Offensive struggles, injuries leave Georgia postseason in doubt

As they have all season, the Bulldogs’ offense had to battle through injuries and a slow start in the SEC championship.

n Georgia’s final regular season outing against Georgia Tech, Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey and Tate Ratledge were all sidelined. Taking on the Crimson Tide, Georgia had to do so with all three players not at full health, and receiver Rara Thomas missing another game.

McConkey was visibly not at full strength, as the redshirt junior limped off the field several times between plays. To make matters worse, offensive lineman Amarius Mims suffered a knock to the ankle he had tightrope surgery on in September, head coach Kirby Smart said.

“It’s tough guys when Brock Bowers doesn’t practice for 15 days, Ladd hasn’t practiced for 15 days and they try to go out in the game,” Smart said. “Timing and rhythm is critical.”

With a banged-up offense, Georgia struggled to compare to the success of Alabama’s rushing attack. All seemed well after Kendall Milton carried for a 17-yard touchdown, but the Bulldogs couldn’t score another touchdown until 10 minutes remained in the game.

“We didn’t necessarily execute the way we were supposed to, to be cut and plain,” center Sedrick Van Pran said.

The Bulldogs struggled to convert third downs throughout the game. They went 4-for-12 on those attempts, which cut a majority of their drives short. When the offense did push the ball into Alabama territory after a 51-yard reception from Arian Smith, two incomplete looks to Bowers forced Peyton Woodring out on the field.

In the next chance that Georgia got, quarterback Carson Beck fumbled the ball and Alabama recovered it at the Georgia 11-yard line.

It’s been a gruesome season, these big guys out, fighting to get back,” Beck said. “Just like coach Smart said earlier, like I mean, Ladd, Brock, who I mean — guys that are going to play football for a long time, haven’t really practiced at all for the last 15 days, two weeks.”

Outside of Smith’s reception, Bowers and McConkey weren’t able to produce much. Bowers finished with five receptions for 53 yards while McConkey had three receptions for 38 yards.

The Crimson Tide held the Bulldogs to 78 total rushing yards, their lowest total of the season.

“Any given Saturday, like this, is just top of the line college football,” Milton said. “You can’t have them all. It’s been a great little streak, you know, it’s been a while, but you can’t win them all at the end of the day.”

With the loss, Georgia’s program and SEC record of 29 consecutive wins has been snapped. The streak began after the Bulldogs beat Michigan 34-11 in the 2021 Orange Bowl after a loss to Alabama in the 2021 SEC Championship.

The Bulldogs move to 0-4 in the SEC championship against Alabama, and 2-4 in the SEC championship under head coach Kirby Smart. With the loss, Georgia is now at the mercy of the results of other championship games.

“[Executive director of the College Football Playoff] Bill Hancock said it’s not the most deserving, he said simply, ‘It’s the best four teams,’” Smart said. “So you’re gonna tell me somebody sitting in that committee room and doesn’t think that Georgia team is not one of the best four teams, I don’t know if they’re in the right profession, because it’s a really good football team.”

Waiting on the results of Florida State against Louisville and Michigan against Iowa, Georgia’s road to the playoffs is no longer a set path. As the Bulldogs’ fate is out of their hands, all they can do is wait and see what the College Football Playoff committee decides on Sunday.