By Cole Frederick/Sports Correspondent
Georgia submitted the most dominant championship game performance in the history of college football, as the Bulldogs pu-mmeled TCU, 65-7, last Monday (Jan. 10) in Los Angeles. Georgia captured its second straight national title, becoming the first team to win back-to-back championships since Alabama in 2011-2012.
Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 18 of 25 passes for 304 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Brock Bowers hauled in seven of those passes for 152 yards and a score. Ladd McConkey added five catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns, while both Bennett and Branson Robinson scored two times each on the ground.
The Bulldogs (15-0) jumped out to an early 10-0 lead before Heisman finalist Max Duggan led the Horned Frogs (13-2) on a quick scoring drive to close the gap to 10-7 in the first quarter. From that point on, it was all Georgia. TCU did not spend much time in Bulldog territory after the first quarter, and the Horned Frogs finished the game with 188 total yards. Meanwhile, Georgia totaled 589 yards and no turnovers while forcing three TCU turnovers.
Kirby Smart’s team became only the fourth team to finish a season 15-0, following Penn in 1897, Clemson in 2018 and LSU in 2019. The Bulldogs will likely start the 2023 season as the favorites to win the national title.
All-SEC Awards
Player of the Year
Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Coach of the Year
Kirby Smart, Georgia
Newcomer of the Year
Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss
Defensive Player of the Year
Will Anderson, Alabama
First Team Offense
Quarterback Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Running back: Quinshon Judkins, Ole Miss; Raheim Sanders, Arkansas
Receiver: Jalin Hyatt, Tennessee; Malik Nabers, LSU; Malik Heath, Ole Miss
Tight End: Brock Bowers, Georgia
Line: O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida; Warren McClendon, Georgia; Darnell Wright, Tennessee; Emil Ekiyor, Alabama; Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas
All-Purpose: Devon Ach-ane, Texas A&M
Kicker: Will Reichard, Alabama
First Team Defense
Line: Jalen Carter, Georgia; Derick Hall, Auburn; Byron Young, Tennessee; B.J. Ojulari, LSU
Linebacker: Will Anderson, Alabama; Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State; Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
Secondary: Jordan Battle, Alabama; Christopher Smith, Georgia; Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi State; Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alabama
Punter: Nik Constantinou, Texas A&M
Second Team Offense
Quarterback: Bryce Young, Alabama
Running back: Devon Achane, Texas A&M; Tank Bigsby, Auburn
Receiver: Jonathan Mingo, Ole Miss; Dominic Lo-vett, Missouri; Ladd McConkey, Georgia
Tight End: Darnell Washington, Georgia
Line: Nick Broeker, Ole Miss; Tyler Steen, Alabama; Javion Cohen, Alabama; Sedrick Van Pran, Georgia; Will Campbell, LSU
All-Purpose: Jahmyr Gibbs, Alabama
Kicker: Jack Podlesny, Georgia
Second Team Defense
Line: Mekhi Wingo, LSU; Tyrus Wheat, Mississippi State; Isaiah McGuire, Missouri; Nazir Stackhouse, Georgia
Linebacker: Drew Sanders, Arkansas; Harold Perkins, LSU; Bumper Pool, Arkansas
Secondary: Antonio Johnson, Texas A&M; Keidron Smith, Kentucky; Kelee Ringo, Georgia; Dwight McGlothern, Arkansas
Punter: Kai Kroeger, South Carolina