The University of Georgia Bulldogs obliterated the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs from the opening bell and earned their second consecutive national title with a 65-7 victory.
In a college football championship game that featured two Heisman Trophy finalists, Georgia’s Stetson Bennett IV showed off his characteristic swagger. At the same time, Max Duggan will hang his Horned Frogs helmet for the last time after having one of the worst performances of his career.
WHAT TO KNOW
Bennett and the Bulldogs’ offense scored on each of their offensive opportunities in the first half, aided by three turnovers. The Horned Frogs never got going in the game and seemed content to have made the trip to Los Angeles by the third quarter.
Georgia used excellent film study to exploit the hyper-aggressive Horned Frogs’ defense, opening running lanes and freeing receivers with one-on-one opportunities.
Early in the game, Georgia employed misdirection offensive schemes to take advantage of the TCU defense and built a 38-7 halftime lead, shutting the door on TCU.
The game quickly devolved into a blowout, with the talent gap between TCU and Georgia becoming more than noticeable. The Bulldog defense recorded two interceptions on Duggan and recovered a fumble while shutting down Emari Demercado as the lead running back.
TCU leading running back Kendre Miller missed the game with a knee injury.
In the first quarter, TCU scored a lone touchdown on a run by Duggan to bring the score to 10-7 Georgia, but it would be the last time the Frogs got close.
Turnovers, ill-timed passes by a constantly pressured Duggan, and the need to quickly abandon any serious running game doomed the Frogs against what became a showcase of the nation’s best college football team from Athens, Georgia.
BY THE NUMBERS
TCU’s Duggan was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy this year and became a national hero for his performance during the losing effort against Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game.
He had no luck against the Georgia defense, going 14-of-22 for 152 yards and tossing two interceptions, both on misses to receivers. The Horned Frogs also lost a fumble early, giving the Bulldogs another offensive opportunity to extend the lead.
Bennett hung his hat and finished his Georgia career with a second National Championship, throwing four touchdowns on 18-of-25 passing for a staggering 304 yards before handing the reigns of the offense over to backup Carson Beck.
Bennett also added two touchdown runs in the game, including a shifty misdirection run to open the scoring in the game.
WHO SAID?
If you have ever wondered what it feels like to win a national championship, see what Stetson Bennett had to say after the game when asked what he was feeling:
“I don’t know, I’m trying, I don’t know, man, last ones, last, Champions of the whole damn world, man, I don’t know. I’m just trying to see everybody for the last time, you know, hug everybody, and trying not to cry.”
UP NEXT
Despite having 15 players drafted in last season’s NFL Draft, the Georgia Bulldogs will celebrate a second consecutive College Football Playoff Championship.
TCU was after its first national title since 1938 but fell well short of the objective in a crushing loss. Regardless, the 12-1 season, a massive win against Michigan, and simply the appearance on the biggest stage in college football will benefit recruiting in years to come.