Butterfly Effect: What if Justin Fields never transferred from Georgia to Ohio State?

What happens to Georgia and Jake Fromm?

If Fields stayed at Georgia, he would have likely begun the year as Fromm’s backup in Athens. Stetson Bennett IV wouldn’t have been on scholarship backing up Fromm. Though we would have seen more playing time out of Fields last year, it’s unlikely he would have usurped Fromm entirely on the Georgia quarterbacking depth chart.

Yes, it may have been more likely to happen last year, as Georgia changed offensive coordinators. Chaney went to Tennessee and James Coley was promoted from within. It may have been a better fit for Fields than in Chaney’s system. Georgia could have really used his legs last fall. However, the same depleted Georgia receiver corps that hurt Fromm would have hurt Fields, too.

So how would things have gone for Georgia record-wise had Fields stayed? Well, the Dawgs wouldn’t have lost to rival South Carolina at home in double overtime had Fields been there. He could have provided the necessary spark to help keep Georgia’s perfect season intact. Had Georgia been 12-0 (8-0) because of Fields’ South Carolina game heroics, this is where everything changes.

Because Georgia would have been undefeated heading into the SEC Championship Game, regardless of the outcome, Georgia and LSU would have made the College Football Playoff. The Dawgs still would have lost but would have been a likely No. 3 seed in the tournament, preventing an immediate rematch with No. 1 LSU in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the same venue.

This means Georgia would have faced No. 2 Clemson in the Playstation Fiesta Bowl. Georgia may have had a shot to beat Dabo Swinney‘s team in Glendale, but the Tigers would have found a way to prevail. Regardless, Georgia would not have been good enough to win a national title last year even with Fromm and Fields on the same roster because LSU and Clemson were that good.