Kirk Herbstreit: Now healthy, Georgia is 'peaking at the right time'

After sitting at No. 2 in the first rankings of the year, Georgia now finds itself atop the College Football Playoff Top 25. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 1 Tuesday night, returning to the top spot as they continue their quest for an unprecedented three-peat.

It’s been an interesting year for Kirby Smart’s crew. Georgia still has a 10-0 record as part of its 27-game winning streak, but the Bulldogs haven’t been their dominant selves the whole year. Things have changed as of late, though, with victories over Missouri and Ole Miss over the last two weeks to reclaim the top spot.

As for what’s changed, ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit said it’s simple. Georgia is getting back to full strength.

“The big thing, if you really pull it back, they’re healthy,” Herbstreit said on the CFP reveal show. “They’re peaking at the right time. Amarius Mims comes back at right tackle. He’s a first rounder. Makes a huge difference with that offensive line when it comes to pass protection and just mauling people at the line of scrimmage. You saw what Kendall Milton is doing now with Daijun Edwards, they’ve got a one-two punch that’s healthy. Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers back.

“This is the Georgia team that I think everybody envisioned being and living up to that standard of the last couple of years. It’s a different kind of team. They don’t have those game wreckers like Jalen Carter. But man, they are good and they are healthy and they’re heading in a great direction. If we could just fast-forward and get to Atlanta. Georgia and Alabama, winner take all. It’ll be a lot of fun.”

How Georgia re-took the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff rankings

Last week’s win over Ole Miss was another statement for UGA. Carson Beck completed 18 of 25 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns while Milton ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. On defense, the Bulldogs contained the high-powered Ole Miss offense cruised to a 52-19 victory over the then-No. 10-ranked Rebels.

Clearly, those last two victories were enough to lift UGA into the top spot once again, and CFP selection committee chairman Boo Corrigan said so on the ESPN broadcast.

“I think you look at the game and y’all were just talking about it, the win last week over Missouri and then the Mississippi game was tied 14-all, they go on a 38-3 run and kind of showed their dominance both on offense and on defense against a really strong Mississippi offense,” Corrigan said.