Georgia football fans, coaches and members of the media are thrilled after the nation’s fourth-best edge rusher committed to UGA
The Georgia Bulldogs have landed a commitment from four-star edge rusher Chase Linton, who is a member of the class of 2025. Linton committed to Georgia over Georgia Tech, Illinois and Rutgers.
Linton trolled Georgia Tech and Rutgers during his commitment. He initially put on a Rutgers hat. Then he changed into a Georgia Tech shirt and put on a Georgia Tech hat, but said it felt a little bit too tight. He went on to commit to Georgia moments later in a very memorable commitment.
This is not Linton’s first commitment. Linton decommitted from Rutgers in August.
Linton is listed at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, and plays high school football at North Atlanta High in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the fourth-ranked edge rusher nationally and the No. 7 ranked player in Georgia. Linton is the No. 45 recruit in the country and is not far from being ranked as a five-star recruit, per 247Sports.
“This committee is not serious,” said ESPN college football expert Paul Finebaum.
ESPN college football expert Paul Finebaum does not like where the College Football Playoff selection committee has ranked the Georgia Bulldogs.
Finebaum thinks that Georgia has the biggest right to be angry following the most recent playoff rankings. Georgia has the nation’s best strength of schedule and has gone 3-2 against top 20 teams in the committee’s own rankings. Georgia faced four of these five teams away from home.
“(In the playoff rankings) You saw Georgia’s opponents all over the place including, Texas, the No. 3 team in the country,” said Finebaum. “When you look at everyone else, Indiana doesn’t have a ranked team. They’ll get one this weekend. Penn State has lost to one.”
Yes, Georgia has two losses, but the Bulldogs have played a lot of great teams.
Finebaum went on to criticize the selection committee. “This committee is not serious. There are football coaches on this committee and there is no way those football coaches can tell me or anyone else with a straight face that they really think Indiana, Penn State, Miami, schools like that are better than Georgia. It is not possible,” Finebaum said.
We have to agree with Finebaum. Georgia would probably blowout this trio of teams with the exception of Penn State. However, we can’t envision Penn State scoring much against Georgia. In fact, none of Indiana, Miami or Penn State have scored an offensive touchdown against a team in the committee’s top 20 rankings team all season.
Four-star recruit, who is the nation’s No. 8 ranked running back, is considering Georgia football
Georgia’s 31-17 win against Tennessee was not only big for the Bulldogs’ position in SEC standings and in the rankings for the College Football Playoff.
It was also a major recruiting day for the Bulldogs with the early signing period less than two weeks away. There are some recruiting battles in which the Bulldogs have a real chance to flip elite recruits.
Montgomery (Alabama) Carver four-star running back Anthony Rogers had been committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide for almost a year and a half before backing off the pledge on Sunday.
Rogers was in attendance during Georgia’s energetic win over Tennessee. Rogers is deciding between Georgia and Ohio State after decommitting from Alabama.
Rogers is the No. 8 running back in the nation and the No. 147 recruit, per 247Sports.
Ohio State is looking like the leader with the Bulldogs right behind. Rogers left Athens with more hard thinking to do after Georgia’s excellent atmosphere against Tennessee. Rogers plans to decide on Dec. 4.
Every team ranked ahead of Georgia has a worse strength of schedule and a worse strength of record (with the exception of Oregon)
If the season ended today, the Georgia Bulldogs would be the No. 11 seed in the College Football Playoff bracket. Georgia would have to go on the road to play the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions in the first round of the playoff.
The Bulldogs might need some help to get a first-round bye. Georgia is done with SEC play, so the Dawgs must watch how other teams perform over the next couple of weeks to learn their SEC championship fate. Of course, Georgia will have to beat Georgia Tech to make the playoff unless the Bulldogs win the SEC championship.
The selection committee is disrespecting Georgia. The committee ranks Georgia lower than both the AP Poll and the US LBM Coaches Poll. The committee appears to favor win-loss record over everything else including strength of schedule, ranked wins and strength of record.
How many teams ranked ahead of Georgia would have been able to go 8-2 with Georgia’s schedule? Not very many in our estimation. Only the Oregon Ducks have a better strength of record than Georgia. The Bulldogs have the toughest strength of schedule in the country.
All strength of schedule and strength of record metrics are according to ESPN.
No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs
Brett Patzke-Imagn Images
Record: 8-2
Strength of schedule: No. 1
Strength of record: No. 2
Ranked wins: No. 3 Texas, No. 11 Tennessee, No. 17 Clemson (Note: all ranked wins are based on the playoff rankings and not the playoff seeding)
Losses: No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 7 Alabama
No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels
Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images
Record: 8-2
Strength of schedule: No. 29
Strength of record: No. 12
Ranked wins: No. 10 Georgia, No. 18 South Carolina
The Georgia Bulldogs host the UMass Minutemen at 12:45 p.m. ET. Where can you watch the game?
The No. 8 Georgia Bulldogs play the UMass Minutemen at 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday in Athens, Georgia. The Georgia-UMass game will be televised on SEC Network.
The television commentators for the Georgia-UMass game are Dave Neal, Max Starks, Ashley ShahAhmadi.
Georgia is 8-2 (6-2 SEC) and . Georgia needs to win to stay alive in the SEC title race and to remain in control of its College Football Playoff destiny.
UMass is 2-8 lost in overtime to Liberty, 35-34, last week. After the loss, UMass fired head coach Don Brown. The Minutemen will have Shane Montgomery serve as their interim head coach.
“Heard the unfortunate news about (recently fired UMass head coach) Don Brown just recently, and I know Shane (Montgomery, interim head coach) from the past and recruited together on the road and been around Shane before. He’s a tremendous coach, and we look forward to preparing for this game,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart on Montgomery’s firing.
UMass is without starting quarterback Taisun Phommachanh. In his place, quarterback AJ Hairston played well in the Minutemen’s overtime loss to Liberty.
Georgia is favored by over 40 points against UMass. The Bulldogs finally have an easy game after finishing their SEC schedule. Georgia has won 29 straight games at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia moved past just two teams (who both lost) in the College Football Playoff rankings after beating Tennessee
The Georgia Bulldogs are back in the College Football Playoff bracket after a statement 31-17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers. Georgia rises to the No. 11 seed and are ranked No. 10.
Georgia moved past Tennessee and BYU, which both lost.
The Bulldogs now have an outside shot at making the SEC championship. They won the Tennessee game due to a solid game from quarterback Carson Beck and five sacks by the group of Chaz Chambliss, Smael Mondon Jr. and Damon Wilson II, who also forced a fumble.
After losing to No. 9 Ole Miss, the Bulldogs temporarily found themselves out of the playoff, and they were in a playoff eliminator against No. 11 Tennessee. Never count out Kirby Smart’s squad.
Georgia showed why it belongs in this bracket. It now has two wins against top 11 teams. Barring an upset loss to either UMass, which just fired its coach, or Georgia Tech, the Bulldogs should make the final bracket when the last playoff rankings come out.
Georgia is slated to play the Penn State Nittany Lions, the No. 6 seed, in the first round on Dec. 20 or 21.
How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024?
For the first time, 12 teams will participate in the College Football Playoffs. There are automatic bids for each of the Power Four conference champions and to the highest-ranked Group of Five champion. The remaining seven slots are given to at-large teams.
When next College Football Playoff rankings come out?
Former Georgia Bulldogs defensive line commitment makes verbal pledge to Florida days after decommitting from UGA
Three-star defensive line recruit Stephon Shivers has committed to the Florida Gators a little more than a week after decommitting from the Georgia Bulldogs. Shivers committed to Florida over Vanderbilt.
Shivers, who is a member of the class of 2025, is the No. 489 recruit in the country, the No. 52 defensive lineman and the No. 16 prospect in Tennessee, per 247Sports. Shivers projects to play nose tackle at the next level and is a disruptive run defender.
Shivers originally committed to Georgia in March 2024. The huge three-star defensive lineman plays football for Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. The 6-foot-5, 365-pound lineman was Georgia’s biggest defensive commitment (by size) in 2025 recruiting cycle.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia have 25 commitments in the 2025 cycle. Georgia has commitments from a pair of defensive linemen: three-star J.J. Hanne and five-star Elijah Griffin. UGA also has a two commitments from quality edge rushers: four-star Darren Ikinnagbon and five-star Isaiah Gibson. Georgia remains favored to land a commitment from five-star defensive lineman Justus Terry.
Georgia football has the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation and the second-best class in the SEC.
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Florida has the No. 28 recruiting class in the country. The Gators and coach Billy Napier have 15 commitments.
Georgia freshman wide receiver is generating buzz after the Tennessee game
Freshman wide receiver Nitro Tuggle shined in Georgia’s 31-17 win against Tennessee. Tuggle made the most of his opportunities: He caught two passes for 25 yards, a career high.
His 16-yard reception in the opening drive of the third quarter helped ignite the offense on a 12-play scoring drive that helped the Bulldogs regain the lead.
One of Tuggle’s routes drew praise from Georgia’s all-time leading receiver Terrence Edwards. “I love everything about this route/release,” said Edwards via social media.
Tuggle showcased a combination of wiggle and explosiveness that we have not seen in the wide receiver room this year. Now that it is late November, Georgia coach Kirby Smart will say the freshman are not freshman anymore especially if they were early enrollees.
Wide receiver Dillon Bell is trending toward being out for the game against UMass on Saturday. Another wide receiver, Colbie Young, remains suspended indefinitely, so Georgia is without several top receivers and needs young players to step up. Expect Tuggle to receive meaningful snaps early in the game.
ESPN’s Football Power Index gives more respect to Georgia after UGA’s win over Tennessee
ESPN’s FPI (Football Power Index) rankings are out after Week 12’s college football action, which featured some massive turnover in the SEC and the Big 12.
According to ESPN, FPI is defined as “a predictive rating system designed to measure team strength and project performance going forward.” In the FPI, nine of the top 25 teams are in the SEC, including five of the top 10.
The Georgia Bulldogs’ 31-17 win over the Tennessee Volunteers rises them up to No. 5. Georgia now have two wins against teams in the top 10. The Bulldogs have a playoff spot locked up if they win their next two games. Meanwhile, the Volunteers are more than likely on the outside looking in, despite placing No. 9 on this list.
The BYU Cougars stunningly lost last week to Kansas. BYU still has the top conference record in the Big 12, but there are three Big 12 teams above them in the FPI rankings. The Cougars are not in the FPI top 25, so ESPN doesn’t buy them being legitimate contenders.
Another Big 12 team, Kansas State, suffered the biggest fall of anyone on this list, dropping six spots after a rough 24-14 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils, who are just outside of the top 25. Louisville also dropped four spots after a wild 38-35 loss to 2-7 Stanford where Louisville Cardinals blew a 35-21 lead.
Week 13 features Indiana versus Ohio State, a matchup that will go a long way in deciding the Big Ten championship race. The Hoosiers have been dominant offensively, but Ohio State is their first ranked opponent.
Georgia football hosts Georgia Tech on Friday, Nov. 29. Here’s how Tech has a significant rest advantage over Georgia.
The Georgia Bulldogs will host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Friday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Georgia-Georgia Tech game will be televised on the ABC.
Georgia is 8-2 and plays UMass Minutemen on Saturday, Nov. 23, ahead of the Georgia Tech game. The Bulldogs will be at a significant rest disadvantage against Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech is 6-4. The Yellow Jackets had a bye in Week 12 ahead of their game against the NC State Wolfpack on Thursday, Nov. 21. Georgia Tech will have two extra days to prepare for Georgia.
The Yellow Jackets are Georgia’s last obstacle that could prevent UGA from making the College Football Playoff. Georgia Tech upset Miami, 28-23, in its most recent game and represents a significant threat for Georgia.
ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Georgia an 89.6% chance to beat Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets have give Georgia much more trouble during the Brent Key era and are very motivated to beat their in-state rivals.
