The University of Georgia Bulldogs, led by quarterback Stetson Bennet, obliterated the Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs and quarterback Max Duggan 65-7 in the College Football National Championship game on Jan. 9.

Georgia capped off its undefeated season with its second straight National Championship title. Heisman-candidate Bennet, in his third year as a starter, threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions in the game. On the ground, Bennet had 39 yards and two rushing touchdowns. This was Bennet’s last year of NCAA eligibility, bringing out his emotions on the sideline of his final college game.

“Champions of the whole damn world,” Bennet said in an interview after the game. “[I’m] just trying to see everybody for the last time, hug everybody, trying not to cry.”

Credit also has to go to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who has been at Georgia for seven years and has an 81-15 record with two championships in three appearances. Last night, Smart solidified himself among the greats in coaching history, scoring 65 points and accumulating 589 total yards on offense while only allowing a touchdown and 188 total yards to TCU. 

“We ain’t getting hunted guys, we’re doing the hunting,” Smart said in an interview after the game regarding the team’s mentality. “And we hunted tonight.”

TCU’s Duggan was sacked 5 times throughout the game and threw two interceptions. Running back Darius Davis fumbled the ball in the first quarter. The offensive line was involved in numerous penalties. The defense could not get pressure on Bennet and could not stop the pass or the run, and the game was all but over by halftime. However, starting running back, Emari Demarcado, was able to look at the bright side.

“This doesn’t take away from the season we had coming from a year ago,” Demarcado said in a post-game interview. “Being in the national championship, that’s like something nobody ever thought would happen here.”

That sentiment holds true as TCU defied all odds by making it to the playoffs. After finishing 5-7 just a season ago, TCU seemed to be in a rebuilding phase with a new coach and a group of yet-to-be-known athletes. No one expected TCU to even make the playoffs, which makes their “Cinderella” story just as inspiring as it is heartbreaking. 

With the expansion of the college playoffs coming next year, more teams will have the opportunity that TCU did to defy the odds and set their sights on the big game.