UGA currently measures themselves with playoff appearances and national championships.

We've won 2 out of the last 3. Last season was a failure at 12-1 because we didn't make the playoff.

If last season had a 12 team playoff, UGA would have been in. The game against Bama wouldn't have mattered. It only mattered last season because it kept them out of the playoff. It didn't matter in 2021 because UGA made the playoff anyway.

Going forward, individual matchups matter much less because they won't keep teams out of the playoff as often. It's about the overall record. UGA at 11-1 will be in the playoff. It won't matter who the 1 loss is to. UGA at 10-2 will make the playoff 99% of the time. Again, it won't matter who the 2 losses are to.

While UGA was measuring themselves with titles and playoff success the last couple of seasons, the 4 team playoff meant an individual loss (like to Bama in the SECCG) often DID impact what mattered... getting into the playoff.

Going forward it won't matter much at all. That's the new layout of college football.

The reality for UGA is playing Auburn and UF matter more than Bama does next year. Why? Those teams are rivals who we want to crush regardless. Bama is just a good SEC team we want to beat, just like LSU, Texas or OU will be when they're on the schedule.

Bama doesn't matter any more or less than any other good opponent.