A close win over Texas A&M mattered not to the College Football Playoff committee, which kept Georgia as the nation’s No. 4 team for the third straight week.
Announced live on ESPN, the fact is the Bulldogs (10-1) remain in place behind top-ranked Ohio State, No. 2 LSU, and No. 3 Clemson.
Alabama remains No. 5, followed by Utah at No. 6.
The Bulldogs, who still need to defeat Georgia Tech Saturday (Noon, ABC) in the regular-season finale, will have a direct say in whether or not they advance to the playoffs for the second time in three years, when they take on LSU in next week’s SEC Championship game.
Win that and the Bulldogs would either play in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl or in Tempe, Arizona at the Fiesta Bowl, in one of the two semifinal games.
Should Georgia lose in the SEC Championship, the Bulldogs would likely be headed to the Orange Bowl to face the highest remaining ranked team from the ACC.
The Sugar Bowl would still be a possibility, depending on the outcome of Saturday’s Iron Bowl between Auburn and Alabama. If the Crimson Tide win, Alabama would likely finish the year ranked ahead of Georgia, which would put it in the Sugar Bowl against the highest-ranked team from the Big 12.
Top 25
1 Ohio State
2 LSU
3 Clemson
4 Georgia
5 Alabama
6 Utah
7 Oklahoma
8 Minnesota
9 Baylor
10 Penn State
11 Florida
12 Wisconsin
13 Michigan
14 Oregon
15 Auburn
16 Notre Dame
17 Iowa
18 Memphis
19 Cincinnati
20 Boise State
21 Oklahoma State
22 USC
23 Iowa State
24 Virginia Tech
25 Appalachian State
Updated with transcript of teleconference with CFP Chairman Rob Mullens.
