ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia is back on top. The Bulldogs replaced Miami at No. 1 when the College Football Playoff selection committee released its second rankings of the season Tuesday night.
It is Georgia’s 16th week at No. 1 in the playoff era, second only to Alabama’s 24. Utah moved up to No. 2, its best ranking ever, followed by Alabama at No. 3 and UCLA at No. 4. Notre Dame jumped from No. 11 to No. 5 after beating Miami, which slid six spots after the loss. Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, BYU, Kentucky and Texas Tech round out the top 12.
Georgia (8-1, 6-1 SEC) earned the climb with two lopsided wins since its Oct. 17 loss at Auburn, first a 27-8 win over a Florida team then ranked 17th, then a 42-7 road rout of 10th-ranked Ole Miss last weekend. Gunner Stockton, the senior quarterback, has thrown 20 touchdown passes, tops in the SEC, and four of his nine completions at Ole Miss went for scores.
After almost four weeks away from Athens, the Bulldogs return home Saturday afternoon, when No. 22 Missouri (6-3, 3-3) comes to Sanford Stadium. Georgia has won 10 straight in the series, and Missouri has not beaten the Bulldogs since 2013. A win would move Georgia closer to a sixth straight SEC title game trip in the final year of that game before the playoff grows to 24 teams.
Missouri brings a balanced attack. Quarterback Austin Simmons has 2,204 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against only two interceptions, and running back Jamal Roberts leads the SEC with 1,071 rushing yards. The Tigers lost 34-20 at Texas last week and still face No. 11 Kentucky after this trip.
The committee will release three more rankings before the 12-team bracket is set on Dec. 6. One more marquee test is on the calendar, with No. 17 South Carolina visiting Georgia in two weeks.
Section: More Atlanta GA sports news
Atlanta sports business profiles
Filed under: Atlanta GA Sports News
