Selection Sunday has concluded, and the Georgia Bulldogs are officially in the College Football Playoff field. Ranked as the second
overall seed, Kirby Smart’s team will head to the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, where they will face the winner of the Notre Dame-Indiana
matchup. With a 24-day break ahead, the Bulldogs have time to rest, regroup, and prepare for their pursuit of a national championship.
Smart spoke on ESPN’s Selection Show before addressing reporters via Zoom about his team’s playoff position. DawgsHQ was present to
capture his full remarks, which are available in both transcript and video form. Kirby Smart on Carson Beck’s Status
When asked about quarterback Carson Beck’s status following an injury, Smart noted, “I’m still trying to get that knowledge myself. He did get
an MRI this morning, and we expect results in the next few hours. He was present for the team meeting, but beyond that, we don’t know more
than we did last night. We’ll have more information soon.” Smart Discusses Gunner Stockton’s Performance
Reflecting on Gunner Stockton’s second-half appearance in the team’s last game, Smart shared, “The team really rallied around Gunner
coming in. It’s amazing how when a new guy steps in, everyone digs a little deeper. I thought Trevor did a great job, the offensive line stepped
up, and Gunner played well. Our defense also made key stops, particularly in the red zone and on third downs, which we struggled with in the
first half. At halftime, the challenge was for everyone to elevate their game to support Gunner.”
The Importance of Physicality in the Playoff
Smart emphasized the role of physicality in playoff success, saying, “Physicality is crucial, and it definitely travels. Looking at past playoff games, we’ve seen high-scoring matchups, but defense tends to travel well. We’ve been in shootouts with teams like Ohio State and Alabama, but typically, it’s the defense and experience at quarterback that make the difference in these big games.”
Smart on Sideline Reaction During Game
Smart also humorously addressed a moment during the game where he appeared to leap in an attempt to defend a pass: “If I had arms like Champ Bailey or some of my players, I might have swatted that away. It felt like it was in slow motion, right in front of me. But at 5’10”, 215 pounds, I’m probably pushing it trying to make that move. I’m going to pull a muscle if I keep doing that.”
The Bulldogs now turn their attention to their Sugar Bowl appearance, with the chance to add another chapter to their playoff journey.