The Georgia football program is in rarified air after they trounced Michigan en route to their second National Championship appearance of the Kirby Smart era. Waiting for them is a familiar obstacle and one they have repeatedly failed to overcome. That said, they have been granted the opportunity that few programs ever get - a second chance.
The national title has remained elusive for what has been an otherwise successful tenure for Head Coach Kirby Smart. The championship is the only thing standing in the way of Georgia taking the next step as a program. Randy McMichael said, "If Georgia ever wants to be considered an elite program, outside of just recruiting well, they have to win a championship."
Smart has compiled a 64-15 record (.815), won an SEC Championship, and played in five consecutive New Years' 6 Bowls (winning four of them). Since 2017, Georgia trails only Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson in terms of wins. The biggest issue isn't that success, it's finishing the job. All of those accomplishments, while impressive, feel like they fall flat without the national championship to add to the belt.
"If they don't beat Alabama, then it is a disappointing season," says Jon Chuckery. "This has to be the next step for Georgia."
Georgia's boogieman is real, and its name is Nick Saban. The Crimson Tide have dominated the series with Dawgs losing the last seven matchups, the last two coming by identical scores of 41-24. This will mark the fourth occasion that Kirby Smart has met his old boss in a game with a championship at stake. All have ended in heartbreak.
Before the most recent matchup, the cards seemed to be falling perfectly in their favor. The perennial powers of Ohio State, Clemson, and Oklahoma were all set to miss the playoffs with "rebuild" years. Alabama, while still very much in the mix, appeared to be missing something from year's past. Everything appeared to be lining up for the Dawgs to finally finish the job, but that fell apart in Atlanta.
Fortunately for them there is a second chance to reach the mountain top, but the pressure is mounting. If Kirby doesn't deliver, the noise could really start to grow. It certainly feels like it's now or never for the Georgia program.
The Dawgs have earned the right to be where they are. They produced one of the best defenses in college football history and have all the talent in the world on both sides of the ball. The program has been knocking on the door for what feels like an eternity. Just maybe they finally kick the door in and get the boogieman off their back.
All they have to do is beat Alabama? Easier said than done.
