The two top-ranked teams outside the College Football Playoff faced off in the Capital One Orange Bowl, but only sixth-ranked Georgia looked the part Saturday — and that led to some frustration from Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart.
Following Georgia’s 63-3 victory over No. 5 Florida State, marking the largest margin of victory in bowl history, Georgia coach Kirby Smart expressed concern about the impact of opt-outs and injuries on non-playoff bowl games. Smart highlighted the challenge posed by a significant number of players opting out or entering the transfer portal, contributing to lopsided outcomes.
Smart urged attention to the issue, stating, “People need to see what happened tonight, and they need to fix this.” He emphasized the unfortunate situation for teams with quality football programs facing challenges due to the impact of opt-outs and portal entries. The coach’s comments shed light on a broader discussion within college football about the dynamics of player decisions and their consequences for teams in postseason matchups.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart and Florida State head coach Mike Norvell expressed concerns about the impact of opt-outs on non-playoff bowl games following Georgia’s 63-3 victory over Florida State. The Seminoles played without several key players due to opt-outs and injuries, affecting their performance.
Norvell suggested that the College Football Playoff committee’s decision to exclude Florida State from the playoff, despite their 13-0 record, influenced the opt-outs. He highlighted the unique challenges his team faced and the difficult choices made by players. the College Football Playoff
Smart acknowledged the impact of opt-outs on the game and raised broader questions about the future of non-playoff bowl games. He emphasized the need for college football to decide what it wants from these bowl matchups, expressing concern about the risk of them becoming glorified scrimmages.
While Georgia had no official opt-outs for the game, Smart praised his team’s commitment and buy-in. The discussions surrounding opt-outs and their impact on bowl games continue to be part of the evolving landscape of college football.