Georgia ended its 2023 season with a loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium -- the same venue it left Saturday afternoon with a resounding 34-3 win against No. 14 Clemson to open its 2024 season.
If all goes according to their plan, the Bulldogs will return to Atlanta again. And again. And maybe even again.
Georgia could play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the SEC title, again in the Peach Bowl for a College Football Playoff quarterfinal, and a fourth time in the national championship game.
"Anytime you play in Atlanta in this facility and it's part of a title sponsor game where you're playing another top-15, top-20 matchup, to me it feels like a playoff game," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "It's a great way to try to assess where you are as a team.
"No longer do you have to win every game, but you do have to find out when you're going to be playing your best, and you want to be playing your best towards the end of the year," he said, "and one of the best barometers is to get quality wins."
Saturday's statement against the Tigers was the kind of "quality win" that gets the attention of the College Football Playoff selection committee. The 12-team playoff field is new, but how the committee ranks its top 25 teams each week will remain the same. The first of six rankings won't be revealed until Nov. 5 (also Election Day), but teams began to build their case in Week 1.
Keep in mind, the following is a prediction of how the committee would rank the teams after Week 1, not how they would seed them. The 12-team playoff seeding will look different from the ranking. The top four highest ranked conference champions receive byes and the top five conference champions receive entry into the field.
Here's the first prediction of the season for how the committee would rank -- not seed -- the top 12 teams.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (1-0)
Why they could be here: Of all the playoff contenders, Georgia played one of the toughest opponents in Clemson, and it left no doubt it was the better team. The selection committee doesn't ask teams to run up the score, but it does consider the flow of games, and Georgia's 28 second-half points made it clear that the SEC's best team is significantly better than one of the ACC's top contenders. Georgia had the better quarterback in Carson Beck, and its defense held the Tigers to three points, tied for their fewest in a game since Dabo Swinney was named head coach in 2008.
Why they could be lower: It's tough to make a strong case for anyone else in the top spot because the committee places such a strong emphasis on the opponent, and Georgia played the best against one of the toughest opponents. Notre Dame's gritty win at Texas A&M was equally impressive, but the Irish simply didn't look as good as Georgia, particularly offensively.
Need to know: Georgia might be able to eventually claim a win over the potential ACC champs. If the Bulldogs don't win the SEC, that's something that could help them earn the No. 5 seed on Selection Day. While Clemson's offense struggled and its defense gave way in the second half, the rest of the Tigers' schedule is manageable. ESPN Analytics projects the Oct. 5 game at Florida State to be the most difficult remaining game.
2. Texas Longhorns (1-0)
Why they could be here: The selection committee has historically acknowledged teams that have star power and ones that leave no doubt against unheralded competition. Texas showcased both Saturday, with Quinn Ewers racking up three touchdowns in the first half. The Longhorns dominated Colorado State from start to finish, allowing time for backup quarterback Arch Manning to get into the game and add a touchdown to his résumé while completing 5 of 6 passes for 95 yards. The 52-0 thrashing was Colorado State's largest shutout loss since 1980. It was a strong start for a playoff contender that had to replace its top five receivers from last season. As good as Texas looked, though, Georgia and Notre Dame both played tougher competition.
Why they could be lower: The committee could deem Ohio State better, and/or it could reward USC, Penn State and Notre Dame for beating more difficult opponents.
Need to know: The Longhorns' Week 2 trip to Michigan will be far more revealing and more impactful in the committee meeting room. ESPN Analytics projects Texas will win each of its regular-season games except Oct. 19 vs. Georgia.
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0)
Why they could be here: Didjya see the one-handed catch freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith made when an Akron defender had his other arm tied behind his back? The Buckeyes are again oozing talent, and it was on full display Saturday. It was also the first time offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was calling the plays instead of coach Ryan Day, and Ohio State racked up 404 total yards.
Why they could be higher: There would be a significant discussion in the committee meeting room about whether Texas or Ohio State should be ranked higher. They both dominated lesser competition at home, they both put on clinics on both sides of the ball, and they had similar talent returning and emerging.
Need to know: Ohio State opens the season with three straight home games against Group of 5 opponents and likely won't face a ranked opponent until Oct. 5, when it hosts Iowa. Because the Buckeyes don't have any nonconference games against elite opponents, the selection committee will want to see Ohio State control these opponents like it did Saturday. The Buckeyes will have plenty of opportunities to impress the committee during league play -- with games at Oregon and Penn State, and home against rival Michigan -- but if they don't win the Big Ten, this nonconference schedule could factor into the discussion.
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-0)
Why they could be here: The Irish likely passed their most difficult test of the regular season, and it came on the road against a ranked SEC opponent on a day when many other contenders were beating up FCS teams at home. The defense held Texas A&M to its fewest points in a season opener since 2000, and 246 total yards, its fewest in a game since the start of last season. The selection committee would hold this win in high regard because of who Notre Dame beat (also noting Riley Leonard's former Duke coach, Mike Elko) and where (in front of a crowd of over 100,000 Aggies).
Why they could be lower: It wasn't the prettiest win, with the Irish racking up 11 penalties for 99 yards. They converted on just 2 of 12 third downs and couldn't get any big shots downfield. Texas averaged twice as many yards per pass (10.8) than Notre Dame (5.3).
Need to know: As an independent, Notre Dame's only path to the playoff is through one of the seven at-large bids because the five highest-ranked conference champions take up the other slots. The Irish also can't receive a first-round bye because those are reserved for the four highest-ranked conference champions. The win at A&M will help the Irish make a case for an at-large bid, though, and will carry value in the committee meeting room all season -- as long as the Aggies go on to have a respectable season under first-year coach Mike Elko. ESPN Analytics projects Notre Dame will win each of its remaining games. Saturday's win helps give the Irish a cushion in case they don't.
5. USC Trojans (1-0)
Why they could be here: USC had one of the better combinations of eye test and résumé in Week 1. The selection committee would be impressed with both, which means they would reward USC for beating what's likely one of its top 25 teams at a neutral site that was packed mostly with LSU fans. Even though it's just one game, USC starts the season ranked No. 3 in ESPN's Strength of Record metric, which measures the chance of an average top-25 team achieving the same 1-0 record against the same opponent. There was clear defensive improvement, and rookie quarterback Miller Moss looked like a veteran, particularly in the final two minutes when it mattered the most.
Why they could be lower: This was a significant step in the right direction for USC, but the defense still allowed more than 400 total yards, there were some costly penalties, and they struggled on third downs. Let's be clear -- they could also be higher. Texas and Ohio State cruised against non-power opponents when USC was tangling with an SEC team. This is a subjective system that doesn't give any weight to the protocol, and while "eye test" isn't listed anywhere, one committee member can vote for a team simply because he or she thinks it's better.
Need to know: If USC and LSU don't win their respective conferences and are competing for one of the seven at-large bids, the committee will consider this head-to-head result as one of several tiebreakers. It's possible it chooses both USC and LSU, but if it has to pick one and their records are the same, it will be hard to ignore the Week 1 result -- just as last year it honored Texas' Week 2 win at Alabama all the way through Selection Day. Another tiebreaker is common opponents, and one thing to keep an eye on is that LSU and USC play UCLA.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions (1-0)
Why they could be here: The Nittany Lions avoided a trap game at West Virginia, weren't hindered by a two-hour lightning delay, and showed an offensive explosiveness that had been lacking last season. The selection committee considers intangibles, like how difficult it is to win at a place like West Virginia, especially with extenuating circumstances like the weather. And to do it with such strong play up front was a strong debut for a team with new coordinators. Quarterback Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter, and running back Nick Singleton ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. The Nittany Lions' defense held WVU to 85 yards on the ground.
Why they could be higher: Some contenders ranked above PSU didn't play a Power 4 opponent and won easily at home.
Need to know: The better WVU plays down the stretch, the more the committee will respect that season-opening win. If the Mountaineers take a step back from last year's nine-win season and finish unranked, that could come into play if PSU is competing for an at-large bid. As long as WVU finishes .500 or better, though, it's typically viewed as a respectable win in the committee meeting room.
7. Miami Hurricanes (1-0)
Why they could be here: The selection committee would consider two things: Miami never trailed and beat the SEC team on the road; and it wasn't a very good SEC team. Beating Florida was a critical victory for Miami's program and coach Mario Cristobal, and the committee would give the Canes credit for a road win against an in-state rival in a hostile environment. There was also legit talent up front and at the skill positions, where transfer quarterback Cam Ward and receiver Xavier Restrepo stole the show.
Why they could be lower: Florida is in shambles, and coach Billy Napier's job is on the line. Miami outplayed and outcoached the Gators on their home field. There were some questionable playcalls and boneheaded penalties on Florida. Some committee members would likely argue that Miami's win was as much about Florida's ineptitude as it was the Canes' success.
Need to know: This win gives Miami some cushion heading into a schedule that includes some tricky road trips to Cal, Louisville and (apparently) Georgia Tech. How much it helps the Canes on Selection Day, though, depends on how the Gators fare against the most difficult schedule in the country. Miami looked good enough to contend for the ACC title this season -- especially with Florida State (twice) and Clemson (once) both having already suffered losses. If it doesn't win the league, though, and is competing for an at-large bid, the value of this win will be important.
8. Ole Miss Rebels (1-0)
Why they could be here: The Rebels racked up 76 points and 772 total yards against a completely overmatched Furman team from the FCS, scoring at least 21 points in three of the four quarters. Furman was 10-3 last season and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last season and entered this season ranked No. 9 in the preseason FCS coaches poll. The committee would know this is one of the more respectable FCS programs, but running up the score and padding the stats against Furman still probably wouldn't outweigh some of the other contenders' performances against better competition on the road.
Why they could be higher: The historic, jaw-dropping numbers could simply be too hard to ignore.
Need to know: The selection committee will say repeatedly that it doesn't look ahead. This Ole Miss team clearly looked capable of competing for a playoff spot this season -- but the committee could hold off on a higher ranking for the Rebels until they play some tougher competition. It has held some talented teams back before because of weaker schedules, particularly in the nonconference lineup with home field advantage.
9. Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0)
Why they could be here: The beginning of the Kalen DeBoer era couldn't have gone much better, as Bama scored its third-most points in a season-opener since joining the SEC in 1933. Because this was a lopsided home win against an unranked Group of 5 opponent in Western Kentucky, the selection committee might hesitate to put the Tide much higher but ...
Why they could be higher: While Ole Miss was manhandling Furman, Alabama at least faced an opponent from Conference USA. The Tide was the total package of dazzling skill players and a dominant defense. True freshman receiver Ryan Williams averaged 69.5 yards per receptions in the first half - with two touchdowns. Quarterback Jalen Milroe completed just 7 of 9 passes ... for 200 yards, with three touchdowns (he had five overall) and no interceptions.
Need to know: This win won't do anything for the Tide's résumé in the committee meeting room but winning at Wisconsin on Sept. 14 would. A nonconference road win against a Big Ten opponent would help Bama's case for an at-large bid if it doesn't win the SEC. One week after facing the Badgers, Alabama hosts Georgia. It's the only game on the schedule that ESPN Analytics doesn't give the Tide more than 50% chance to win.
10. Oregon Ducks (1-0)
Why they could be here: The selection committee doesn't care about preseason rankings. Their top 25 is based on what teams have done -- not what they are expected to do. And after one game against Idaho of the FCS, the Ducks haven't done much to deserve the top-five ranking with which they entered the season in the Associated Press preseason poll. This was hardly a convincing win, as the Ducks held a precarious 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter. The pedestrian performance came on a day when other teams such as Alabama and Ole Miss were running up the score on similar competition. Oregon entered the game beating FCS opponents by an average of 43.6 points. This was Oregon's closest margin of victory against an FCS opponent in the past 20 seasons.
Why they could be higher: It's hard to make a case for the Ducks. Idaho is now 1-10 against FBS opponents since moving back to FCS in 2018.
Need to know: Oregon next hosts Boise State, which could lead to an interesting discussion on Selection Day if both teams are competing for a spot in the playoff. The five highest-ranked conference champions are guaranteed spots in the playoff, which means at least one Group of 5 champion is in. That could be Boise State, if the Broncos win the Mountain West. The selection committee considers head-to-head results, which could be a factor in both the ranking and seeding for both teams.
11. Missouri Tigers (1-0)
Why they could be here: Mizzou picked up right where it left off last season -- looking like a team capable of earning a spot in a 12-team playoff. Plenty of SEC teams ran up the score against FCS teams in Week 1, but if there's any nitpicking to do, it's that Missouri was almost held scoreless in the second quarter against Murray State. Almost. There's clearly plenty of talent from last season's 11-win campaign, enough that coach Eli Drinkwitz was able to rest his starters in the third quarter.
Why they could be higher: The committee does like star power, and Mizzou has it in quarterback Brady Cook and receiver Luther Burden III. Even after losing several defensive players to the NFL draft and replacing their defensive coordinator, the Tigers pitched a shutout. It was a completely dominant performance on a day when Oregon's offense struggled to get going.
Need to know: ESPN Analytics projects Mizzou will win each of its remaining games except Oct. 26 at Alabama.
12. Utah Utes (1-0)
Why they could be here: The committee members start from scratch every season, but it's hard to forget seventh-year quarterback Cam Rising, who led the Utes to the 2023 Rose Bowl but missed all of last season with an injury. He's back, and he let everyone know it with five passing touchdowns against Southern Utah -- and then he left the game in the second quarter. The committee -- especially the former coaches in the group -- will have a lot of respect for veteran Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and how fundamentally sound his teams usually are. Saturday's win gave it no reason to think this season will be any different.
Why they could be higher: This is a team capable of contending for the Big 12 title in its first season in the conference, but the committee members don't project. If Utah is ranked any higher here, it would be because the committee members agree the Utes are more talented and disciplined than the teams above them.
Need to know: ESPN Analytics gives Utah less than a 50% chance to beat both Oklahoma State and UCF. If that comes to fruition and Utah is trying to earn an at-large bid as a two-loss team, Utah probably wouldn't have enough wins against ranked opponents to impress the committee. If Utah finished as a two-loss conference champion, though, it would likely finish as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions and earn a spot in the 12-team field.
Based on the rankings above, the top four seeds would be: No. 1 Georgia (SEC champ), No. 2 Ohio State (Big Ten champ), No. 3 Miami (ACC champ) and No. 4 Utah (Big 12 champ). Each would receive a bye. Eight remaining seeds would play on-campus first-round games. Those matchups would be: No. 12 TBD (the top Group of 5 conference champion) at No. 5 Texas; No. 11 Oregon at No. 6 Notre Dame; No. 10 Alabama at No. 7 USC; No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 Penn State.
Notre Dame, ranked No. 4 above, cannot be a top four seed because they cannot win a conference championship. Missouri, ranked No. 11 above, would not make this version of the playoff.