Georgia Dominates to Secure Back-to-Back Championships
Oh boy. The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs are back-to-back national champions after annihilating the No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs by a ridiculous score of 65-7.
This margin of victory is the largest in the National Championship Era, which began in 1998 with the implementation of the BCS. In fact, a 58-point deficit is the largest defeat of any bowl game ever and the second largest of any matchup between two AP top-five teams.
Georgia headed into the contest favored by 13 and actually hit the over, which was 63, all by themselves. TCU's first series indicated how the night would go as they false-started even before the first play from scrimmage and then promptly went three and out.
When Georgia got the ball, quarterback Stetson Bennett and company marched down the field. Bennett scored the first of his six total touchdowns, tying Joe Burrow's national championship record, on a read option play resulting in a 21-yard scamper.
On the Horned Frog's next drive, they were able to get a first down, but on a jet sweep to receiver Derius Davis, safety Christopher Smith stripped him, and the Bulldogs took over in TCU territory, which led to a field goal, putting them ahead 10-0 early.
TCU made up for their mistake on the next drive as quarterback Max Duggan connected with Davis on a 60-yard catch and run on a rare blown coverage from Georgia. The drive culminated in a two-yard rushing touchdown by Duggan on 3rd down, which was the high point of the night for the Horned Frogs.
Georgia then scored touchdowns on each of their next four possessions, and TCU's defense couldn't stop Brock Bowers, who finished the game with seven receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown. TCU struggled on both sides of the ball, allowing 38 points in the first half and committing three turnovers, two of which were uncharacteristic interceptions thrown by Duggan, who had only been picked off six times heading into the contest.
The Bulldogs won the toss, so they got the ball first in the second half and oddly punted for the first and only time in the entire game. They then forced TCU to punt and promptly put up two more touchdowns before Stetson Bennett came off the field for the final time in his collegiate career to deafening applause from the Georgia faithful, who made the trip to SoFi Stadium.
Bennett's story from freshman walk-on at Georgia to junior college standout to Heisman finalist and two-time national champion is one of the most chronicled over the last several years. With this win, the 25-year-old sixth-year senior, older than five NFL QBs heading to the playoffs, cemented his legacy as a college football legend.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Carson Beck came in for Bennett and led two more touchdown drives bringing the total points up to 65. Georgia completed their embarrassment of TCU and became the first team in the College Football Playoff Era to win back-to-back national championships and the first team since Alabama in 2010 and 2011 to repeat as champs.
The answer to the question "TCU, what happened?" is simple: Georgia was the much better team. One can point to being without RB Kendre Miller as a significant loss, but one offensive skill player will not close the 58-point gap.
TCU may have gotten the short end of the stick, but the Horned Frogs had a magical run. This season, TCU failed to win a major championship, falling to Kansas in the Big 12 title game. However, defeating Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl is arguably the biggest win in program history.
Although Max Duggan and projected first-rounder receiver Quentin Johnston will move on to the NFL, Sonny Dykes and TCU will be able to bounce back as they have a top-20 recruiting class and several high-profile transfers headed down to Fort Worth.
But the biggest question for next season is can anyone overthrow the two-time defending champion Georgia Bulldogs?
JC Colavita is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jrc6383@psu.edu
