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Connecting the dots: 10 events that led Georgia to the national title game
By Adam Spencer
Published:
The Georgia Bulldogs went from 8-5 in 2016 to 13-1 in 2017 with a chance to play for the national championship on Monday night in Atlanta.
It has been an incredible leap forward in coach Kirby Smart’s second year at the helm of the program, as the Bulldogs have reached a point they never reached under former coach Mark Richt.
As with any major turnaround, there are decisions and events that can be pointed to as major reasons for a team’s success. Georgia is no exception, as the Bulldogs have several things that can be credited as reasons why they’re playing for the College Football Playoff title on Monday.
Here are the 10 biggest events that helped the Dawgs reach the heights they’ve reached in 2017:
1. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel came back
When looking back at the success Georgia has had this year, it all starts with the decisions RBs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel made to return for their senior years.
Those decisions solidified the Georgia running game, instantly ensuring the Dawgs would have one of nation’s top rushing attacks. As we all know, that’s exactly what happened.
Georgia finished with the country’s No. 8 overall rushing attack, behind four triple-option teams (No. 1 Army, No. 2 Navy, No. 4 Air Force and No. 5 Georgia Tech) and three other schools (No. 3 Arizona, No. 6 Florida Atlantic and No. 7 Notre Dame). When you can average 267.36 yards per game on the ground, you’re going to pick up a lot of wins, and that’s what the Bulldogs did.
2. Jake Fromm became a star
When sophomore QB Jacob Eason went down with a leg injury in Week 1, Fromm, a true freshman, stepped in and took over the starting job.
He never gave it back, leading the Bulldogs all the way to the National Championship Game and looking calm, cool and collected while doing it. Nothing fazes this kid, and his success is a huge reason the Dawgs are playing for it all.
3. Other key freshmen stepped up
Fromm gets a lot of headlines, as does RB D’Andre Swift, but it wasn’t just those two freshmen who gave Georgia a huge boost this year.
Andrew Thomas also stepped into the right tackle spot and immediately solidified the Georgia offensive line. There’s a lot of credit to go around for the Bulldogs’ dynamic rushing attack this year, but Thomas deserves as much of that credit as anyone.
4. Roquan Smith became a future first-round pick
Smith had a solid sophomore season in 2016, recording a team-leading 95 tackles (5 for a loss) and forcing two fumbles, but that was nothing compared to how he performed this year.
Smith has almost certainly played his way into the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft (should he decide to declare), recording 124 tackles (11.5 for a loss) and 5.5 sacks. He had some amazing plays in the SEC Championship Game and then again in the Rose Bowl, and will need to do it again on Monday night.
5. Javon Wims emerged as a top receiver
The Bulldogs had to replace WR Isaiah McKenzie in the offseason after the receiver who led the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns declared for the NFL Draft.
However, Wims, who only had 17 grabs for 190 yards and a touchdown last season, stepped up in a big way. He is the team’s leader in all three receiving categories and is Fromm’s favorite target, helping the Georgia passing attack stay relevant.
6. Kirby Smart took a big leap as a coach
Smart was good in his first year in 2016, but he was even better this year. Once he figured out how to be a head coach in the SEC, he quickly took the Bulldogs to heights not reached in the Mark Richt era.
Smart is very Nick Saban-esque in his approach, and that has been evident as the Bulldogs have cruised to an SEC title and a spot in the National Championship Game.
7. They took care of the ball more
Last year, the Bulldogs lost 10 fumbles and threw 9 interceptions. This year, they only had 7 lost fumbles and 7 picks.
Their turnover margin was actually worse (+8 in 2016 and +5 in 2017), but when you don’t put the ball in your opponents’ hands as often, good things will happen. The Dawgs proved that this year.
8. They gained confidence on the road
Last year, the Bulldogs road schedule wasn’t exactly filled with big-name foes, as they went 3-1 at Mizzou, Ole Miss (the only loss), South Carolina and Kentucky.
This year, though, Fromm made his first career start at Notre Dame — not an easy place for opponents to play. He led the team to a 20-19 victory, and the Bulldogs gained confidence that they could win anywhere.
Yes, they dropped a later game at Auburn, but they did avenge that loss in the SEC Championship Game in convincing fashion. Speaking of …
9. They know they can win in Atlanta
Atlanta had been a bit of a house of horrors for the Dawgs, but winning in the city in back-to-back weeks (at Georgia Tech and against Auburn in the SEC Championship Game) has given them confidence they can succeed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday night.
Yes, the Crimson Tide have also won in that building (kicking off the season with a win over Florida State), but it has most recently belonged to the Dawgs.
10. They proved they can win close games
Perhaps the biggest confidence booster for the Bulldogs heading into the National Championship Game was last week’s game against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.
Not only did Georgia trail by two touchdowns at halftime, it also battled Heisman Trophy-winning QB Baker Mayfield in two overtime periods and got the best of him and the Sooners.
Meanwhile, Alabama cruised to a dominant win over Clemson in the Sugar Bowl. Yes, it was an impressive win for the Crimson Tide, but if the title game comes down to one final drive in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs have proven they can handle the pressure.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
