Paul Finebaum didn’t mince his words regarding Georgia’s standing following their loss to Notre Dame in the Quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, comparing the Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The Fighting Irish were too much for Georgia to overcome in the Sugar Bowl, and they watched their season dwindle away due to Notre Dame’s persistence. Afterwards, Finebaum tried to make sense of the Bulldogs’ downfall, elaborating on why he believes the program was dealt a rough hand, even after winning the SEC title in December.
“In the end, the SEC Championship Game did Georgia no favors. Not only did the Dawgs lose Carson Beck, they ended up with a tougher draw. If they had the same path as Texas — playing Clemson, we know how that would’ve turned out. Arizona State was probably the surprise to me. It was easy to be dismissive of them, even though they’d played well. I think Georgia would’ve gotten through that game, as well,” Finebaum said, regarding Georgia’s CFP experience this season, via McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. “In the end, it really doesn’t matter. Georgia became the new Alabama. By losing to Notre Dame, it became the national narrative, and certainly the way it happened played into that.
“This is not an excuse. It’s just a point of reference, that I think — everybody now, looking back at that game, what was on Kirby Smart’s mind had to be very heavy, knowing what was going on with his dad. He wouldn’t make an excuse, and nobody would, but certainly, in my mind, it affects my thought process a little bit, in terms of how he managed that game.”
It’s tough to argue with Finebaum’s sentiment, and one has to wonder if the CFP Selection Committee are thinking of a better way to reward conference champions than what they’ve deployed this season. Still, nothing can give Georgia another shot at the title this season, and the Bulldogs will simply have to regroup for the 2025 campaign.
Athens might be filled with disappointment, but count Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs out at your own risk. It remains to be seen how they get the job done, but they always seem to find a way, and Paul Finebaum realizes that to be fact.
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