Georgia players share on Orange Bowl buy in, team's lack of opt outs

MIAMI, Fla. — The holidays have passed, and it’s time for football once again. Georgia is set to arrive in Miami for the Orange Bowl on Tuesday night and is expected to do so with a full cast of characters – something Florida State can’t say.

As of publication, no UGA player has announced his intentions to opt out of Saturday’s showdown between the first two teams on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoffs. The fifth-ranked Seminoles however have been hit hard with the likes of Tate Rodemaker, Johnny Wilson, Keon Coleman, Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett, among others, already having announced that they won’t be suiting up.

“The connection. People trying to play for one another and playing for something bigger than themselves and trying to represent the G if it’s their last time wearing it or not or deciding to come back. I think that’s the biggest reason,” Georgia defensive back Tykee Smith, who has an NFL Draft decision to make after the bowl game, said when asked why it was he thought the Bulldogs had not had an opt out.

“Definitely we’ve got something to prove,” tight end Oscar Delp added. “They’re a great team, 13-0. This win will send our senior class out as the winningest senior class in the history of Georgia Football. So that’s huge, sending those guys out the right way. They deserve it. I think it’s just a springboard for next year. Let people know that we’re still going to be here and that we’ve still got a lot under our belt.”

Given that it’s the first time since 2020 that Georgia has not been preparing to play for a spot in the National Championship Game, it’d be easy to see why one might expect practices in Athens to look different this time of year. After all, the outcome of the Orange Bowl really doesn’t have much of an impact on the overall narrative of the 2023 Georgia season. However, according to head coach Kirby Smart and his players, things have been the same as they always are: full on attack mode.

“Everybody’s attacking practice. Basically just looking at it as just trying to go out there and have another opportunity to finish the year out right,” Smith said. “The workouts, everybody’s been attacking the workouts at practice the same as for an in-season game. So there ain’t really no difference … We’re preparing like it’s any game. So if it was a playoff game or another bowl game, we’re going to prepare the same way.”

“We’re preparing the same way that we prepared for Ohio State last year,” added Delp. “They got that kind of whole schedule that we go off of for the bowl games and weeks before, and we’ve just been following that same thing. It’s just been a normal week for us just preparing for another game … Just like we always practice. Physical, fast practices. Everyone is still working on their craft, perfecting plays, perfecting their technique. We just want to make sure we send those seniors out the right way.”

Sending the seniors out the right way certainly seems to be an emphasis. There’s also a streak of six straight bowl game wins that’s on the line, one that started when Smart and his staff changed their approach to the postseason with the way that they handle opt outs. And of course, there’s the opportunity to develop the team for the future that’s been a factor for Georgia in its preparation to play Florida State.

“Are we bringing up the bowl streak? Probably not. We have talked about the seniors being the winningest group of seniors ever. We’ve calculated the math, and we’re one away from beating last year’s group. So it’s really critical to me that we do that,” Smart said. “That’s a motivating factor. I don’t think the streak is as much a factor because sometimes you don’t control that, and they weren’t part of some of those games.”

“We’ve tried to make it the same sense of urgency, but there’s times where you have to step back and look and take a deep breath and say, ‘We’re getting these guys better, we’re working really hard, we’re buying in,'” he added on practices. “The leadership on this team has been absolutely incredible because what I hear from other coaches about these type of games, it’s been a nightmare for them. It has not been a nightmare for us … We’ve got dudes out there practicing that this is their last go around. I’ve told them, the next time that about 15-20 of you guys are practicing, you’re going to be trying to make a roster. You only have about 10-15 practices to make a roster spot in the NFL, so use these practices to help you make a roster. Get better. The guy you might be competing against, he might not be getting to practice for a bowl game. And they want to finish on top. A lot of them, they want to walk off the field for the last time on the winning side. There’s a lot of competitive character. So, it is different, but it’s not for the coaching staff. We’re going to do the same thing that we would and meet as if we were playing in the Playoffs. It’s a routine for us.”

Kickoff time for Saturday’s game is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Georgia is expected to arrive in South Florida Tuesday night around 5:30.