Georgia football slips in polls but remains among national powerhouses
ATLANTA — Georgia football didn’t get the SEC Championship Game win it was aiming for this season, but the Bulldogs clearly earned some respect.
Georgia finished No. 5 in the final AP Top 25 and Coaches’ regular-season polls. UGA is the highest-ranked two-loss team on the heels of a 37-10 loss to No. 1-ranked LSU on Saturday.
It was Georgia’s third straight trip to the SEC Championship Game. UGA soldiered through an injury filled season to score marquee wins over Top 15 teams Notre Dame, Auburn and Florida.
The Bulldogs are expected to receive a Sugar Bowl bid. The New Year’s Six Bowl played annually in New Orleans features the top ranked teams from the SEC and Big 12 that aren’t a part of the College Football Playoff.
Baylor (11-2) is the top-ranked team from the Big 12, No. 8 in both the AP Top 25 and the Coaches’ Poll.
The SEC has five of the top 10 ranked teams in the AP Top 25, with LSU No. 1, Georgia No. 5, Florida No. 7 and Alabama and Auburn tied at No. 9.
AP Poll Top 25 Week 16 rankings
| Ranking | Team | Record |
| 1 | LSU | 13-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 13-0 |
| 3 | Clemson | 13-0 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 12-1 |
| 5 | Georgia | 11-2 |
| 6 | Florida | 10-2 |
| 7 | Oregon | 11-2 |
| 8 | Baylor | 11-2 |
| Tie-9 | Alabama | 10-2 |
| Tie-9. | Auburn | 9-3 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 10-3 |
| 12 | Utah | 11-2 |
| 13 | Penn State | 10-2 |
| 14 | Notre Dame | 10-2 |
| 15 | Memphis | 12-1 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 10-2 |
| 17 | Michigan | 9-3 |
| 18 | Boise State | 12-1 |
| 19 | Iowa | 9-3 |
| 20 | App State | 11-1 |
| 21 | Navy | 9-2 |
| 22 | USC | 8-4 |
| 23 | Cincinnati | 10-3 |
| 24 | Air Force | 10-2 |
| 25 | Oklahoma State | 8-4 |
Coaches Poll Top 25 Week 16 rankings
| Ranking | Team | Record |
| 1 | LSU | 13-0 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 13-0 |
| 3 | Clemson | 13-0 |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 12-1 |
| 5 | Georgia | 11-2 |
| 6 | Oregon | 11-2 |
| 7 | Florida | 10-2 |
| 8 | Baylor | 11-2 |
| 9 | Alabama | 10-2 |
| 10 | Utah | 11-2 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 10-3 |
| 12 | Penn State | 10-2 |
| 13 | Auburn | 9-3 |
| 14 | Notre Dame | 10-2 |
| 15 | Memphis | 12-1 |
| 16 | Minnesota | 10-2 |
| 17 | Michigan | 9-3 |
| 18 | Boise State | 12-1 |
| 19 | Iowa | 9-3 |
| 20 | App State | 12-1 |
| 21 | Navy | 9-2 |
| 22 | Cincinnati | 10-3 |
| 23 | USC | 8-4 |
| 24 | Air Force | 10-2 |
| 25 | Virginia | 9-4 |
