Kirby Smart uses Bill Hancock quote to make Georgia's case for CFP

With Georgia’s loss to Alabama in Saturday’s SEC Championship, the College Football Playoff selection committee has a big decision. Do the Bulldogs, who entered Saturday ranked No. 1, still make the CFP or do they wind up sitting out?

Earlier this week, CFP executive director Bill Hancock made it clear it’s not the “most deserving” teams that make the field. It’s the “best” teams.

That was part of Kirby Smart’s case to the selection committee ahead of Sunday’s final rankings reveal.

“Well, Bill Hancock said, ‘It’s not the most deserving. It’s the best four teams,'” Smart told CBS’ Dennis Dodd. “If that ain’t [one of] the best four teams out there, I don’t believe any man or woman sitting on that committee doesn’t believe that that’s not one of the best teams that was No. 1 coming into it.”

Kirby Smart makes his case to the playoff selection committee. pic.twitter.com/fTZPflb9mi

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) December 3, 2023

Smart reiterated that sentiment in the postgame press conference, emphatically calling for Georgia to make the CFP.

“Look, Bill Hancock said, ‘It’s not the most deserving,'” Smart said. “He said, simply, it’s the best four teams. So you’re gonna tell me somebody’s sitting in the committee room and doesn’t think that that Georgia team is not one of the best four teams, I’m not sure they’re in the right profession because it’s a really good football team, it’s a really talented football team, it’s a really talented football team. They have to make that decision. But it’s the best four teams, and that’s critical.”

Georgia isn’t the only tough decision the CFP committee has to make

The committee has a few questions to answer as it plots out the last Top 25 of the season. Washington presumably locked up a spot in the CFP by winning Friday night’s Pac-12 Championship over Oregon, which was ranked No. 6 last week. The Huskies are now 13-0, one of three undefeated teams left standing entering the final two conference championships Saturday night.

Then, there’s Texas. The Longhorns have one loss this year, to Oklahoma on a neutral site during the Red River Rivalry. But they also have a victory over Alabama on the road, and the committee has maintained the importance of head-to-head when deciding the rankings. With Georgia’s loss, which came after Texas won the Big 12 Championship, that means the committee has to determine the weight of a conference title.

Finally, all eyes will turn to the two primetime games. In Indianapolis, No. 2 Michigan is taking on No. 16 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, and the Wolverines would be assured a spot in the CFP with a victory based on their resume.

But things aren’t so cut-and-dry in Charlotte where No. 4 Florida State and No. 14 Louisville in the ACC Championship. The Seminoles are without quarterback Jordan Travis, and committee chairman Boo Corrigan said that’s a factor when deciding the rankings. But backup Tate Rodemaker is also not starting the game after taking a monster hit last week against Florida, which makes the decision even tougher.

It’s shaping up to be one of the most interesting rankings reveals yet on Sunday — which is appropriate considering this is the final year of the four-team CFP model.