BREAKING: No. 1 UGA Football Remains No. 1 in College Football Playoff Rankings
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and UGA Football were ranked No. 1 in the penultimate College Football Playoff Committee rankings of the year Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in both the Coaches’ and AP Poll as well. Kirby Smart’s undefeated Bulldogs have used an explosive offense and a stout defense to get to a 12-0 start to the season. The Bulldogs take on Nick Saban’s No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Tide beat Auburn Saturday on a 4th-and-goal touchdown from the 31-yard line.
Georgia has never beaten Alabama (0-3) in the SEC Championship Game, losing in 2012, 2018 and 2021.
The Bulldogs have wins over No. 21 Tennessee, No. 11 Ole Miss and No. 9 Missouri, meaning the Dawgs have three Top 25 wins right now.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF 2023 WEEK FIVE TOP SIX
1. Georgia (12-0)
2. Michigan (12-0)
3. Washington (12-0)
4. Florida State (12-0)
5. Oregon (11-1)
6. Ohio State (11-1)
No. 1 Teams in First CFP Rankings
2023 - Ohio State
2022 - Tennessee
2021 - Georgia ***
2020 - Alabama ***
2019 - Ohio State
2018 - Clemson ***
2017 - Georgia
2016 - Alabama
2015 - Clemson
2014 - Mississippi State
*** - Won the national title
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WIN: What’s Important Now
Top-ranked Georgia (12-0, 8-0 SEC) will be looking to capture its 15th SEC title and second straight when it meets No. 8 Alabama (11-1, 8-0 SEC) Saturday in Atlanta. The Bulldogs completed their third consecutive perfect regular season, which is a school record. Also, the 2023 senior class has tied the school mark for victories as they enter the postseason now 49-3. The 2022 class went 49-5.
The Bulldogs are making their 11th appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) where they are 4-6. Georgia claimed the 2022 SEC crown when it beat LSU while the others came in 2002 (Arkansas), 2005 (LSU) and 2017 (Auburn). Georgia is making its sixth appearance in the SECCG in the Kirby Smart era where it’s 2-3. The Bulldogs are the visiting team this year.
Georgia’s 14 conference titles rank the second most in the SEC. Georgia will be aiming for its first win over Alabama in an SECCG after falling in 2012, 2018 and 2021. In the all-time series, Alabama leads 42-26-4. The Bulldogs won the last meeting, posting a 33-18 triumph in the 2022 CFP National Championship Game in Indianapolis, Ind.
SECCG Experience
The 2023 team features 14 Bulldogs who have started at least one SECCG and two (Sedrick Van Pran-C and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint-WR) who have started the past two championship games.
Offense (6): Sedrick Van Pran (C/21-22), Brock Bowers (TE/21), Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (WR/21-22), Ladd McConkey (WR/22), Tate Ratledge (RG/22), Xavier Truss (LG/22)
Defense (8): Dan Jackson (SS/21), Jamon Dumas-Johnson (LB/22), Kamari Lassiter (DB/22), Smael Mondon (LB/22), Tykee Smith (STAR/22), Nazir Stackhouse (DL/22), Malaki Starks (SS/22), Tramel Walthour (DE/22)
Did You Know? There have been five blocked field goals in SECCG history, and four of them by Georgia. Last year, Nazir Stackhouse blocked a 32-yard attempt and Chris Smith returned it 96 yards for a score.
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Balance Signals Success
The Bulldogs are one of only three teams in the country who are ranked in the top 10 in both Scor- ing Offense and Scoring Defense. The Bulldogs rank sixth in Scoring Defense at 15.8 ppg and eighth in Scoring Offense at 39.6 ppg. The other teams are Oregon, who ranks seventh in Scoring Defense (15.9) and second in Scoring Offense (45.2), and Notre Dame as they are ninth in both (16.6 pgg/39.1 ppg).
One of the keys to Georgia’s success is its third down defense. The Bulldogs are ranked second nationally with opponents converting just 27 percent of the time. In SEC action, Georgia opponents were a combined 28-for-95 on third downs (29 percent). The Bulldogs are second nationally in converting third downs (57 percent). Georgia converted 56 of 99 third downs (57 percent) against league opponents.
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