard-fought offense. Well-coached. And they just did what they needed to do.”

Head coach Kirby Smart credited two Georgia players in particular who stepped up from a leadership point this season in offensive lineman Tate Ratledge and Walker. He spoke about the two team captains following the loss to the Irish.

 Smart described this year as “easily the toughest year” of his tenure.

“When we do our captains – and rarely have I ever seen this where we did our captains – and two guys got more votes than anybody we’ve ever had. A combination of an offensive player and a defensive player,” Kirby Smart said.

“Well, that’s picked by the 130 players on the team. So they picked these two guys at about a 95% rate. Meaning out of the 130, 95 guys put these two guys in their combination.

Ratledge just wrapped up his senior season with Georgia, while Walker was a junior in 2024. Smart said the two were without a doubt the leaders on their respective sides of the ball.

“What they did with this team in the toughest year of at least my tenure… they dominated the room,” Smart said. “They controlled the room. They led the room through hard games and situations. There were some hard games and situations.”