Todd Gurley's Heisman Shot Is Gone, but Georgia's Playoff Hopes Alive and Well
"Gurley Watch 2014" seemed like the opening act to the winter weather watches that grip the southeast each February, ever since Todd Gurley—the star running back for the No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs—was suspended indefinitely prior to his team's game against Missouri on Oct. 11.
The alert has been canceled.
Well, it will be canceled.
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The NCAA announced Wednesday that Gurley will have to sit two more games, bringing his total to four, after it learned that he accepted "more than $3,000 in cash from multiple individuals for autographed memorabilia and other items over two years." Georgia will appeal the decision immediately.
Those four games will almost certainly prevent Gurley from not only winning the Heisman Trophy but getting to New York City as a finalist. Some voters will hold the autograph scandal against him, and those who don't will still have to factor in his stats simply not matching up to fellow star running backs like Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon and Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah.
The Heisman is more myth than reality for Gurley. Georgia's playoff chances, though, are alive, well and boosted by the running back's return for the Auburn game on Nov. 15.
Georgia went on the road two days after the suspension was announced and stomped Missouri in a game that, as it stands right now, may have served as the de facto SEC East title game. They then shuffled some pieces around—including former running back/current safety J.J. Green—to get through the Arkansas game in Little Rock. With time to prepare for a reeling Florida team and a challenging, yet building Kentucky team, the light is at the end of the tunnel.
| Rushing YPG | 154.60 |
| Rushing Yards | 773 |
| Rushing TDs | 8 |
| Rushing YPC | 8.22 |
| KO Return Yds | 147 |
| KO Return TDs | 1 |
Halfway through Gurley's suspension, the Bulldogs are one of only a select few teams that still control their own playoff destiny. If they win out—which would include a win over No. 3 Auburn in Athens and a highly ranked SEC West foe in the SEC Championship Game—they're not only a lock for the College Football Playoff, but could be the No. 1 seed depending on what No. 2 Florida State does.
Georgia should be able to get to the Auburn game with only one loss, which would create a raucous atmosphere between the hedges. Not only will Gurley be back after more than a month off, but the game could serve as a playoff elimination game if both traditional powers hold serve over the next couple of weeks.
Is the punishment too harsh?
Not according to the letter of the NCAA's law. It actually could have been much worse for Gurley, according to UGASports.com's Radi Nabulsi:
That law is in the process of changing through the push for power-five autonomy, but it's still the law right now. For that, Gurley must pay the proper price.
Georgia's playoff hopes, however, aren't diminished by Gurley's extended absence.
The Bulldogs should be able to dispatch of the Gators and Wildcats with relative ease and set up quite a showdown at Sanford Stadium against Auburn with their own—and perhaps Auburn's—playoff hopes on the line.
Get your popcorn ready.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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