Coaches Poll puts Georgia ahead of two Playoff teams
The final Coaches Poll of the season is out, and like was the case with the AP Poll, a statement about Georgia has been made. The Bulldogs close out their 2023 campaign ranked No. 3 by the voting coaches, behind only the two teams that played for the National Championship Monday night (Michigan and Washington) and ahead of two teams that played in the College Football Playoff semifinals (Texas and Alabama).
Georgia beat Florida State in the Orange Bowl 63-3 after missing out on the Playoffs. The game featured the first two teams on the outside looking in, and it’s safe to say Kirby Smart’s squad showed up strong.
Florida State, who was ranked No. 3 after conference championships, drops to No. 6 and rounds out the bottom half of the top 10 with Oregon, Missouri, Ole Miss and Ohio State.
- Michigan
- Washington
- Georgia
- Texas
- Alabama
- Florida State
- Oregon
- Missouri
- Ole Miss
- Ohio State
- Arizona
- LSU
- Penn State
- Notre Dame
- Oklahoma
- Oklahoma State
- Tennessee
- Louisville
- Kansas State
- Clemson
- NC State
- Iowa
- Kansas
- SMU
- West Virginia
Four teams dropped out of the top 25 after postseason play: Liberty, Oregon State, Tulane and James Madison. 16 teams not ranked received votes.
Top 10
- 1
Phil Longo Fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
- 2
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 3
Peter Boulware chimes in
FSU legend offers Norvell advice
- 4
Paul Finebaum
'Kirby Smart was different'
- 5
AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows big fallout from Saturday
Georgia finishes the year having played four of the top 10 teams and five of the top 20 – Alabama (27-24 L), Florida State (63-3 W), Missouri (30-21 W), Ole Miss (52-17 W), Tennessee (38-10 W).
The Bulldogs enter 2024 as a favorite to take home a third National Championship in four seasons with the returning talent of quarterback Carson Beck, linebacker Smael Mondon and All-American safety Malaki Starks, among others. Georgia was the consensus top-ranked team in way-too-early polls released in the moments after the National Championship Game on Monday night, and it’s for good reason. On top of the players that return, Kirby Smart and company have added six transfers and the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for 2024.
It won’t be easy by any means. With Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC, the league will move to a divisionless format, meaning the days of playing a perceived weaker SEC East are gone. Instead, Georgia will take on a schedule that features road trips to Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss – all three of whom are considered top-10 teams entering 2024 – plus a neutral site non-conference matchup with Clemson. Others like Tennessee and Georgia Tech are featured in at least one way-too-early top 25 while rivals Florida and Auburn will always give a tough matchup.
