The Red & Black | Peach Bowl Edition, January 5, 2023

JESSICA

Dogs vs. Frogs

Previewing Georgia-TCU in the national championship

We’ve got to keep the resiliency and composure along with us.”

Georgia and TCU are set to face off in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs will be looking to repeat as national champions, while the Horned Frogs are looking to earn their third claimed title and second officially recognized by the NCAA.

The Bulldogs enter the title game fresh off a 42-41 victory over Ohio State that came down to the wire. Georgia came back from a 38-24 deficit behind a stellar fourthquarter performance from quarterback Stetson Bennett, and a missed field goal by Buckeyes’ kicker Noah Ruggles that ended the game.

After the game, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said the Bulldogs would need to play better in order to win the national championship.

“We didn’t play our best football game. A lot of that had to do with Ohio State,” Smart said. “I have a lot of respect for them and a lot of these players that are on this podium with me and the guys in the locker room. If we want any chance at winning a national championship, we have to play a lot better football than we played tonight.

Throughout the regular season, Georgia’s defense was excellent, allowing just 11.3 points per game.

The unit has not been so pristine in the postseason, allowing 30 points to LSU in the SEC championship game and 41 to Ohio State in the Peach Bowl. The Tigers and Buckeyes both put up over 450 yards of total offense.

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said Georgia’s response in the fourth quarter of the Peach Bowl impressed him.

“Georgia is not accustomed to giving up that many points, but you got to see what Georgia is all about in the fourth quarter of that game,” Dykes said. “And you got to see what kind of team they have because they responded and did exactly what you would expect them to do — found a way to win. You’ve got to give Kirby and their players a ton of credit for doing that. At the end of the day, that’s what this whole thing is about.”

The Horned Frogs defeated the Michigan Wolverines 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve, with two defensive touchdowns and several long offensive plays defining the win.

TCU has the offensive firepower to test the Bulldog secondary, led by quarterback

Max Duggan. Duggan finished second in the Heisman trophy race this season off the strength of 4,007 total yards and 40 touchdowns.

Wideout Quentin Johnston, Duggan’s top target, has caught 59 passes this season for 1,066 yards and six touchdowns. Johnston posted six receptions for 163 yards against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.

Georgia cornerbacks Kelee Ringo and Kamari Lassiter will need to perform at a higher level against TCU’s formidable passing attack to limit its offensive output.

“Their size on the outside stands out a lot,” said Georgia defensive back Javon Bullard. “We know they’ve got some very large receivers, big catch radiuses and they can run. Anytime you have that size on the perimeter, whether it’s quick game or deep balls, it’s always a great matchup.”

TCU running back Kendre Miller, who has rushed for 1,399 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, is questionable for the national championship according to Dykes.

“I would say he’s probably questionable, would be the way I would present it,” Dykes said. “We’ll see how he progresses through the week, see how he feels, and we’ll try to make a determination as we get closer to game time whether we think he’s going to be ready to play or not.”

Without Miller in the lineup, TCU would likely lean on Emari Demercado to lead the rushing attack. Demercado rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown last week.

The Horned Frogs have had an impressive turnaround this season. After finishing 5-7 in 2021, Dykes has led the team to a 13-1 record in his inaugural season at the helm.

The only loss for TCU this season came in the Big 12 championship game against Kansas State, 31-28.

“Tremendous team. Tremendous program,” Smart said. “[Dykes] has won wherever he’s been. He’s done a great job. Their kids believe. They have, I feel like just reading and listening about them, a lot of similarities to our kids in terms of the culture created there, the way they play, the way they believe.”

TCU entered the week as a heavy underdog, but that’s nothing new for the Horned Frogs. Michigan was favored by eight points heading into the Fiesta Bowl.

“I’m not surprised with it given that we were picked to be seventh in the Big 12 and end up coming out on top,” Johnston said. “Obviously being the underdog is something we’re not unfamiliar with. So going to try to just keep moving like we did the rest of the season. And keep our heads to the ground and keep playing football.”

Stuart Steele

TCU coach Sonny Dykes lifts the Fiesta Bowl trophy on Dec. 31, 2022.

COURTESY/TRISTEN SMITH Georgia coach Kirby Smart with the Peach Bowl trophy on Jan. 1, 2023. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Georgia prevails in Peach Bowl Bulldogs narrowly avoid New Year’s nightmare

James

As midnight drew closer inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium on New Year’s Eve, the fate of the 2022 college football season hung in the balance.

The Ohio State offense was driving once more. Up until that point in the game, Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud and his teammates had given the Georgia defense fits. Not for the first time, Stroud evaded pressure in the backfield, scrambling forward for a gain of 27 yards.

With just seconds remaining in regulation, the Buckeyes got within scoring distance, but this time, they had a chance to secure the win. Their hopes rested on kicker Noah Ruggles, who had already hit both of his previous field goal attempts in the outing, and was a perfect five-for-five on extra points.

Things were looking bleak for the Bulldogs, the defending national champions who entered the night with a perfect 13-0 record. Ruggles lined up for the game-winning kick, and a stadium of fans held its breath.

The kick went wide, the clock struck midnight and Georgia clinched its ticket back to the national championship — beginning 2023 in a similar fashion to 2022.

Georgia’s win, though, came down to more than just a missed kick. The Bulldogs bounced back from multiple double-digit deficits against Ohio State, and with the season on the line, quarterback Stetson Bennett and his teammates made play after play to keep the game within reach.

When Ohio State rushed out to a 21-7 lead in the second quarter, Georgia answered with a 17-0 scoring run. When Ohio State pulled ahead to a 38-24 lead in the third quarter, Georgia answered with an 11-point run in the fourth quarter. When Georgia received the ball with just two minutes left in the game, needing a touchdown to remain in the championship hunt, the team didn’t panic.

“Where else would you rather be?” Bennett said. “Having the ball with two minutes left, and if you score a touchdown, you win the game. I looked around, and there was just a whole bunch of just determined, strong stares from all the dudes. It gave me confidence, and everybody else had confidence when we went down the field.”

Georgia scored, and Ohio State couldn’t

answer, despite the Buckeyes’ best efforts. And though the win was sweet, it definitely wasn’t flawless. Over the past two games, the Bulldogs’ defense has surrendered nearly 1,000 yards of offense.

Louisiana State University and Ohio State were consistently able to move the ball against Georgia, picking apart the secondary with ease. In just two games, four different receivers recorded over 100 receiving yards against Georgia. For comparison, in the entire season before that, only three receivers had hit that total on the Bulldogs. The defense was the team’s strength during the regular season, but that hasn’t been the case since.

Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson had a crucial sack against Ohio State, forcing a field goal instead of a potential touchdown. Being a new leader on defense, Du -

mas-Johnson knows the team hasn’t played its best in recent weeks.

“We try to come out here every day and prove our defense is reliable,” Dumas-Johnson said. “We just have to keep chopping and try to keep getting better. They had a boatload of receivers with a ton of yards today, and we must do a better job of covering them and as a pass rush, getting to the quarterback.”

The porous defense wasn’t an issue against LSU — Georgia scored 50 points in the SEC championship game. The same can’t be said for the Ohio State matchup, as Georgia’s offense failed to score a single point in the entire third quarter.

Bennett was indecisive at times, and Georgia’s offensive line allowed as many sacks as it has all year. Offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran is an important piece of

that unit, and expressed confidence in his team, even with the inconsistent outing.

“Football happens and people make plays,” Van Pran said. “I’m proud of our guys for all they did. We’re extremely blessed to be in this position, but ultimately, we don’t feel like we’re done yet. We feel like we played sloppy today, and we want to go out and fix that.”

The Buckeyes came out swinging, and had Georgia on the ropes for most of the game. From a 76-yard touchdown by wide receiver Arian Smith to a controversial fourth-down conversion from tight end Brock Bowers, Georgia needed every single play to win the Peach Bowl.

Challenging as it may have been, the Bulldogs stepped up when it mattered most, leading them to the national championship for the second year in a row.

John

Arian Smith runs toward the end zone on his 76-yard touchdown in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 2022. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Professional Staff

TCU time capsule

Georgia’s first bowl game under Kirby Smart

In 2016, Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart finished 8-5 in his first season as the Bulldogs’ head coach. Despite the upand-down season, they had major victories over multiple ranked opponents. They took down No. 22 North Carolina in their season opener and also defeated Auburn, when the Tigers were ranked in the top ten of the Associated Press Poll.

Regardless of the success the team had, Georgia fell short in two uncharacteristic losses. The Bulldogs lost by one point to Vanderbilt and in-state rival Georgia Tech, Smart’s only loss to the Yellow Jackets since being hired as coach. The three other losses came against conference opponents, all ranked within the top 25.

The Bulldogs faced TCU in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where they knocked off the Horned Frogs 31-23.

Impressive offensive performances came from all of Georgia’s skill positions, with

Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both dominated the ground, with Chubb rushing for nearly 150 yards and Michel having over five yards per carry and two scores. Wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie also topped 100 yards, with one reception going for 77 yards.

Despite struggling to consistently stop the Horned Frogs’ offense in the first half, the defense played great the rest of the game, holding them to only seven points in the second half. Linebacker Roquan Smith led the team in tackles with 13.

The best defensive performance came from defensive tackle Trenton Thompson. Thompson accumulated three sacks and finished second on the team in tackles.

Georgia and TCU both opened the game with three-and-out drives, but a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Michel put the Bulldogs on the board first. After starting down seven, the Horned Frogs began to find their groove, scoring 16 unanswered

points. A 33-yard touchdown catch from Michel with just over a minute remaining in the first half left Georgia down two heading into the locker room.

TCU got the ball first coming out of halftime, and Georgia defensive end Lorenzo Carter forced a fumble on the third play of their drive, giving the Bulldogs the ball near midfield. They drove down the field and scored as Eason connected with wide receiver Javon Wims on a play-action pass from inside the five.

The Horned Frogs answered back with a score of their own on the following drive, putting them up 23-21, but their offense was lackluster after that drive. The Bulldogs took the lead with a 30-yard kick from Rodrigo Blankenship and held onto it the rest of the way.

Since defeating TCU in 2016, Smart has been stellar in the postseason, earning a record of 6-2.

He’ll now look to lead Georgia against the Horned Frogs again in this year’s national championship game.

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Jared Smith

quarterback Jacob Eason finishing the day with two passing touchdowns.

Georgia running back Nick Chubb dives into the end zone against TCU in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30, 2016. FILE/STAFF

Final Chapter

Bennett seeks storybook ending to unconventional career

Stuart Steele

Stetson Bennett has faced a mountain of adversity through his journey in college football. After beginning his collegiate career at Georgia in 2017 as a walk-on, Bennett transferred to Jones College in 2018.

“I put my fate to the wind and said ‘take me where you may,’” Bennett said. “It was a boomerang effect. I was gone for six months and came back. I had no clue where I was going to end up, and I was OK with that. I loved Georgia, but I wanted to play football. So it didn’t really matter where that was at that point.”

Though Bennett saw limited action in 2019, it wasn’t until the 2020 season that he finally earned the opportunity to start for the Bulldogs. Still, by the end of the season and the start of 2021, JT Daniels seemed to have seized a firm grip on the starting job.

“All we did was try to bury [Bennett] for the couple of years he was here, and all he did was continue to fight and compete,” offensive coordinator Monken said. “He wanted to be a Georgia Bulldog, wanted to be the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs.”

After Daniels suffered an injury early in the 2021 season, Bennett managed to win the starting job behind a string of strong performances.

Bennett went on to start 13 games, and posted 2,862 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He played his best in the postseason, passing for a combined 537 yards and five touchdowns against Michigan and Alabama in the College Football Playoff, en route to

Not-so-secret weapon

Georgia’s first national championship in 41 years.

“I love this place,” Bennett said after the national championship win. “I love this team. I believe in myself. I think I’m the best quarterback. I just love everything about this place and I wanted to win a national championship here.”

Bennett chose to return for a sixth season of college football in 2022, and has had his best season yet. In 14 games, he has thrown for 3,823 yards and 23 touchdowns with seven interceptions, adding eight more touchdowns on the ground.

For his efforts, Bennett earned an invitation to the

Heisman trophy ceremony in New York City. Though he didn’t end up winning the coveted award, his fourth-place finish in the voting was the best by a Bulldog since Garrison Hearst finished third in 1992.

“I don’t know anybody could have written a script with what he’s done in terms of start to finish with trials, tribulations, ups and downs, highs and lows, throughout his career,” said Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said. “To have that be near the end of it is pretty special. It’s special for Georgia. It’s special for our program, our university, and it’s special for Stetson and his family because he earned it by the way he played on the field.”

Bennett’s place in Georgia football folklore was already cemented when he helped the Bulldogs end their national championship drought. In the face of doubts from his own coaching staff, Georgia fans and analysts across the country, he’s defied the odds time and time again. Bennett has a chance to win a second national title, a feat no signal caller in school history has accomplished.

“He stayed the course and stayed with us. I’m very grateful for that persistence and resiliency he showed and his belief in himself that he showed,” Smart said. “I don’t think any of those qualities had to do with myself or coach Monken or anybody else involved with him. They were traits in himself that he loved Georgia and he wanted to prove that he could play at Georgia, and he created his own story by doing that.”

Doubting Bennett seems unfounded at this point, as he has risen to every challenge presented to him in his time at Georgia. With one game left as a Bulldog, he will look to prove his doubters wrong once again.

Brock Bowers provides spark for Georgia offense

California-native Brock Bowers announced his intention to play college football for the University of Georgia in 2020. Now, the tight end will return to California to play in the 2023 College Football Playoff National Championship with the Bulldogs.

Before Bowers committed to Georgia, he spent months training. The COVID-19 pandemic made traditional football recruiting unavailable. So, Bowers recorded himself exercising, working out, running hills and more — all in the hope that he could one day call himself a Georgia Bulldog.

Little did he know that in just two short years, he would become an integral part of one college football’s best offenses.

“They told me, ‘If you can play and you can help the team, they’ll find a spot for you,’” Bowers said of his recruitment. “I took that and ran with it.”

During his freshman campaign with Georgia, Bowers set a program record for the most receiving touchdowns in a single season. In his second year with the team, Bowers is leading the Bulldogs in receiving once again. This year, though, there is

an

Bowers

Washington suffered a soft tissue bruise and light strain to his ankle in the first quarter of the Peach Bowl, though he hasn’t been ruled out of the national championship yet. If he can’t play, then TCU’s

defense will likely devote more attention to Bowers than usual.

Georgia’s offense has suffered its fair share of health concerns this year, with AD Mitchell’s high ankle sprain early this season being the most prominent of the bunch.

Bowers’ play was one reason the Bulldogs have been able to perform so well without Mitchell in the lineup, and if Washington is sidelined, then Bowers will be called upon once more. Georgia offensive coordinator Todd Monken knows the talent Bowers has, and is especially aware of his value to the Bulldog offense.

“He’s outstanding with the ball in his hands,” Monken said. “He’s got an elite catch radius, ability to compete to go get the football. And so, again, he’s meant a lot to us in terms of this year in terms of having AD out and his ability to make plays.”

Georgia’s offense is lauded for several reasons — the team boasts a veteran quarterback, a collection of explosive running backs and an arsenal of lightning-quick receivers. The Bulldogs’ most dangerous weapon, though, may very well be its sophomore tight end. In his homecoming on Monday, Bowers has a chance to prove just how dangerous he can be.

John James

added wrinkle to the offense — Darnell Washington, another tight end, is injured.

has played much of the season alongside Washington, who is fourth on the team in receiving yards. Washington and Bowers have worked in tandem on both the ground and in the air, and opposing teams

have been forced to account for the duo at all times.

Georgia tight end Brock Bowers lunges for the fourth-down conversion against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, 2022. SIDNEY CHANSAMONE/STAFF

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett celebrates after Georgia’s Peach Bowl win on Jan. 1, 2023. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Malaki Starks The freshman force in Georgia’s defense

John James

Bo Nix lined up on Oregon’s 47-yard line in the first quarter of the Bulldogs’ season opener against the Ducks. Georgia was leading 7-0, and the opposing quarterback knew that his team needed a score to keep the game close.

He dropped back to pass, launching a deep ball over the heads of Bulldog defenders with a shot that would have put Oregon deep in Georgia territory. It never made it there.

In the first game of his college career, freshman safety Malaki Starks surged to the ball, snatching the pass out of the air with a leaping interception that stifled Oregon’s momentum before it could even begin.

Starks didn’t stop there — he’s started in every game since the season opener, recording 67 tackles in the process, the second-most on the team. He’s also played more snaps than any other member of the Bulldog defense, a rare feat for a true freshman on one of college football’s best units.

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter is another prominent member of Georgia’s secondary. Lassiter has started every game this season, so he’s had a frontrow seat to witness Starks’ development.

“He just gets better every week,” Lassiter said. “He’s a young guy, but he’s very talented. He’s like a sponge. He wants to soak up everything that he can learn to become a better player.”

In his most recent outing, Starks added another four tackles to his resume, helping Georgia secure a tick-

et to the national championship for a second straight year. In the week leading up to the Peach Bowl, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud singled out Starks as an impact player on the Bulldogs’ defense.

“I watch the Georgia defense a lot,” Stroud said. “They fly around, play really good ball. Their safeties do a great job, 29 [Christopher Smith] and 24 [Malaki Starks]. Even though 24 is pretty young, he plays really hard and is good in coverage, blitzes really hard.”

Georgia’s season isn’t over yet, and the freshman standout still has a role to play in the Bulldogs’ season finale against TCU, the fifth-best scoring offense in the nation.

“Great young man and has had some really bright moments this fall,” Muschamp said. “He really has done a nice job. But I think as much as anything, you go back to being very coachable and understanding things he’s gotta improve on every day.”

If Starks can keep improving, and build on what has already been a very promising freshman campaign, then the future of Georgia’s defense is in good hands.

Peach Bowl Report Card

Patel

No. 1 Georgia defeated No. 4 Ohio State to improve to 14-0 on the season and advance to the national championship. Following the Peach Bowl, football beat reporter Parth Patel graded each position group’s performance.

Quarterback

B+Stetson Bennett saved his best for last, accounting for 190 yards and two passing touchdowns in the fourth-quarter comeback for Georgia. Bennett led the Bulldogs to become the first team in college football playoff history to win when trailing by 14 points heading into the fourth quarter. His 190 passing yards are also the highest total in the fourth quarter of a college football playoff game. Bennett finished the day completing 67% of his passes for 398 yards and four total touchdowns, but it didn’t come easy — Bennett and the Georgia offense had a stagnant third quarter which almost cost them the game.

Running backs

A- Georgia relied on its usual trio of Kenny McIntosh, Daijun Edwards and Kendall Milton in its rushing attack. The trio accounted for 154 rushing yards but only logged 16 carries due to Georgia trailing for most of the game. Milton was the only one of the three to reach the end zone, although McIntosh would have easily had a touchdown had he not stumbled on his 52-yard run in the first half. The trio had a nice day averaging 9.6 yards per carry, but were unable to dominate the second half like they’re used to because of the Bulldogs trailing for most of the second half.

Receivers

A+ With Ladd McConkey’s knee banged up, wide receivers Arian Smith and AD Mitchell really stepped up for Georgia. Both Smith and Mitchell had crucial touchdown receptions in the fourth-quarter comeback. Smith showed off his explosive playmaking ability, accounting for 129 yards on just three receptions, which included his 76-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, Bennett found Mitchell on a 10-yard touchdown reception with just 54 seconds left in the fourth, completing the remarkable comeback for the Bulldogs. Overall, the group demonstrated its versatility again with 10 players recording a reception.

Offensive line

A-The offensive line for Georgia was effective for a majority of the game, but it had its troubles in the third quarter. Bennett encountered some tipped passes and was faced with some consistent pressure leading Georgia to put up zero points on offense in the third period. The Bulldogs’ line did bounce back in the fourth quarter, protecting Bennett just enough to allow him to engineer the 18-point comeback. Overall, the Bulldogs posted 533 yards on offense and the line played well for the majority of the game, allowing just two sacks of Bennett.

Defensive line

C+ The defensive line was physically outperformed by Ohio State’s offensive line in this game. For a majority of the game, the Buckeyes were able to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud as he gracefully tore up the Bulldogs’ secondary. Ohio State put up 31 points combined in the second and third quarter, and a lot of that was in part to the time Stroud had in the pocket. However, on Ohio State’s last drive, the line stopped the run on second down and get pressure on Stroud on third down, forcing the Buckeyes to settle for a missed 50-yard field goal. Regardless, Ohio State’s front did an exceptional job against Georgia’s defensive line, especially against Jalen Carter who was held to just one tackle in this game.

Linebackers

C- Nolan Smith’s presence on the field was certainly missed in this game with the linebackers struggling to generate pressure or contain Stroud. Smael Mondon Jr. had a decent game with seven tackles and a sack, but Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Trezmen Marshall only accounted for three tackles combined in this game. The unit also failed to contain Stroud who burned the Bulldogs multiple times throughout the game, including his crucial run which placed Ohio State in field goal position on its last drive.

Secondary D

After getting shredded by Louisiana State University in the SEC championship game, Georgia’s secondary had another disappointing day. The unit had no answer for Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. The duo accounted for 218 yards and three touchdowns and routinely found themselves wide open against the Bulldogs’ secondary. Four different Ohio State players had catches of 25 yards or more against the Bulldogs’ secondary which simply had no answer for them. Both corners, Kelee Ringo and Kamari Lassiter, struggled to keep up with Ohio State’s explosive receivers as Georgia failed to establish any sort of pass rush for most of the evening. Overall, this was the worst outing of the year for the unit, in large part due to the talent Ohio State possesses at wide receiver.

Special teams

C+

The special teams for Georgia almost cost the team the game in its one-point margin of victory. Jack Podlesny finished the night converting two out of four field goals, but his misses could’ve proven costly for the Bulldogs had they failed to advance to the national championship game. Meanwhile, punter Brett Thorson had a relatively quiet day in this shootout, punting just twice for 89 yards combined. Ultimately, this game came down to special teams, which saw Ohio State’s kicker miss badly to the left punching the Bulldogs’ ticket to Los Angeles.

Georgia’s co-defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, who also works with the safeties, is aware of the talent that Starks has, but more than that, he sees potential for the first-year safety to enhance his game.

Parth

Malaki Starks prepares for the snap against Vanderbilt on Oct. 15, 2022. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Kenny McIntosh celebrates during the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2023. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF

Georgia’s biggest wins under Kirby Smart

Georgia

six best wins during his tenure.

1. 2022 national championship, No. 3 Georgia defeats No. 1 Alabama 33-18 Smart’s biggest win as Georgia head coach came against his former boss, Nick Saban, snapping the Bulldogs’ 41-year national title drought.

The Bulldogs were able to get the job done in large part thanks to their stellar defense and the play of quarterback Stetson Bennett. Bennett and the Georgia offense came alive in the fourth quarter to give Georgia the lead.

Defensive back Kelee Ringo iced the game for Georgia, intercepting Alabama’s quarterback Bryce Young and returning it 79 yards for a touchdown, cementing Georgia as national champions.

2. 2018 Rose Bowl, No. 3 Georgia defeats No. 2 Oklahoma 54-48 in double overtime In his second year as head coach, Smart and Georgia delivered a performance for the ages in one of the greatest college football playoff games of all time. With a trip to the national championship on the line, Georgia and Oklahoma kept trading blows back and forth, until running back Sony Michel walked it off for the Bulldogs with his game-winning 27-yard touchdown run in the second overtime period. Michel and fellow running back Nick Chubb had a historic performance, combining for 326 yards and five touchdowns as Georgia punched its ticket to the national championship for the first time under Kirby Smart.

3. 2022 Peach Bowl, No. 1 Georgia defeats No. 4 Ohio State 42-41 After securing their first national championship title in 41 years, Smart promised the Bulldogs would not be hunted in their quest to remain champs. However, they definitely looked like a team that was being hunted when Ohio State jumped out to a 38-24 lead entering the fourth quarter with a trip to the championship on the line. Instead, the Bulldogs did the hunting in the fourth quarter, with quarterback Stetson Bennett once again displaying his prowess in big time moments. Bennett engineered two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to give Georgia a 42-41 lead with just under a minute left. In the end, the Buckeyes missed a 50yard field goal, giving Georgia its best comeback victory in the Smart era.

4. 2021 Orange Bowl, No. 3 Georgia defeats No. 2 Michigan 34-11

After a disappointing loss in the SEC championship to Alabama, Georgia bounced back in an impressive way to secure its place in the national championship. Entering the game, there were many questions surrounding who Georgia should start at quarterback and how the defense would respond after its worst performance of the season against Alabama.

The Bulldogs answered both questions, with Bennett and the offense scoring on each of its first five possessions while the Georgia defense gave up just three points in that span, putting Georgia up 27-3 at half on the way to Smart’s second national championship as head coach.

5. 2017 SEC championship, No. 6 Georgia defeats No. 2 Auburn 28-7 In what ended up being a spectacular year for Smart and the Bulldogs, many were not expecting this outcome after Georgia lost 40-17 to Auburn in the regular season. Instead, Georgia got a shot at redemption in the SEC championship game. This was a remarkable defensive effort from Georgia as they limited Auburn to just 259 yards on offense and seven points en route to a blowout of the Tigers. True freshman Jake Fromm had an efficient day managing the offense as Smart earned his first SEC championship win and the Bulldogs’ first since 2005.

6. 2019 Sanford night game, No. 3 Georgia defeats No. 7 Notre Dame 23-17 In a top-15 matchup, Georgia and Smart earned a statement win at home against Notre Dame. Yet, the influence of this game on the Smart era goes well beyond what happened on the field. This game was the introduction of the fourth quarter red lights at Sanford Stadium and was an important game for Georgia from a recruiting perspective. In essentially the best recruiting pitch for Smart, Georgia was able to dominate Notre Dame at night and send a message to the rest of college football that the Bulldogs under Smart were a force to be reckoned with.

From the sports, photo and special publications teams of The Red & Black, this commemorative 100-page book chronicles the historic 2021 Georgia Bulldogs season and national title victory. Game recaps, player profiles, analysisand pages of stunning photography.

Parth Patel

is officially headed back to the national championship after defeating Ohio State in the college football playoff. As the Bulldogs look to become repeat champions under head coach Kirby Smart, here’s a look at Georgia’s

Quarterback Stetson Bennett leaps to throw a pass against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31, 2022.

SIDNEY CHANSAMONE/STAFF

A group of Georgia defenders tackles a Notre Dame player in their matchup on Sept. 21, 2019. COURTESY/GABRIELLA AUDI

Defensive lineman Jordan Davis holds the national championship trophy after the win over Alabama on Jan. 10, 2022. JESSICA GRATIGNY/STAFF