David Pollack Names College Football Powerhouse That's Not a Lock for the Playoff

"No, they're not a lock," Pollack said. "They're not a lock to make the playoff... There's a better chance they'll lose, at least; remember, they went to overtime with Tennessee. Think how bad Georgia fans would be feeling right now if they were 2-2. Their world would be collapsing. The sky would be falling... I think it's (more likely) 8-4 (than 10-2). I don't think the offense is elite, and I don't think defense is elite."

Georgia is ranked No. 12 with a 3-1 record for the season and remains in contention for a strong finish. However, their performance against Power Four opponents has been inconsistent. They lost 24-21 to the No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide but managed to defeat the No. 15 Tennessee Volunteers 44-41 in overtime, thanks to Tennessee's missed game-winning field goal as time expired.

Georgia still has three ranked teams remaining on its schedule. They will face the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels and the No. 7 Texas Longhorns at home, while the No. 17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets will be played on the road.

Georgia still has plenty of time to prove Pollack wrong, but the margin for error is slim. The Bulldogs have three ranked opponents that could decide the season. If the offense can settle in and the defense returns to its dominant form, a playoff run is still within reach.

But as Pollack pointed out, nothing about Georgia’s 2025 season has looked automatic. For a fan base used to competing for championships every year, the coming weeks will determine whether this season turns into another title chase or an unexpected step back.

Georgia will take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday at noon ET on ABC.