The Georgia Bulldogs have a bumpy ride this season as they try to make it within the top 4 CFP playoff spots. Last year, they ranked at the number 1 position in the SEC division, beating out Alabama and LSU but couldn’t crack the top 4. This season, Kirby Smart and his team have a shot at redemption but will the hectic schedule cause a hurdle in their path to glory?

Kirby Smart, the HC for the Bulldogs, had a phenomenal record last season when the team ended with a 13-1 score. Despite having the most wins in the conference, their loss at the hands of Alabama cost them the SEC championship. Fortunately for Smart, Alabama is under new leadership this year as Nick Saban has bowed out of the race, which could mean better chances for the Bulldogs’ win. And yet, the team will spend a lot of time on the road, which could mean a tired roster, with opponents that just get meaner with every next game.

Kirby Smart speaks up on hectic travel schedule and players’ health

On the 16th July episode of the ESPN College Football show, Kirby Smart was invited on the show to talk about the CFP expansion, SEC Media Days, and the crucial schedule that the team has to go through. This year’s season will be especially tough for the Georgia Bulldogs since they will be on the road as they embark on a journey to take on their fiercest rivals in the SEC division, including the likes of Texas and Alabama.

While Coach Kirby does acknowledge the strenuous travel that the team will have to do, he believes that everyone in the team needs to stay healthy in order to keep their cool. He said, “We need to stay healthy. It’s going to be a gauntlet, it always is in the SEC but especially this year with the additions we have, and the road schedule, I’m not really sure how we ended up with Ole Miss, and Texas, and Alabama, Kentucky, all on the road. So it should be a gauntlet.” Thus, the captain is keeping strong for the crew of the ship as crucial and strong waves are set to shake the Bulldogs’ program to their core. With that being said, here’s Kirby Smart speaking on the newly expanded version of the College Football Playoffs that is set to be in practice this season.

The Bulldogs HC speaks up on the newest major change in CFP

Let’s take a look at the new format of College Football Playoff games that will be followed this season. This season, the College Football Playoff games will have a new format that increases the top 4 spots from four teams to 12 teams. As a result, the playoff contenders will be selected based on the rankings of the six highest-ranked conference champions. These teams will receive automatic bidding while the top four teams will receive a first-round bye directly to the quarterfinals. Then, the six highest teams will fill out the rest of the 12-team spots.

Smart was asked about how this changes the teams’ mentality going into this new format and according to him, it gives teams a better chance to make it to the playoffs. He said, “In the past, it was like one loss, and your whole season’s over, maybe two in some cases. That devastation can’t impact your entire season. You can’t let one loss cost you a chance at a playoff by letting the next week affect you, so it’s going to be critical to see how teams manage it.” Thus, the world of college football is set to welcome this great new change and could potentially see the underdogs come into the playoffs, which hasn’t happened in the past before.