Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart made headlines with bold comments criticizing the College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, suggesting the system is flawed and biased. Speaking to reporters after Georgia narrowly missed securing the No. 1 seed in the CFP rankings, Smart didn’t hold back.
“The way these rankings are determined? It’s not right,” Smart said. “You can’t convince me that it’s purely about what happens on the field. There’s too much politics and too many external factors influencing the process. It’s rigged to favor certain narratives.”
Smart pointed to Georgia’s dominance throughout the season as evidence of an unfair system. “We’ve beaten top-tier teams, stayed consistent all year, and dominated in key moments. Yet, somehow, we’re not considered the top team? It makes no sense,” he added.
While Smart stopped short of calling out specific teams or committee members, his frustration was evident. “It feels like decisions are being made to create drama or ensure certain matchups, not reward the best football teams,” he said. “We preach to our players to focus on the game and control what they can, but when the rankings don’t reflect that, it’s hard to ignore.”
Smart also called for greater transparency in the ranking process, advocating for a more data-driven and less subjective approach. “If the goal is to find the four best teams, let’s make the criteria clear and consistent. Fans, players, and coaches deserve better than this.”
As the Bulldogs prepare for their playoff matchup, Smart’s comments add another layer of intrigue to an already heated CFP debate. His candid remarks are likely to resonate with fans and fuel further discussion about the playoff system’s integrity.
