College Football Rankings 2021: Projected AP Top 25 for Week 2
By Zach Bigalke
won 10-3 v. No. 3 Clemson (in Charlotte). Bulldogs . Georgia Bulldogs (1-0). 2. player. 814.
In the marquee matchup of Week 1, Georgia came out and won the neutral-site duel in a top-five showdown of College Football Playoff contenders. It was exactly the kind of defensive battle that Kirby Smart loves to coach, and it puts the Bulldogs on record as one of the teams to beat this season. Look for them to vault up from No. 5 in the AP Top 25 into one of the top three positions in the poll.
Clemson was running in quicksand all evening, as they were neutralized on the ground and rendered into a one-dimensional passing team. D.J. Uiagalelei was not up to the challenge, as the Bulldogs intercepted the new starter. Christopher Smith took that pick 74 yards to the house for the only touchdown of the game.
Georgia’s offense wasn’t quite as effective, as they struggled to crack the Tigers defense. JT Daniels had an even tougher day throwing the football than Uiagalelei, as he also threw an interception and finished with 43 fewer passing yards on three more completions. The backfield made the difference, as Zamir White churned out 74 rushing yards and the team outgained Clemson by 119 yards on the ground.
Next week the Bulldogs return home for their first showdown of the year between the hedges. UAB comes to Athens to present a decent Group of Five challenge before Smart’s crew open SEC play against South Carolina on September 18.