ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia players are still talking about how close they came to playing in Monday night's national championship game.

Sure, Tuesday's 45-31 Capital One Bowl win over Nebraska was nice, but it wasn't for the national title. The Bulldogs are still feeling the aftershocks from their 32-28 loss in the Southeastern Conference championship game to Alabama last month that ended with Georgia on the Crimson Tide's 5-yard line.

Coach Mark Richt says the Bulldogs wanted to prove to themselves in the bowl game that they are one of the nation's top teams.

Georgia (12-2) became only the third team in school history to reach 12 wins. Aaron Murray, who threw five TD passes against Nebraska, Jarvis Jones and other juniors must decide if they will enter the NFL draft.