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Inside Georgia's SEC Championship Game scenarios

Jeremy Johnsonby: Jeremy Johnson5 hours agoJeremyO_Johnson
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Georgia tight end Oscar Delp (4) Georgia inside linebacker Jalon Walker (11) after Georgia’s game against Texas in the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)

The scenario for Georgia to return to Atlanta to try and defend their SEC Championship crown got much simpler and harder on Saturday.

Losses by Florida and Kentucky ensured that the Bulldogs could not finish with a better strength of conference schedule than Alabama or Texas A&M.

The Aggies are unbeaten in all games this season. Alabama has two losses, one of which was in conference to Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide beat Georgia earlier this season, and that gives Alabama the tiebreaker there.

It’s plain and simple now. Three-way ties no longer favor the Bulldogs. Georgia has to have Alabama lose to Auburn or have Texas A&M lose to Texas on Friday night.

If both teams were to falter this weekend, Ole Miss would slide in and face Georgia in Atlanta next weekend.

Georgia and head coach Kirby Smart are still hoping for a shot at the SEC title

Georgia appears to be in a good spot to make the College Football Playoff regardless of what happens on Friday. Adding a game could only improve Georgia’s standing with a win in the SEC Championship Game.

Georgia won that game last year, but lost starting quarterback Carson Beck for the rest of the season in the process. Georgia does not care about the potential rest ahead of a playoff run.

Smart grew up in Bainbridge, watching SEC football and having a deep reverence for the SEC Championship title.

“There would be no way I would ever look at not playing in that game,” Smart told reporters last Monday. “Can’t do that. You’ve got to look at the opportunity to go play and win a conference championship that has eluded more programs and has been as rare to win, in some cases, as a national championship. That, philosophically, I’m a kid that grew up in the SEC footwork and thinks that’s one of the key ingredients, most important games.”

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