Florida vs. Georgia: How Bulldogs' Loss Reshapes Playoff Picture
The Florida Gators dashed the College Football Playoff hopes of ninth-ranked Georgia on Saturday, rolling to a convincing 38-13 win over their SEC East foes.
The manner in which Florida won the game was perhaps more stunning than the result itself. Georgia came into the contest allowing just 105.1 rushing yards per game, 13th best in the nation.
The Gators dismissed the Bulldogs' reputation and ran the ball all game long. They finished the game with a staggering 418 rushing yards on 60 total carries. Georgia got blown off the line of scrimmage like daffodils in a stiff breeze, but they shouldn't have been surprised. This is exactly what some Florida players said they would do.
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"We're going to pound the ball," said running back Kelvin Taylor on Thursday, via The Associated Press (h/t First Coast News).
"It has been our strong point this season, so why not do it?" added center Max Garcia, via the AP.
Freshman quarterback Treon Harris had little to do but manage the game and deliver clean handoffs. Somewhere, Georgia Tech coach and triple-option connoisseur Paul Johnson is nodding his head and smiling.
Georgia now drops to 6-2 on the season, which should kill its bid for the College Football Playoff. There is a large cluster of one-loss teams—and a couple of undefeated sides—with more impressive resumes and favorable schedules.
The Bulldogs, despite losing all-world running back Todd Gurley to a suspension, were seen as legitimate playoff contenders due to their relatively light schedule to close the season. Florida came into the game with a 1-3 record in SEC play and was ranked 67th in points scored and 54th in points against.
The Bulldogs' other four remaining games come against unranked foes Kentucky, Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech, as well as a lone threat in the Auburn Tigers, who still harbor playoff aspirations of their own.
ESPN analyst Danny Kanell noted that some indexes had Georgia winning the SEC:
Florida's stunning victory leaves the backdoor open for the likes of No. 10 TCU and No. 8 Michigan State. TCU narrowly edged out a tough West Virginia side on Saturday and could move into playoff contention with a Big 12 Championship.
The loss also effectively ensures that any SEC representative in the College Football Playoff will come from the SEC West division. Georgia was clearly the class of the SEC East, although Missouri did move into first place on Saturday. Still, the Tigers aren't considered a threat due to the shaky play of quarterback Maty Mauk. If we've learned anything from the 2014 season, it's that the SEC has no problem devouring its own kind.
ESPN's Jemele Hill believes the loss might sully the reputation of the SEC:
That being said, it's hard to argue with the likes of Alabama and Mississippi State, who along with Auburn are the front-runners to win the SEC. The champion of the conference is virtually guaranteed a College Football Playoff spot. Mississippi State will have to fend off Alabama and Ole Miss in the coming weeks, but one loss could still get them in. The Crimson Tide can't afford to drop another game after losing to Ole Miss earlier in the season.
The Bulldogs can certainly still play spoiler this season should they beat Auburn on Nov. 15. It could be a difficult game for the Bulldogs, as the Tigers feature a dual-threat quarterback in Nick Marshall and average 6.0 yards per carry as a team this season, per ESPN.com.
Florida was never really in the mix for the College Football Playoff, but it's an encouraging win for coach Will Muschamp's squad. There is still plenty of work to be done if Florida wants to contend next season.
The Gators need to find a quarterback, as Harris threw the ball just six times as a starter in place of the struggling Jeff Driskel. A one-dimensional offense might work for a week or two, but it's an unsustainable strategy over the course of an entire season.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
