In this version of David and Goliath, the giant broke David’s slingshot and stomped him to a pulp.
A dynasty was born for the Georgia Bulldogs, as the top-ranked team eviscerated No. 3 TCU 65-7 in the College Football Playoff National Championship. It’s Georgia’s second-straight title, making the Bulldogs only the third team since 1980 to repeat as national champions: Nebraska in 1994-1995 and Alabama in 2011-2012.
It’s also the largest score differential in national championship history, trumping the 36-point deficit that USC beat Oklahoma by in 2004.
Offensive Spotlight: Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett saved his best for last. The senior currently has a 93.7 grade on first review, which would be a career-high. The former walk-on completed 72% of his passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns, with two scores coming on the ground as well.
THE MAILMAN DELIVERS FOR GEORGIA ⚡️#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/aBDfL4l66r
— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2023
Bennett becomes the first quarterback to win multiple national championships as a starter since Alabama’s A.J. McCarron a decade ago.
Defensive Spotlight: Georgia interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter cemented his status as a top-five pick with a strong showing against the Horned Frogs. PFF’s No. 4 prospect in the 2023 Draft registered a couple of pressures on 20 pass-rushing snaps and finished with a game-high 76.6 grade on first review for defenders.
2023 NFL Draft Prospect Spotlight: Georgia cornerback Kelee Ringo was absolutely lockdown for the Bulldogs. PFF’s No. 14 prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft was tasked with following TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston, PFF’s top wide receiver in the draft.
Ringo only allowed one catch for five yards on the night, with only 0.20 yards allowed per coverage snap. This comes after Johnston exploded for 163 yards and a touchdown against second-ranked Michigan in the semifinal.
Offensive Line Spotlight: My biggest key for Georgia heading into this game was to dominate in the trenches and that’s exactly what the Bulldogs did. Georgia only allowed a pressure on 10.3% of its pass-blocking snaps and the Bulldogs had 112 rushing yards before contact. The interior of that offensive line especially dominated as guards Tate Ratledge, Xavier Truss and center Sedrick Van Pran didn’t allow any pressures on the night.
Box Score
Passing
TCU Horned Frogs | ||||||
Player | Comp/Att | Yds | YPA | TD | Int | Rtg |
Max Duggan | 14 / 22 | 152 | 6.9 | 0 | 2 | 46 |
Chandler Morris | 0 / 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 |
Georgia Bulldogs | ||||||
Player | Comp/Att | Yds | YPA | TD | Int | Rtg |
Stetson Bennett | 18 / 25 | 304 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 152 |
Carson Beck | 2 / 3 | 31 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 101 |
Rushing
TCU Horned Frogs | ||||
Player | Car | Yds | YPC | TD |
Derius Davis | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Emari Demercado | 14 | 59 | 4.2 | 0 |
Max Duggan | 10 | -38 | -4 | 1 |
Emani Bailey | 2 | 9 | 4.5 | 0 |
Chandler Morris | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Georgia Bulldogs | ||||
Player | Car | Yds | YPC | TD |
Stetson Bennett | 3 | 39 | 13 | 2 |
Kenny McIntosh | 8 | 50 | 6.2 | 0 |
Sevaughn Clark | 5 | 35 | 7 | 0 |
Daijun Edwards | 5 | 30 | 6 | 0 |
Ladd McConkey | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Kendall Milton | 10 | 33 | 3.3 | 1 |
Brock Bowers | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 0 |
Branson Robinson | 7 | 42 | 6 | 2 |
Receiving
TCU Horned Frogs | ||||
Player | Rec | Yds | YPR | TD |
Derius Davis | 5 | 101 | 20 | 0 |
Emari Demercado | 1 | -2 | -2 | 0 |
Taye Barber | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
Geor'Quarius Spivey | 1 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
Jared Wiley | 2 | 14 | 7 | 0 |
Blair Conwright | 1 | 15 | 15 | 0 |
Corey Wren | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Quentin Johnston | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Emani Bailey | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Georgia Bulldogs | ||||
Player | Rec | Yds | YPR | TD |
Kearis Jackson | 1 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
Kenny McIntosh | 1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
Daijun Edwards | 2 | 12 | 6 | 0 |
Ladd McConkey | 5 | 88 | 18 | 2 |
Arian Smith | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Darnell Washington | 1 | 28 | 28 | 0 |
Brock Bowers | 7 | 152 | 22 | 1 |
Adonai Mitchell | 1 | 22 | 22 | 1 |
Dillon Bell | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 |