Kirby Smart sends clear message to College Football Playoff committee after huge win over Tennessee which saved season
GEORGIA coach Kirby Smart was critical of the College Football Playoff committee Saturday.
Smart watched his Bulldogs side save their season with a massive win over an SEC rival.
And he used his post-game interview to hit out at the CFP with Georgia facing missing out on the 12-team playoff.
The Bulldogs came into their Saturday clash with the Tennessee Volunteers ranked No. 12 in the nation.
But they would’ve missed out on the playoffs with No. 13 Boise State taking their place.
That’s because Boise State were projected to be in as the highest ranked champion from the second tier of conferences.
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The Bulldogs were ranked the No. 1 team in the nation when the season began.
But they faced the real prospect of missing out on a 12-team playoff had they lost to Tennessee in an unthinkable scenario.
Georgia ran out 31-17 winners over the No. 7 ranked Tennessee Volunteers.
They improved their record to 8-2 this season as a result.
The Bulldogs have had a tougher schedule than the likes of Indiana, who are 10-0 and primed to make the playoffs.
Smart was asked by ESPN presenter Laura Rutledge after Saturday’s win what he thinks they showed the committee.
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“Well I don’t know because I don’t know what they look for,” he admitted.
“I really don’t know what they look for anymore.”
Smart elaborated on his remarks in his post-game press conference.
“I wish they could really define the criteria,” he said.
“I wish they could do the eyeball test where they come down here and look at the people we’re playing against and look at them.
How the 12-team CFP works
The first ever 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off on Friday, December 20.
But who will get in?
The highest four ranked conference champions will all be guaranteed a first-round bye into the quarterfinals around New Year.
The fifth highest ranked conference champion will also be assured a place, regardless of if they’re ranked in the top 12 teams in the nation.
That ensures a champion from one of the second tier of conferences will get a chance to play for the national championship.
Teams seeded five through eight will host a first round playoff game on Friday, 20 or Saturday 21 December.
And they will go up against the teams seeded nine through 12.
All of these rankings and seedings are decided by the CFP committee – based on record and strength of schedule among other factors.
This year’s National Championship Game will take place on Monday, January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
“You can’t see that stuff on TV, and so I don’t know what they look for.
“But that’s for somebody else to decide.
“I’m worried about our team.”
The 12-team playoff will come into effect for the first time this season.
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The first round between teams ranked No. 5 and No. 8 will take place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 December.
The four highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed a bye into the quarterfinals around New Year.
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