How the Georgia Bulldogs achieved a historic back-to-back national championship run
In short: Entering the 2022 season as defending champions, the Georgia Bulldogs faced the immense pressure of a repeat. What followed was a season of historic dominance, marked by a record-breaking NFL draft haul and a crushing victory that cemented their place in college football history.
Under the leadership of seventh-year head coach Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs navigated a perfect 12–0 regular season. Their path to glory included a 50–30 victory over the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship Game, marking their first conference title since 2017. This momentum carried them into the College Football Playoff, where they faced Ohio State in the Peach Bowl. The squad finished their regular campaign undefeated. They also secured the top spot in the SEC's Eastern Division.
The Peach Bowl provided one of the season's most dramatic moments. Georgia mounted the largest fourth-quarter comeback in College Football Playoff history to secure a 42–41 victory. Victory arrived once Ohio State failed to convert a 50-yard field goal attempt during the match's closing moments. The Buckeyes missed their potential game-winning attempt in the final seconds. This comeback remains a landmark event for the tournament.
The season culminated on January 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Facing Texas Christian University (TCU) for the CFP National Championship, Georgia delivered a 65–7 demolition. This 58-point margin of victory was the largest in bowl game history at that time. The Bulldogs' massive win occurred at SoFi Stadium. This performance set a new benchmark for bowl game margins.
This triumph made Georgia the first team to repeat as national champions since the 2012 Alabama Crimson Tide. They also became only the third team in the modern era to complete a 15–0 season, joining Clemson (2018) and LSU (2019). The program's talent was further evidenced by a record 15 players being selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, the highest number from a single school in the seven-round era since 1994. The team's depth was reflected in their draft success. This achievement set a new record for the seven-round era.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: 2022 Georgia Bulldogs football team
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