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ATLANTA — Georgia coach Kirby Sensible stated he hung out over the previous yr surveying different coaches about how greatest to strategy the 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff.
A yr in the past, Ohio State missed its convention championship sport, as Georgia might do that yr, too, ought to each Texas A&M and Alabama end Week 14 with wins. However the Buckeyes bought scorching and gained a nationwide title.
In the meantime, the 4 convention champions who all earned first-round byes final season struggled mightily of their first playoff video games, with all 4 prime seeds dropping.
However that does not imply Sensible is offered on following that logic for this yr’s playoff.
“The candy spot is to win,” Sensible stated when requested how he hoped the following few weeks would shake out for the Bulldogs. “There isn’t any proper determination. … On the finish of the day, it’s important to do what you are feeling greatest about. You may at all times second-guess it for those who lose and you will not for those who win.”
Georgia’s place within the playoff is all however assured. It is path between Friday’s ugly 16-9 win over Georgia Tech and no matter sport kicks off the Dawgs’ quest for a nationwide championship is frustratingly up within the air.
Georgia, 11-1 general, completed SEC play 7-1, however its regular-season loss to Alabama means the Dawgs want both a loss by the Tide within the Iron Bowl on Saturday or a loss by Texas A&M on Friday to Texas to clinch an SEC title sport berth.
Given Ohio State’s success with out taking part in in final yr’s Large Ten title sport, taking subsequent week off could be a preferential choice for some coaches, who would favor to see their group get wholesome and keep away from added damage danger from an additional sport. Not Sensible, who has gained three SEC titles, together with final yr.
“You reside your life afraid of accidents, you realize what you get? A really scared group,” Sensible stated. “It is also a possibility to win an SEC championship. Does that matter? Does anyone care about that anymore? I grew up considering that was the best sport on the earth. I am simply completely different from all people else. … That is what’s unsuitable with this entire factor now. What for those who get harm? It is soccer. It is all a part of it.”
Not less than a few of Georgia’s offensive struggles Friday had been a results of accidents. Middle Drew Bobo left the sport early, and his absence appeared to restrict the Bulldogs’ passing assault. Sensible did not put the blame on Bobo’s departure however did notice that QB Gunner Stockton wanted to reply higher.
Stockton completed 11-of-21 passing for simply 70 yards — the bottom passing output for a Georgia group since 2019. Stockton’s early choose arrange a Georgia Tech subject objective, and his downfield photographs had been all off the mark.
“It wasn’t nice,” Sensible stated of the passing sport. “There was some drop eight in there, there was some stress he took on, some batted balls. He is bought to do what he is coached to do. That is the hardest factor. … There have been a pair performs that had been on the market we did not make. He’ll watch the tape and develop from it and get higher, and so will the remainder of the group.”
One other query dealing with Georgia is that if this would be the final sport the Bulldogs placed on tape earlier than the Faculty Soccer Playoff committee releases its last rankings.
In the meanwhile, Georgia has a top-four seed — and a first-round bye — secured. But when the Dawgs miss the SEC championship sport and Texas Tech wins the Large 12 championship, there is definitely room for the committee to make changes.
“Not for me to resolve,” Sensible stated. “I am not right here to foyer. There’s people who make that call. Our job is to reply to it.”
Georgia’s gamers weren’t precisely lobbying for something both, and in terms of taking part in subsequent week, the sensation was a bit extra muted. The query of whether or not Georgia gamers would favor a while off elicited a pregnant pause from the 4 starters on the dais after Friday’s win earlier than Stockton lastly spoke up.
“We’ll simply be able to play,” he stated, “each time we’re [scheduled].”
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