B/R's College Football Weekly Awards: National Championship
LOS ANGELES — In nothing short of overwhelming fashion, the Georgia Bulldogs cruised to a record-setting 65-7 demolition of the TCU Horned Frogs to win the 2022 national championship.
Kirby Smart and the Dawgs are now standing atop the college football world for the second straight year.
Stetson Bennett accounted for six touchdowns in the emphatic victory, solidifying a once-hugely unanticipated spot as one of the greatest players in UGA history.
As is tradition, B/R's Weekly Awards is recapping the game through a unique lens. We're highlighting four standout players, along with two collectives as the celebrations continue in Athens.
Let's distribute that invisible hardware.
The Catalyst: Stetson Bennett
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Stetson Bennett is the truest of underdog stories.
By now, you're probably acutely aware of his path. But the rapid summary is that he initially went to Georgia as a preferred walk-on, transferred out, returned as a scholarship player, struggled in the starting role, watched UGA bring in multiple transfers to supplant him, beat them out anyway and propelled the Bulldogs to consecutive national titles.
Bennett wasn't simply along for the ride, either. In four career CFP games, he posted a 67.8 completion percentage with 1,239 yards and 12 touchdowns to one interception. He also scampered for three scores, including two Monday night in Los Angeles.
And the senior's final moment was easily his best.
Bennett threw for 304 yards, rushed for 39, totaled six touchdowns and helped Georgia set multiple scoring records for the BCS/CFP era. Most notably, the Dawgs registered the largest-ever winning margin in a bowl.
In the national championship.
No matter what happens as he departs for the NFL, Bennett has become an undeniable UGA legend.
The Game-Changer: Javon Bullard
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Javon Bullard needed a single half to earn Defensive MVP honors.
During the first quarter, he pounced on a fumble to help Georgia take a double-digit lead. The safety then snagged two interceptions in the second quarter, propelling the Dawgs from a commanding 24-7 advantage to an insurmountable 38-7 edge at halftime.
Bullard was a valuable piece of the defense all season, but he didn't command much attention next to touted NFL prospects like Jalen Carter and Kelee Ringo.
On the sport's biggest stage, though, Bullard delivered his historic three-takeaway performance.
"As a kid, you know, you always dream of moments like this," he told reporters. "And just to see those moments and accomplishments and things like that come true, it's just a surreal feeling. I'm extremely blessed to be in the position I am. I just thank God for it every day."
The Mismatch: Brock Bowers
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Whenever a program lands an especially athletic tight end, a common way to describe the prospect is "too fast for linebackers and too big for cornerbacks." However, that often doesn't materialize in college.
Brock Bowers, on the other hand, continues to prove it—in Marshawn Lynch's NSFW fashion—over and over and over.
And over and over again.
TCU simply had no answers for Georgia's two-time All-American. Bowers recorded team-high totals of seven receptions and 152 yards and snagged a contested catch for a touchdown. Along with 15 yards on two carries, he broke at least two tackles in the open field.
Bowers would probably be a first-round NFL draft selection were he pro-eligible. Because he's a second-year sophomore, however, college defenses have to deal with him for another season.
So, uh, good luck with that.
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Best Supporting Actor: Ladd McConkey
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How about a little love for Ladd McConkey?
During the SEC Championship Game win over LSU, he exited with a knee injury. McConkey played against Ohio State in the Peach Bowl but endured his worst showing of the season, losing a yard on two receptions.
But on Monday night, the wideout put together a tremendous performance. He caught a wide-open 37-yard touchdown, made a stellar leaping grab and added a 14-yard score. The redshirt sophomore finished the contest with five receptions for 88 yards and those two trips to the end zone.
Bowers has been the unquestioned star of the pass-catching corps for two seasons. McConkey, though, has become a great complement with the second-most receptions in both years.
With both players returning in 2023, Georgia's new QB, whomever it may be, will have two proven standouts to target.
The Overwhelming: UGA's Defense
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Georgia's offense outclassed TCU from its opening drive, scoring on six straight possessions to begin the game. TCU managed a first-quarter touchdown, but UGA's defense took control of the matchup from there.
In addition to Bullard's three takeaways, the Dawgs racked up a punishing nine tackles for loss and five sacks.
TCU's efficient offense could not create any space, trudging to season-low marks of 3.7 yards per snap and 188 total yards. Max Duggan took advantage of a blown coverage for a 60-yard pass to Derius Davis on the lone touchdown drive, but Georgia otherwise held the Heisman Trophy runner-up to a meager 92 yards on 21 throws.
Also of note, the Dawgs absolutely locked down TCU's star receiver Quentin Johnston. He mustered a single three-yard catch.
Georgia has showcased a top-25 defense for six straight years, including four as a top-10 unit. That level of consistency has allowed—and would continue to give—Georgia a stellar shot at returning to the College Football Playoff stage, no matter who's at quarterback.
The Dynasty: Georgia Bulldogs
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Alabama remains the gold standard of college football.
Nick Saban has authored the most extensive dynasty in the sport's history, winning six national championships in the last 14 seasons. Alabama has a 194-27 record with an absurd 8-0 mark in SEC Championship Game appearances during his illustrious tenure.
But the Dawgs—the reigning SEC and two-time defending national champs—are officially on the dynasty path.
Change is coming to college football. Oklahoma and Texas are slated to join the SEC in 2025 and might arrive earlier. Whenever that happens, the structure of the conference's schedule will be different. Georgia's road to a national title will be different, though CFP expansion to 12 teams may actually help the Bulldogs earn more shots at a championship.
They recruit and develop as well as any program in the country. During the 2022 offseason, Georgia lost a record 15 NFL draft picks and 13 players to transfer while adding no contributors in the portal. Still, this roster assembled a powerful, perfect 15-0 season anyway.
Smart has shaped a dynasty at Georgia. And the Dawgs, in all likelihood, aren't finished yet.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
