If the 2024 season ended today, Georgia would not make the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs, ranked 12th in the CFP rankings, will be the first team eliminated due to the rule that includes five conference champions in the 12-team field.

But luckily for Georgia, the season didn’t end today. The Bulldogs still have time to get on the field over the next three weeks, starting with SEC play in Week 12.

On Saturday, there will be a showdown between No. 7 Tennessee and No. 12 Georgia that will have strong CFP implications. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back from last week’s loss against Ole Miss when they host the Vols at Sanford Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Earlier in the day on ESPN College Play Day It will be broadcast from Georgia’s campus in Athens. The popular college football kickoff show will air live on ESPN and ESPNU starting at 9 p.m.

It will be the first time College Play Day It has been held in Athens since November 11, 2023. This is the sixth consecutive season that the show has traveled to the Georgia campus at least once.

Before we reveal more about the Tennessee-Georgia matchup, here’s the entire Week 12 Top 25 list, along with predictions for each contest.

Week 12 Top 25 Program, Predictions

No. 2 Ohio State at Northwestern, noon ET, Big Ten Network

No. 3 Texas In Arkansas, noon ET, ABC

in Utah No. 17 Coloradonoon ET, Fox

No. 20 Clemson At Pittsburgh, noon ET, ESPN

at 25 Tulane Navynoon ET, ESPN2

at Mercer No. 10 Alabama2pm ET, ESPN+

No:4 Penn State at Purdue, 3:30 PM ET, CBS

in virginia No:8 Notre Dame3:30 PM ET, NBC

Boston College No. 14 SMU3:30 PM ET, ESPN

No. 19 Louisville at Stanford, 3:30 PM ET, ACC Network

22 LSU In Florida, 3:30 PM ET, ABC

23 in Missouri No. 21 South Carolina4:15 PM ET, SEC Network

No.13 Boise State San Jose State, 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

Arizona State No. 16 Kansas State7 p.m. ET, ESPN

#1 Oregon at Wisconsin, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC

7 in Tennessee No. 12 Georgia7:30 PM ET, ABC

State of New Mexico No. 15 Texas A&M7:45 PM ET, SEC Network

No.18 Washington State at New Mexico, 9:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

in kansas 6 BYU10:15 PM ET, ESPN

Tennessee-Georgia Preview

The stakes for Saturday’s matchup between the Vols and Bulldogs are high. Neither team can afford to lose in terms of the College Football Playoff picture, especially Georgia, which has already lost twice this season (away games against Alabama and Ole Miss).

If the Bulldogs lose on Saturday, their Playoff hopes could be over. If the one-loss Vols lose, their path to the CFP becomes even more difficult.

Georgia has dominated its series against Tennessee in recent years, winning the previous seven meetings between the two SEC programs. The Vols’ last win against the Bulldogs was a 34-31 road victory on October 1, 2016.

However, Tennessee is in better shape than in recent seasons. The Vols currently have one win over Alabama, and that came during a four-game active winning streak.

“What you do throughout the season earns you the right to play in big football games,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said recently. Paul Newberry Associated Press. “In these games you have to do the regular things consistently at a really high level. For us, that means you have to prepare at an elite level.”

Both teams have injury concerns heading into Saturday’s game.

Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is listed as questionable for play after being placed in concussion protocol earlier in the week. The Vols’ starting QB has thrown for 1,879 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

Meanwhile, Georgia will be without junior running back Trevor Etienne, the team’s leading rusher. RB Cash Jones is listed as questionable, while Branson Robinson will not be on the roster due to a knee injury. True freshman Nate Frazier can do the bulk of the work out of the backfield.

This should be a competitive game. But the Bulldogs are the favorites given they will be playing a must-win contest in front of their home fans, realizing how much is at stake.

The prediction here is for Georgia to find a way to win and keep their CFP hopes alive. Tennessee will show that it is in the conversation by keeping things interesting and close late in the game.