Georgia ranked No. 1 in initial College Football Playoff poll
The initial College Football Playoff rankings are out, and to nobody’s surprise, Georgia comes in at No. 1. The Bulldogs are followed behind, in order, by Alabama, Michigan State and Oregon to round out the four-team bracket. Ohio State and Cincinnati are the first two teams out at No. 5 and No. 6 respectively.
This isn’t the first time that Georgia has been atop the Playoff poll under Kirby Smart. In 2017, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 in the initial poll too. They held that spot for one more week before losing to Auburn and dropping to No. 7. However, they worked their way back into the top four with a victory over the Tigers in a rematch in the SEC Championship.
Overall, Georgia has been ranked in the College Football Playoff rankings 31 times, including tonight’s selection. It ranks seventh behind Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and LSU. Their third No. 1 ranking ties them with LSU, Mississippi State and Ohio State behind Alabama (23) and Clemson (8).
Smart Speaks…
“We don’t address it, as far as ranking,” Smart said earlier this season when asked about his team’s No. 1 ranking in the AP and Coaches polls. “What we address are our strengths and weaknesses. We are very technical in our approach of why. Why have we had success? Why have we struggled in some areas? What can we do about those? I think the more interaction you have among the team, they tell you why. You know where their pulse is and whether they actually understand. There has not been a lot of conversation about the ranking. I think our guys realize it doesn’t matter. It’s just a number. What does matter is what we do well and what we do poorly.”
When asked about his team’s potential No. 1 ranking earlier today, Smart pushed back by making the point that of the seven teams previously ranked atop the initial College Football Playoff ranking, only one has come away with the National Championship trophy at the end of the season.
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The College Football Playoff rankings will come out each Tuesday between now and the end of the season. Selection Sunday is on December 5, the day after conference championship games.
Meanwhile, on the field, Georgia’s next game comes this Saturday against Missouri. Kickoff at Sanford Stadium at set for 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
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