Top Dawg Take: Why The Peach Bowl is a Must Win

Once the news came out Sunday following championship weekend that Georgia would be facing off with Cincinnati in the Chic-fil-la Peach Bowl, much of the fanbase started making the claims that the game did not matter.

While many of the top players on the roster will forego the Peach Bowl as they start preparing for the NFL Draft, this game will be a substantial first step towards contending for a College Football Playoff spot.

While players like Richard LeCounte, Monty Rice, and Eric Stokes may not wear the red and black again, much of the players playing on the New Year’s Day game will be on the roster next season for Georgia.

As mentioned in previous articles, much of the opt-outs this season will be defensive playmakers. Azeez Ojulari is already expected to miss out on the trip to Atlanta as he prepares for the NFL. At the same time, Jermaine Johnson entered the portal this week. Both Johnson and Ojulari lead the team in sacks this season.

Current juniors like Jordan Davis and Devonte Wyatt, both defensive linemen, are mulling over their options this offseason and are expected to return to Athens for their senior seasons. Two huge playmakers upfront on the defensive line will be integral to Georgia’s defense’s success.

We saw the emergence of young stars like Jalen Carter, Adam Anderson, Quay Walker, and Christopher Smith all step up and gain more playing time on defense. While we saw a young receiving core take giant steps forward throughout the season.

The future is bright on both ends of the ball as JT Daniels will likely lead the offense at quarterback if he decides to return this offseason. Daniels was quick to connect with George Pickens and Jermaine Burton, two of Georgia’s young playmakers at the receiver position.

While a younger defense might be unsettling to a fanbase that has been familiar with a strong defensive unit, these are the types of games that Georgia needs to win if they want to compete for a National Championship.

Over the years, we’ve seen the increase in the importance of an explosive offense, an offense that can throw the ball and put up points. College Football is in a state of constant offense; if you need further proof, look at the most recent SEC Championship game.

The Peach Bowl is just the beginning of many tests for Georgia as they look to begin the 2021 campaign to bring a championship back to Athens.