Forgotten Team That Almost Were: A Series

Most fanbases have at least one, but likely a few more. A team that could have (should have, would have) gone the distance if not for an uncharacteristically poor game or freak injury that kept them from winning it all. We continue our series with the 2023 Georgia Bulldogs. Undoubtedly one of the best teams in the country, the Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaker in the SEC championship which kept them out of the College Football Playoff. In a year where multiple teams were worthy of the playoff, including an undefeated Florida State who was excluded, the Bulldogs were left on the outside looking in after losing their first game after winning 29 in a row.

Record: 13-1 (Orange Bowl win over FSU)

Notable Offensive Players:

• QB: Carson Beck

• RB: Daijun Edwards, Kendall Milton

• WR: Dominic Lovett, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint

• TE: Brock Bowers

• K: Peyton Woodring

Notable Defensive Players:

• LB: Smael Mondon, Jr., CJ Allen

• CB: Kamari Lassiter, Daylen Everette

• DE: Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams

• DT: Nazir Stackhouse, Warren Brinson

• S: Tykee Smith, Javon Bullard, Malakai Starks

I think it'll take a few years before people look back and talk about how good the 2023 Georgia Bulldogs were. Aside from Smells Fresh, of course, since we want to talk about it now. The Bulldogs were the villains of college football after winning back to back national championships in 2021 and 2022. They had dethroned Alabama two years before and were the top dogs (ha) of the sport. So it wasn't much of a surprise, and was somewhat expected, when they seemingly breezed through their schedule on the way to the SEC championship game. Redshirt Junior Carson Beck took over the offense from Stetson Bennett who left for the NFL. Beck displayed a balance between an effective game manager and also as an above average quarterback who was surrounded by an elite offensive line and skill players. Ever heard of Brock Bowers? He led the Bulldogs with 714 receiving yards as a Tight End. Beck finished the 2023 regular season with a 167.9 QBR (top 10 in the country), 3,941 passing yards (281.5 per game), 24 TDs and 6 INTs. The Bulldogs featured a strong running back duo in Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton who finished with 881 and 790 rushing yards, respectively.

The argument could be made that the Bulldogs didn't have a tough schedule, only playing one ranked team before November. However over a three week span (Nov 4-18), the Bulldogs beat three ranked teams (#12 Missouri, #9 Ole Miss, #18 Tennessee) by a combined score of 121-50. They then capped off the regular season by beating rival Georgia Tech. It was thought at the time that although a good unit, the defense wasn't as strong as its previous versions, and could hinder the Bulldogs chances of winning a third championship in a row. That being said, they played well enough to win the SEC championship but a costly Carson Beck fumble on the wrong side of the field gave Bama a short field and opportunity to capitalize. The Bulldogs defense gave up 192 passing yards as Jalen Milroe went 13 of 23, and just 114 rushing yards. The Bulldogs lost 27-24 in a heartbreaker.

It seems dramatic to say but that loss altered the course of history for a few programs. If Georgia beats Alabama, it's almost a certainty that the College Football Playoff would include four undefeated conference champions in Georgia, Michigan, Washington, and Florida State who were ranked in that order in the final ranking before conference championship weekend. Had the CFP Committee done their job after the loss, the playoff should have been 1) Michigan 2) Washington 3) Florida State 4) Texas. However, there was no world where ESPN and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey were going to have the sports biggest money maker (Alabama) left out of the playoff. Especially with rumors swirling that Nick Saban would retired after the year. Spoiler Alert: He did. Alabama had to be in, which meant that Texas (who beat Alabama earlier in the year) also had to be in.

It's more disgusting looking back, but ESPN and their talking heads went on a media campaign highlighting why the undefeated Florida State Seminoles should be left out of the playoff at the expense of Alabama. Despite winning the ACC Championship Game by double digits with a 3rd string quarterback, and despite no undefeated conference champion ever being left out of the playoff. ESPN and the committee used Jordan Travis' fractured ankle as the talking point; claiming they weren't the same team without him. If Georgia beats Alabama that night under the lights of Mercedes Stadium, Florida State is never snubbed from the playoff. Do we think that had a direct correlation to the Seminoles only winning 7 games over the next two yearly? Yes.

Michigan would go onto win the 2023 National Championship despite being caught red handed in a sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport. Unfortunately outside of their head coach being suspended for three games, the sport more or less moved on. It was a disgusting display of ethics for the sport; leaving out a team who rallied around their injured leader, and turning a blind eye to a team who blatantly cheated by filming opponents sidelines to decipher plays.

All that being said, the Bulldogs were a top 4 team that year. Had the 12 team playoff started just a year earlier, they would have had a shot at redemption and perhaps won a 3rd championship in a row. But life is tough and we'll never know. The Bulldogs remain a top program in the sport led by arguably the sports best coach; Kirby Smart. In 2025 Carson Beck transferred to Miami and led the Miami Hurricanes to the National Championship game. The Bulldogs did beat Alabama this time around in the SEC Championship before losing to Ole Miss in the playoff quarterfinals. Kirby will have his team ready for 2026 as he always does, but he must toss and turn some nights thinking about his 2023 squad, and what could have happened had they squeaked out a win that night in Atlanta.