Georgia football coach Kirby Smart calmly handles two-QB discussion

ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has been asked about the Bulldogs quarterbacks throughout the offseason after opening the position up for completion.

Smart was asked again on Saturday following the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs’ 45-0 win over Austin Peay at Sanford Stadium.

“We learned last year, guys, that the quarterback situation can change with injury, so we want to be prepared,” said Smart, who started Jake Fromm and brought in freshman Justin Fields on the fourth series.

“That’s no different than last year with Jacob [Eason] and Jake. We had the same plan with Jake, if we had a comfortable lead that we felt comfortable with, that we could play and get experience for Justin [Fields].”

Smart answered the QB question calmly in his postgame press conference, likely aware the fans have an interest in his evaluation.

It stood in stark contrast to how Alabama coach Nick Saban snapped at former Georgia volleyball and basketball player Maria Taylor Saturday night.

Fromm was 12-of-16 passing for 157 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for Georgia, leaving little doubt he will maintain the starting role.

Fromm played the first three series, leading Georgia to a field goal and two touchdowns. He returned in the second quarter for the sixth series, leading another touchdown drive that gave the Bulldogs a 38-0 halftime lead.

Fields led Georgia to touchdowns on three of his four series before exiting the game in the third quarter.

Fields was 7-of-8 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown, also rushing three times for 33 yards.

Smart indicated that the quarterback situation would remain fluid and be determined on a game-by-game basis.

“We’ll continue to evaluate it that way,” Smart said. “I think you guys make a lot bigger deal of it than it is.

“I think we’ve got two good quarterbacks and both of them got better today and the way they get better is by playing. We’ll make those decisions based on every game.”

Georgia plays at South Carolina (1-0) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C.

Georgia football Game One coverage

• Bulldogs football post-game injury update

• Why James Cook will miss first half against South Carolina

• Demetris Robertson shows his stuff on first touch

• Kirby Smart says Georgia football ‘soft’ at times

• Georgia football report card from Chip Towers

• What Austin Peay said about the Georgia football game

• Georgia football freshmen report from Jeff Sentell

• Instant analysis from Georgia football 45-0 win

• Kirby Smart clears defensive back Deangelo Gibbs

• A look back at Justin Fields long-awaited debut Saturday

• Jake Fromm reviews his performance against Austin Peay

• 3 quick observations from Georgia victory over Austin Peay