LOS ANGELES — Stetson Bennett accounted for six touchdowns as he led the Georgia Bulldogs to a second consecutive title, capping off an undefeated 15-0 season with a 65-7 win over TCU in the National Title game.
Here’s how it all went down at SoFi Stadium on Monday night!
Georgia won the toss and elected to defer. TCU would receive the ball to start the game, with things lining up at their 25-yard line after a touchback.
Their first play from scrimmage would be delayed due to an offensive false start, pushing them back five yards. Then, Max Duggan had Savion Williams breaking free down the right sideline, and he missed his throw by three yards. On 3rd down, Duggan would again miss, throwing it short to Derius Davis, forcing a punt.
Georgia would line up their first drive of the game would roll off from their own 43. Kenny McIntosh took the lead with an opening drive seven-yard carry. Then Stetson Bennett got in on the action, hitting tight end Brock Bowers up the middle for 21 yards. Four plays later, Bennett faked a handoff to his back, who went right. Bennett went left and took it 21 yards untouched into the endzone.
With the Dawgs leading 7-0, TCU went back to work, this time starting from their 33-yard line. A defensive holding penalty on 3rd and 14 would give the Horned Frogs a fist down. However, on the next play, Derius Davis was stripped by Georgia’s Christopher Smith, and Javon Bullard recovered the ball.
This made it 1st and 10 for UGA at the TCU 33. After picking up a quick first down, the drive would stall out. They settled for a 24-yard Jack Podlesny field goal to make it 10-0 with 6:51 left in the 1st.
TCU’s ensuing possession started from the 25, and things started clicking for them. On 2nd down, Duggan found a streaking Derius Davis for a 60-yard gainer down the left sideline. Three plays later, Duggan took it in from two yards out to get the Frogs on the board for the first time.
The excitement wouldn’t last long, though, for the Horned Frog faithful as Bennett and the Dawgs got back to work. On a 1st and ten from the TCU 37, Bennet would find Ladd McConkey wide open and connect for the touchdown. This made it 17-7 with 2:43 left in the 1st quarter.
After a TCU drive ended in a punt, the Dawgs got right back to it. Starting from their eight-yard line, Bennett led a methodical 92-yard scoring drive that was capped off with his second rushing touchdown of the game. With 8:30 left to play, the Dawgs had opened up a 24-7 lead over TCU.
The turnover bug looked to have bitten the Horned Frogs, as Duggan was picked off on a 3rd and three from the TCU 23. It was deep over the middle and intended for Quentin Johnston. However, it would be Javon Bullard snagging the pass for the Dawgs’ defense.
Bennett and the UGA offense took over with 6:34 left. They would then proceed to bleed the clock, tacking away yardage, getting into a 1st and goal at the one. With only 1:19 left on the 1st half clock, Kendall Milton would take it in for the one-yard score.
Trailing 31-7, the Frogs tried to press the issue before the half. That decision was rewarded with a Duggan interception on 3rd and 18 from their own 18-yard line. After getting setup at the TCU 22-yard line, it would take the Dawgs just two plays for Bennett to find the endzone again. This time connecting with. Adonai Mitchell for 22 yards and the score to make it 38-7 at the half.
In the second half, the Horned Frogs’ defense would get the stop they needed to force a quick punt. However, the offense wasn’t able to respond and had a three-and-out of their own, giving Georgia the ball right back.
Setup at their own 45, Bennett wasted no time, getting across midfield on 1st down with a 28-yard pass to Bowers. Three plays later, Bennett would again find Bowers, this time on a fade to the back left endzone for a 22-yard TD reception to make it 45-7 Dawgs.
Following another stalled TCU drive, the Bulldogs got back to work. They went heavy ground game to run some clock, taking it to the ground five times on the nine-play scoring drive. However, it would be a Bennett to McConkey 14-yard touchdown pass to make it 52-7.
This would be the last drive for Bennett as head coach Kirby Smart would give him a curtain call on the ensuing possession.
Bennett finished the day with 304 yards on 18 of 25 passing, tallied four touchdowns through the air, and added two on the ground. The six total touchdown tie JJoe Burrow for the most in CFP National Title History.
In Bennett’s stay was Carson Beck, who was able to get in on the celebration himself. After the curtain call, Beck would lead a nine-play, 54-yard scoring drive to put the Dawgs up 59-7. Branson Robinson would finish off the drive by punching it in from the one-yard line.
Following a TCU turnover on downs, the Dawgs would make one last meal of the Frogs’ defense. It came on the drive’s first play from the TCU 19-yard line, as Robinson added a second touchdown on the night for himself.
This made it 65-7 and would finally lead to a calling off of the Dawgs. Georgia finished the game with 589 yards of total offense compared to 188 from TCU. The Dawgs were 9-13 on 3rd down, compared to just 2-11 for the Horned Frogs. The Bulldogs had zero turnovers and TCU had three, which Georgia capitalized into 17 points.
Written by Adrian Beecher
