It was a day that might have found a team looking backward at a thudding loss or ahead to consecutive Saturdays in Atlanta, so credit Georgia for mostly tending business. The Bulldogs beat Kentucky 42-13, meaning they’re not apt to slip n the next College Football Playoff rankings, which are immaterial since Georgia surely will qualify for the tournament if it wins at two stadiums off North Avenue.
Back to looking ahead (If that makes any sense): The Bulldogs finished regular-season SEC play at 7-1. They were 6-0 against SEC East brethren. Given the trajectory of this program, there’s every chance Georgia will win this division next year, and the next and the next. Because what East school looks capable of challenging Kirby Smart’s crew?
The six East entries besides Georgia were, as of early evening Saturday, 14-28 in SEC play. Of those 14 victories, 13 came against each other. (The exception: South Carolina over Arkansas.) Only the 5-3 Gamecocks broke .500 in SEC competition. And now for the fun numbers:
Aggregate score against the SEC East – Bulldogs 247, opponents 72. That’s a per-game average of 41.7 to 12. (Now note Saturday’s final.)
We’ve known for a decade that the East is a pale shadow of the West. We’ve known that the past three East winners – Missouri in 2014, Florida in 2015 and 2016 – were champs not so much because they won, but because everyone else lost. (For the record, Mizzou in 2013 was pretty good.) These Bulldogs are only the second SEC East representative since Florida in 2009 to figure in serious national-championship discussions, the other being Georgia in 2012.
Maybe it’s no coincidence that this break-upward season has dovetailed with nose-dives by Florida and Tennessee and sustained mediocrity from every other East team. Maybe it’s no coincidence that Georgia’s one loss was suffered in its only road test against the SEC West. What’s clear is that a program that was itself 4-4 in conference play last season is poised to throw a headlock on its division, which hasn’t happened for Georgia since Mark Richt’s Bulldogs won the East in 2002, 2003 and 2005. (And should have won in 2004.)
For the record, this marked the first time Georgia has swept its Eastern foes, which would be a bigger deal if those foes were any good. Still, Smart lauded the achievement. “It’s special,” he said. “It’s the first time it happened. It’s something they’ll be remembered for. Say what you want about the East, (but) they did it.”
The division title was settled two weeks ago, when Georgia beat South Carolina and Kentucky was undone by Ole Miss with five seconds remaining. The Bulldogs’ motivation Saturday was to steady themselves after Auburn and re-set a tone for the Atlanta segment of their season. They didn’t start well, Jake Fromm throwing an interception. (Bad read, bad throw.) The Wildcats managed a field goal, marking the first time Georgia had trailed this season in Sanford Stadium. It also would be the last.
The game changed, as so many Kentucky games do, on a Big Blue botch. (Hey, I’m allowed to say it. I’m an alum.) Having stopped Georgia a second time, the Wildcats had only to field a punt to give themselves a chance of taking a 10-0 lead. Instead they roughed punter Cameron Nizialek. The Bulldogs retook the ball and scored, Nick Chubb bursting over from 8 yards out. He would score again.
It was 21-6 at the half. Kentucky drew within eight points on its first drive of the third quarter. The rest was mostly Georgia seniors on parade, which was apt, it being Senior Day. Sony Michel scored. Chubb flashed down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. Michel scored again, his third touchdown of the day. Chubb and Michel rushed for a combined 238 yards and scored 30 points.
Not to get mawkish, but they deserved their shared moment. Georgia football changed the day Chubb and Michel announced they were sticking around for their senior seasons. Said Michel: “We wanted to come back to build the program. We had more to give.”
Smart on his seniors’ transition from Richt to him: “It’s not that they just had to buy into our new way, but they’ve been selling it to others.”
Smart on his two inherited backs: “Nick Chubb has rushed for three 1,000-yard seasons in the SEC, which is the toughest conference to run the ball in, and he did it alongside another back who’s maybe just as talented as he is.”
Most among us figured Georgia would rise from its desultory first season under Smart. These Bulldogs, Auburn aside, have gone positively ascendant. They’re 10-1 with Georgia Tech and Alabama/Auburn to go, and they have a chance to do something Georgia hasn’t done since Jan. 1, 1983, which is play for a national title. And this wouldn’t appear a one-shot deal.
Fromm is a freshman. Justin Fields will be a freshman next fall. The SEC East should serve as a serial launch pad. We’ve wondered when/if Georgia would get really good again. Well, here you go. And it shouldn’t change anytime soon.
About the Author