BREAKING: Georgia Bulldogs Ranked No. 1 by CFP After Lopsided win over Mississippi State
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs were once again ranked No. 1 in this week’s College Football Playoff Committee rankings.
The ranking was not a surprise after the No. 1 Dawgs went on the road and beat Mississippi State 45-19. Georgia dismissed former No. 1 Tennessee 27-13 two Saturdays ago in a one-sided affair in Sanford Stadium. That game is the most-watched college football game of this year. Ohio State got back on track - blowing out Indiana after having trouble at Northwestern the week before. Michigan took out Nebraska by 31. TCU stayed undefeated with a 17-10 at No. 18 Texas.
Georgia Back at No. 1 in the CFP Rankings
The No. 1 Dawgs are set to take on Kentucky on the road this Saturday. That game kicks off at 3:30 on CBS. Georgia is considered a 22.5-point favorite to win at Kroger Field Commonwealth Stadium, UGA’s win over State wrapped up the SEC East for the fifth time in six years. Ohio State travels to Maryland at 3:30 on ABC. The Wolverines host Illinois at noon on ABC. Ohio State will host Michigan in two Saturdays on the final game of the regular season. TCU goes to Baylor as a three-point favorite. That game will kick at noon on FOX.
"You know Georgia is in," ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said Tuesday night.
Much of the top of the College Football Playoff was unchanged this week after a rocky week after the first rankings.
2022 College Football Playoff Week Three
1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Michigan
4. TCU
5. Tennessee
6. LSU
7. USC
8. Alabama
9. Clemson
10. Utah
11. Penn State
12. Oregon
13. North Carolina
14. Ole Miss
15. Kansas State
16. UCLA
17. Washington
18. Notre Dame
19. FSU
20. UCF
21. Tulane
22. Oklahoma State
23. Oregon State
24. NC State
25. Cincinnati
* Exclusive Event: UGA DB Kelee Ringo Autograph Signing *
Sunday, November 20, 2022 || @ Red Zone in Athens
Rankings Review
*In 2022, the Bulldogs checked in at No. 3 in the CFP rankings last in the first rankings this season. Last year, Georgia was No. 1 in all five regular season CFP rankings and were No. 3 on selection day.
*Georgia transitioned from No. 3 in the preseason poll to No. 2 after week one and then to No. 1 in the Associated Press (AP) poll prior to the South Carolina game in mid September.
*After whipping the Gamecocks 48-7, the Bulldogs assumed the top spot in the Coaches poll as well. The Bulldogs were a consensus No. 1 for the next two weeks. Then Georgia fell to No. 2 in both the AP/Coaches polls following its 26-22 road win at Missouri on Oct. 1. After a 42-10 win over Auburn in week six, the Bulldogs reclaimed the top spot in the AP poll.
*Georgia has been ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in 25 of the past 27 AP polls, with the other two weeks at No. 3.
Notables from the win at Mississippi State
Top-ranked Georgia extended its streak of not allowing a touchdown in the first quarter in 2022. The Dogs are out- scoring their opponents 95-9 in the first period. Kent State, Missouri and Tennessee each have one field goal apiece. *Mississippi State won the toss, took the football, gained three yards on three plays and punted. Georgia responded with a TD, going 73 yards on nine plays in 4:18 and never trailed. MSU had scored on its opening possession in four of its six home games this year. Also, it marked the first time in those contests that MSU had allowed a score on its first defensive drive.
Georgia came in to the MSU contest ranked fourth nationally in 3rd down defense as opponents have converted only 27 percent of the time. MSU went 3-14 (21 percent) on 3rd downs plus 0-3 on 4th downs.
Georgia’s three longest rushing touchdowns this season do not belong to a running back! Tight end Brock Bowers raced 75 yards for a score against Kent State on Sept. 24, quarterback Stetson Bennett scampered 64 yards for a score against Auburn on Oct. 8 and most recently, wideout Ladd McConkey cruised 70 yards for a touchdown at Miss. State last Saturday.
Junior Jalen Carter had a career-high seven tackles and notched a sack, his second of the year and 17th by the Bulldogs this year. He has played in eight games with four starts because of a knee injury.
Senior Kearis Jackson finished with season highs of four catches for 69 yards and added one KOR for 19 yards.