“[Notre Dame] played exactly like we expected them to play: Physical, tough, don’t beat yourself. And they did that,” was Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart’s opening statement after his team’s 23-10 blowout loss on Thursday. Eliminated from the College Football Playoffs, now would be the time for the team to rethink, regroup and reunite. However, what’s happening instead is a “mass exodus”—reportedly intensified by the recent loss—leaving the program in shambles…

But before we get to that, the irony is while the Bulldogs are preparing to firefight a looming transfer portal disaster, it was nearly half a dozen freshly transferred players (ahead of the 2024 season) who helped the Fighting Irish make it to the playoff semi-final. Duke transfer QB Riley Leonard stole the show, throwing for 90 yards with one touchdown on 15-for-24 passing, and a team-high 80-yards rushing—the fourth highest by a quarterback in a CFP game, as per ESPN. His Duke teammate and defensive end RJ Oben strip sacked Georgia QB Gunner Stockton late in the first half, helping Leonard to throw a 13-yard TD pass to WR Beaux Collins in the very next play.

And then there was kick returner Jayden Harrison, a Marshall University transfer, who took it even further when he returned the second-half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. It was reportedly the second longest kickoff return in Sugar Bowl history, and the longest in the postseason in team history (after Florida’s Andre Debose’s 100-yard return in their 2013, 33-23 loss to Louisville). All of this despite Georgia outgaining Notre Dame 296 to 244, not allowing the latter to score an offensive touchdown. No wonder Bulldogs guard Tate Ratledge was heartbroken.

“It just hurts. This team’s got one goal, and that was to win a national championship,” he said. But, national championship dreams aside, there’s something else the team definitely needs to worry about: The winter transfer portal. And former Georgia defensive end-turned-analyst David Pollack is definitely not mincing his words on the grim situation…

In a YouTube video uploaded by the veteran on January 2, he sat down to dissect the game. At one point, he predicted, “But I think there will be several changes to the Georgia staff…that’s already been talked about…I think spinning it for Georgia, too, I think you’re going to have 25+ portal additions. I think people are going to jump in the portal because that’s the world we live in.” 

However, Pollack’s co-host doesn’t see the situation as alarming at all. “I think the portal, if you’re looking from Georgia’s perspective, might not necessarily be a bad thing in terms of just—and you play young guys—this might be the time where all these freshman receivers and all the freshman D line guys just come in and play,” he said.

However, Pollack soon revised the number and warned, “I would be shocked if you don’t get to 30. I think you’ll get to 35 in the portal. That’s the kind of action I think Georgia is gonna get. They’re gonna get a lot of players and guys obviously will leave and take off.”

Having said that, the “poaching” has already started, it seems. Nine players (with two off the roster) already entered the transfer portal ahead of the Sugar Bowl. On Sunday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that the team’s redshirt freshman QB Jaden Rashada did the same for the second consecutive season. He had transferred to Georgia from Arizona State in April last year. Rashada had committed to Miami in June 2022, before flipping his commitment to the Gators five months later. However, after his four-year, $13.85 million contract with the Gator Collective fell through, he left the team in January 2023.

And then there’s the Bulldogs’ WR/Returner Anthony Evans who, as per On3’s Hayes Fawcett, intended to enter the transfer portal. The player’s Transfer Portal status currently shows as “Entered” as per the On3 website. Evans recorded one TD and 123 yards on 13 receptions in his two-year career under Kirby Smart. As for the 2024 season, he’s garnered nine receptions and 88 yards.

However, there’s one player Smart won’t have to worry about as per Pollack: “I think Gunner [Stockton]…he’s absolutely not going anywhere. He’s the guy that I think has penciled in on the roster. But if I’m Georgia…they’ve got to address the quarterback spot before next year, the offensive line situation.” Now, as per Sports Illustrated, the team’s RB Nate Frazier, who’s responsible for team-high 634 rushing yards, will return next season. And so might All-SEC kicker Peyton Woodring, third-team punter Brett Thorson, and second-team center Jared Wilson.

Notably, Pollack’s comments come after he announced that the staff was expected to undergo a reshuffle, which could affect the jobs of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and offensive line coach Stacy Searels.

But what about the players on the field? Who is staying, and who could expect stiffer competition? While there has been no commitment by Athens as of now, you can already see some signs.

Kirby Smart’s conundrum: Which college football player to take in?

For starters, you can take the QB slot as filled. Gunner Stockton is the future, and you can see him start every game in the QB position. He went for 20 of 32 for 234 yards and one touchdown, and now you can expect him to improve these numbers. But he could have 2025 commit Ryan Montgomery on his tail for the spot. Not to mention the likes of Ryan Puglisi and Jaden Rashada. Talk about the problem of riches.

But what about their offense? They already have five-star wide receiver Talyn Taylor joining their ranks, who could light up the field. Zachariah Branch could be another name you should keep your eyes on. And he is not coming alone, as his brother, Zion, who plays at safety, joins him, who turned heads as he registered 214 snaps this season.

Georgia is also looking to bolster their defensive line, as you will see five-star defensive linemen Elijah Griffin and Isaiah Gibson lined up for them the next season. Maybe that’s the reason they are making more space, or maybe their failure to clinch the national title is fueling the enormous queue at the exit door.