Sports Illustrated College Football Commemorative - Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs: 2023 College Football National Champions

A LONG TIME COMING • GEORGIA FANS HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION FOR 41 YEARS

The Season • THE BULLDOGS STARTED 2021 WITH A BIG WIN AND ROLLED FROM THERE, DOMINATING CONFERENCE RIVALS SO COMPLETELY THAT NOT EVEN A STUMBLE IN THE SEC TITLE GAME COULD KEEP THEM FROM THE PLAYOFFS

The Playoffs • THE BULLDOGS WON THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF BY THROTTLING THE BIG TEN CHAMPS, THEN TOPPING THEIR ARCHRIVAL IN THE TITLE GAME TO AVENGE THEIR ONLY LOSS OF THE SEASON

BLUE COLLARED • GEORGIA BOUNCED BACK FROM ITS ONLY LOSS OF THE SEASON TO THOROUGHLY DOMINATE THE WOLVERINES

Beating Back THE TIDE • AFTER YEARS OF FRUSTRATION THE BULLDOGS FINALLY KNOCKED OFF ALABAMA, TAKING OVER IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND CLAIMING THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Heroes • GEORGIA WON ITS CHAMPIONSHIP BEHIND A DEFENSE STOCKED WITH TOP RECRUITS AND A QUARTERBACK WHO HAD TO FIGHT FOR HIS SPOT ON THE BULLDOGS’ ROSTER

NEVER COUNT HIM OUT • STETSON BENNETT’S JOURNEY INCLUDED A TRANSFER AWAY FROM ATHENS AND A TRIP DOWN THE DEPTH CHART, BUT THROUGH IT ALL HE GREW INTO THE QUARTERBACK HE ALWAYS BELIEVED HE COULD BE

THE BEST DEFENSE • GEORGIA’S UNIT WAS HISTORICALLY GREAT THIS SEASON, THANKS TO A COLLECTION OF PLAYERS WHO WERE ASSEMBLED ONE BY ONE OVER FIVE YEARS AND PLACED IN POSITIONS TO SUCCEED

BY THE NUMBERS • FROM THE FEATS OF A FRESHMAN TIGHT END TO THE AWARDS EARNED BY GEORGIA’S VETERAN DEFENDERS, THESE STATS HELP TELL THE STORY OF A CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON

The History • GEORGIA’S LORE INCLUDES A MEMORABLE TITLE RUN UNDER COACH VINCE DOOLEY AND A COLLECTION OF STAR PLAYERS LED BY ONE OF THE GREATEST BACKS EVER TO PLAY THE GAME

TALE OF THE 1980 TITLE • THE BULLDOGS COMPLETED A PERFECT—AND PERFECTLY CHARMED—SEASON BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NOTRE DAME’S MANY MISTAKES TO WIN THE SUGAR BOWL DESPITE COMPLETING ONLY ONE PASS

THE BIGGEST DAWG • HERSCHEL WALKER’S SENSATIONAL FRESHMAN SEASON NOT ONLY REWROTE THE RECORD BOOKS AND DELIVERED A CHAMPIONSHIP BUT ALSO BROUGHT A SINGULAR ENERGY TO GEORGIA FOOTBALL

ALL-TIME TEAM • THE LIST OF THE BEST PLAYERS TO EVER WEAR THE RED AND BLACK INCLUDES DANGEROUS DEFENDERS, ELECTRIFYING WIDE RECEIVERS AND A SPECIALIST WITH DISTINCTIVE EYEWEAR

LAST SHOT