ATHENS — Kirby Smart has a problem on his hands at Ole Miss, facing a feisty Rebels team that has a chance to earn its way into the College Football Playoff.

The Rebels, unlike the No. 1 Texas team Georgia beat in Austin, 30-15, have a very good idea of ​​what to expect from the Bulldogs when the teams meet Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Oxford.

“Excited to have the opportunity to play at home, for the team, for the fans, to play the most dominant program in college football, it’s exciting to have them here,” said Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, whose team remembers 52-17. beating him took place last season in Athens.

“Throughout the week we’ve been working hard, the players are excited for the challenge, it’s not going to be easy,” Kiffin said. “They’ve won 51 straight games, including the playoffs, against every opponent except Alabama. You have to bounce back until the Covid (2020 season), from that loss (to Florida).”

Kiffin, of course, was on Alabama’s staff with Smart when the two worked simultaneously as coordinators under then-coach Nick Saban from the 2014 to 2016 seasons.

Smart’s problem, however, runs deeper than having an opposing coach who knows his system well and will prepare his team for the challenge Georgia will bring.

the wear of Georgia

Smart knows losing players is a part of every season, some years the impact is greater than others, although recently it has become more significant due to players leaving the program through the transfer window.

Having particularly heavy attrition at any position can be especially difficult, as it often results in the action of newer, more inexperienced players three or four spots down the depth chart.

Hot spots

The Georgia receiver and running back rooms are particularly stretched thin.

Mississippi State wide receiver Rara Thomas was dismissed from the team before the season due to a well-documented off-field issue, and Miami wide receiver Colbie Young was suspended on Oct. 9 following an incident in off the field involving a case. this is pending.

Anthony Evans, who was given a chance last week, was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

This, in a unit that was replacing three of its top four receivers who had moved on to the NFL.

The running back room looked like it would be a strength when Georgia acquired the Florida transfer through the portal.

But Roderick Robinson, a burgeoning 235-pound freshman, was sidelined for the entire season with a turf toe injury.

Branson Robinson had his comeback from last year’s knee injury derailed when he injured his other knee — the MCL, right knee — in the Oct. 12 game against Mississippi State.

Etienne left last Saturday’s game against Florida with a rib injury and was in soreness earlier this week, prompting Smart to suggest he could be limited if he plays against Ole Miss.

Georgia’s leading backs, with the three more experienced players, are Cash Jones and true freshman Nate Frazier.

Player ranking

Smart offered some insight into Georgia’s roster management — for which he is noted — when asked how Georgia might alter its playbook and/or scheme due to heavy attrition at the receiver and running back positions.

“We are what we are, part of your job as a coach is early in the year to figure out your best players,” Smart said. “We rank players in the spring, we rank our players in fall camp. We don’t do it by position — it’s not position specific.”

Smart indicated that Georgia builds its offensive and defensive baselines from their respective player rankings.

“If you have all these great backs, then you might have to go 10 personnel, if you have all these great backs, then you might have to go three-back sets,” Smart said. “You have to get your best football players on the field and figure out how to use them.

“We’re at the point with injuries and attrition and the people who are no longer here that we have to figure out what our best combination of players is on the pitch and use their skills. That’s what good offensive minds try to do is use football players, not just plays.

“So we’ve got receivers, we’ve got guys at end, we’ve got guys at (running back) that are still good players, they just might not have as much experience as the others.”

Ole Miss challenge

Smart talked about the “resilience” his team needs to maintain focus and poise through a challenging season of attrition, along with a schedule the College Football Playoff committee considers the toughest in the nation.

“This is the third or fourth big road game, as far as playing on the national stage,” Smart said. “Ole Miss is a great team, the more you watch them, the more you respect them.”

Smart noted the talent the Rebels have on both sides of the ball, with an elite quarterback and receiver group and a front seven made up of transfers.

“You look at offense and defense, both sides of the ball, they’re probably the best combination of those two things in our conference,” Smart said, “and they’re playing really good football right now.”

Smart agreed with Kiffin, who said earlier in the week that Ole Miss’ ability to improve its defensive front in the offseason put the Rebels in a better position to compete with Georgia.

“The biggest difference is their defense … they are arguably the best defense in the country in terms of sacks and tackles for loss in the SEC and it’s a product of their line of scrimmage ,” Smart said.

“They have upgraded across the board. Second year in the system with Pete (Golding, defensive coordinator). Last year was his first year and he didn’t have the personnel to play the way he wanted and had to do it with smoke and mirrors. Now, he’s got really good players, and the players are making better schemes.”

Indeed, to the point where Kiffin — known for his explosive offenses — is playing free football with his defense.

“They haven’t had to rely entirely on their offense with the defense they have,” Smart said. “Otherwise, they leaned on their defense and the defense kept them in games and almost won games for them.

“They could very easily be undefeated, so they did what they came out to do, for sure.”

Conclusion

Georgia was up to the task on the road, losing just one game, at Alabama.

That road experience helps, but as Smart pointed out, it takes certain things every time to be effective in a hostile environment where momentum can shift quickly.

“It’s relative to your ability to run the ball, it’s a direct correlation on the road in the SEC,” Smart said. “You protect your quarterback when you can find success in the running game and be physical at the line of scrimmage.

“Having played on the road a few times this year, it helps, but if you’re third, it’s not going to matter,” Smart said. “You have to win first and second down to be on schedule.”