Buffalo Bills running back James Cook openly criticized the exclusion of his former team, the Georgia Bulldogs, from the College Football Playoff, placing partial blame on Nick Saban. Cook, familiar with playoff disappointments in Buffalo, expressed frustration over Georgia’s apparent path to a third consecutive playoff appearance being thwarted by a loss in the SEC Championship Game, dropping them from the top four seeds.
Cook asserted that a “conspiracy” kept the Bulldogs out of the playoffs, insisting they were poised to win the championship if given the chance. Despite a strong case for inclusion, including a No. 1 ranking and a single three-point loss, Cook believes the committee didn’t want to witness Georgia going back-to-back in championships.
Drawing parallels to his last year in college, Cook highlighted the Bulldogs’ previous success in overcoming a loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and eventually winning the championship. He suggested that the committee, anticipating Nick Saban’s retirement, aimed to include him in the playoffs before his unexpected decision to retire due to age and the demanding schedule.
While Saban’s Crimson Tide made it to the playoffs but suffered a loss to the Michigan Wolverines, Georgia made a powerful statement with a decisive 63-3 victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Cook argued that the Bulldogs could have matched or surpassed the eventual champion Wolverines in the playoffs.
Looking ahead to 2024, both the Buffalo Bills and the Georgia Bulldogs will regroup, aiming to surpass the lofty expectations set for the upcoming season.
