ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, a prominent voice in college football, has drawn comparisons between the current narrative surrounding Georgia and the long-standing expectations placed on Alabama.
Appearing on McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum addressed criticisms of Georgia and the SEC following the Bulldogs’ disappointing College Football Playoff run.
“The national narrative has been focused on primarily one thing: The SEC reign of power is over,” Finebaum said. “I guess everybody missed the announcement back in early summer that Texas was now a member of the SEC, but that’s OK.”
Georgia’s Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame, played without starting quarterback Carson Beck, has fueled discussions about whether the SEC’s dominance in college football is waning.
Despite earning a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff, the Bulldogs fell short in their second-round matchup against Marcus Freeman and the gritty Fighting Irish.
Finebaum argued that Georgia’s path to the postseason may have played a role in their struggles, particularly after their SEC Championship victory.
“The SEC Championship Game did Georgia no favors,” Finebaum continued. “Not only did the Dawgs lose Carson Beck, they ended up with a tougher draw. If they had the same path as Texas – playing Clemson, we know how that would’ve turned out.
“Arizona State was probably the surprise to me. It was easy to be dismissive of them, even though they had played well. I think Georgia would’ve gotten through that game as well.”
Finebaum suggested that Georgia, as recent back-to-back national champions, now faces the same near-impossible expectations that Nick Saban’s Alabama teams carried for over a decade.
“In the end, it really doesn’t matter. Georgia became the new Alabama,” Finebaum said. “By losing to Notre Dame, it became the national narrative. And certainly the way it happened played into that.”
Georgia’s 11-3 season, which included losses to Alabama, Ole Miss, and Notre Dame, marked a stark departure from the dominance they displayed in previous years, when they lost just two games over three seasons.
The Sugar Bowl loss was particularly frustrating, as Georgia outgained Notre Dame in total yardage (300 to 244) but fell victim to key mistakes, including two turnovers and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Notre Dame’s Jayden Harrison.
While Georgia’s season ended in disappointment, Texas remains the SEC’s lone representative in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
While some critics will point to the fact that Texas was in the Big 12 just a year ago and shouldn’t be viewed as a true SEC team, the reality is they still wear an SEC patch on their uniforms – and that counts for something.
The Longhorns are set to face Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, while Notre Dame will take on Penn State in the Orange Bowl.
Finebaum’s remarks reflect a shifting dynamic in college football, with Georgia now inheriting the immense pressure to succeed that Alabama carried for years.
What are your thoughts on Finebaum’s take? … Is Georgia indeed the “new Alabama?”
When it’s all said and done, will Kirby Smart end up winning more national titles than Nick Saban did???
