I don't know what Kirby Smart said to his team in the locker room after Georgia's double-overtime loss to South Carolina on Saturday. Maybe he unleashed a rousing, blood-pumping speech for the ages. Maybe he shoved harsh reality down his players' throats. Maybe he mumbled a solemn sermon.
Or maybe…maybe Kirby Smart didn't say anything and instead wrote Dwight Schrute's quote on the whiteboard to sum up their playoff lives: "I know a great taxidermist. I'll pay to have her stuffed. Well, he's not great, but he's pretty good."
Like Sprinkles, Georgia's undefeated season is dead. Their margin for error is dead. And oftentimes during the ugly loss, their team identity — the one that's delivered a 24-5 record the last two seasons and came within seconds of a national championship two years ago — was dead.
Their playoff hopes, however, are alive and well. On paper.
On paper, they're still a one-loss Power Five team in the nation's strongest conference. On paper, they still have two enormous opportunities vs. Florida and Auburn and, if they win the SEC East, vs. the SEC West champion.
A 12-1 SEC champion is in the College Football Playoff. Comfortably.
There's no "if." It's not "a 12-1 Georgia is in the playoff if these teams lose," discussion. Those discussions can stay in the other Power Five conferences. If Georgia beats Auburn and Florida on their way to an 11-1 regular season and defeats Alabama, Auburn or LSU in the SEC Championship, they're in the playoff.
Before the South Carolina loss, their playoff chances were great. After the South Carolina loss, their playoff chances are still pretty good.
