Kirby Smart: Georgia passes 'the eye test' despite SEC loss - ESPN

ATLANTA — After No. 8 Alabama ended two-time defending national champion Georgia's 29-game winning streak 27-24 in Saturday's SEC championship game, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart had a strong message for the College Football Playoff selection committee.

Smart has no doubt his No. 1-ranked Bulldogs are one of the four best teams in college football.

«Look, Bill Hancock said, 'It's not the most deserving,'» Smart said. «He said, simply, 'It's the best four teams.' So you're going to tell me somebody's sitting in the committee room and doesn't think that that Georgia team is not one of the best four teams?

»I'm not sure they're in the right profession, because it's a really good football team, it's a really talented football team, it's a really balanced football team. They have to make that decision. But it's the best four teams, and that's critical."

Smart was referring to the CFP executive director's comments to reporters on Tuesday, when Hancock dismissed the idea that the selection committee's job is to pick the four most deserving teams, rather than the four best.

«I appreciate your asking that question,» Hancock said. «It is best. Most deserving is not anything in the committee's lexicon. They are to rank the best teams in order, and that's what they do. Just keep that word in mind: best teams.»

For Smart, there's no question the Bulldogs are among the four best squads. Georgia finished unbeaten in each of the past two regular seasons. It has won 45 of its past 47 games. This season, it defeated No. 9 Missouri 30-21 and No. 11 Ole Miss 52-17 at home and No. 21 Tennessee 38-10 on the road.

«I think it's the eye test,» Smart said. «When you look at what we've done this season, to go on the road and the teams we beat and