Georgia Climbs to No. 3 in Latest CFP Rankings as Championship Weekend Looms
The College Football Playoff picture is starting to come into focus, and Georgia just made a key move. In the latest rankings released Tuesday, the Bulldogs jumped up to No. 3, positioning themselves for a potential first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoff format. With an 11-1 record and a resume that includes several marquee wins, Kirby Smart’s squad is once again right in the thick of the national title hunt.
At the top, it’s still a Big Ten affair - unbeaten Ohio State holds the No. 1 spot, with fellow undefeated Indiana right behind at No. 2. Those two will settle things head-to-head in this weekend’s Big Ten Championship, a game that could have massive implications for seeding and momentum heading into the postseason.
Georgia’s Resume: Built for December
Georgia’s rise to No. 3 isn’t just about wins - it’s about who they’ve beaten and how they’ve done it. They’ve stacked up quality victories all season, including a 43-35 shootout win over No.
7 Ole Miss, a dominant 35-10 performance against No. 13 Texas, a thrilling 44-41 overtime road win at No.
25 Tennessee, and a gritty 16-9 neutral-site victory over in-state rival Georgia Tech, currently ranked No. 23.
Those wins have helped the Bulldogs overcome a slightly tougher schedule than some of their CFP peers. According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, Georgia’s strength of schedule ranks 25th nationally - better than both Indiana (No. 45) and Ohio State (No.
46). That matters, especially in a year where the selection committee has placed more emphasis on strength of schedule when evaluating teams.
Playoff Picture: What Georgia’s Path Looks Like
With the new 12-team format in play, the top four seeds earn a first-round bye - but here’s the twist: those byes go to the top four conference champions. Right now, Georgia, as SEC Champion, would lock in one of those coveted slots. That would set them up to face the winner of the 6-vs-11 matchup between Ole Miss and ACC champion Virginia in the quarterfinals.
Here’s how the top of the rankings shake out after Week 14:
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Georgia
- Texas Tech
- Oregon
- Ole Miss
- Texas A&M
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Notre Dame
- BYU
- Miami
The first-round matchups are already shaping up to be must-see TV:
- Oregon (5) vs. Tulane (12)
- Ole Miss (6) vs. Virginia (11)
- Texas A&M (7) vs. Notre Dame (10)
- Oklahoma (8) vs. Alabama (9)
These games will be played on-campus at the higher seed’s stadium, giving fans a rare chance to experience CFP football in a true college setting. First-round action kicks off Friday, December 19, with a prime-time matchup, followed by a full slate on Saturday, December 20.
What’s Ahead: Bowl Schedule and Beyond
Once we hit the quarterfinals, the action shifts to the New Year’s Six bowls. The Cotton Bowl kicks things off on New Year’s Eve, followed by a tripleheader on New Year’s Day - Orange Bowl at noon, Rose Bowl at 4 p.m., and Sugar Bowl at 8 p.m.
The semifinals are set for January 8 (Fiesta Bowl) and January 9 (Peach Bowl), both in prime time. The national championship game will be played January 19 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Georgia’s CFP Track Record: A Championship Pedigree
This isn’t Georgia’s first rodeo. Since 2021, the Bulldogs have consistently been a playoff presence and a national title threat. That year, they debuted at No. 1 in the initial CFP rankings, lost the SEC title game to Alabama, but bounced back to beat Michigan in the Orange Bowl and avenge their loss to the Tide in the national championship.
In 2022, Georgia started at No. 3, ran the table, and secured back-to-back titles. The 2023 season saw them go 12-0 in the regular season before a narrow loss in the SEC Championship knocked them out of the top four. Last year, they returned to the playoff as the No. 2 seed after winning the SEC again but fell in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal to Notre Dame, 23-10.
Now, with another double-digit win season and a top-three ranking, Georgia is once again in position to make a deep run. The road ahead won’t be easy - not with teams like Ohio State, Indiana, Oregon, and a loaded SEC field in the mix - but the Bulldogs have shown they know how to navigate December and January football.
The stakes are rising, the playoff field is nearly set, and Georgia is right where it wants to be: in the hunt, with everything still in front of them.