The sounds of grown men barking could be heard throughout the streets of Athens on Saturday, Nov. 12, after the Georgia Bulldogs added another victory to their season. The Bulldogs secured their spot in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game with a win over Mississippi State.  

“My expectations for Georgia was, at minimum, making the playoffs, but as the season played out, we are obviously the clear favorite to win the [College Football Playoff] once again,” Jordan Graham, senior, said. 

The Georgia Bulldogs came into the 2022 season with confidence after their 2021 national championship win, their first since 1980. The fan base was energetic and excited for a chance to win a back-to-back championship, something that has only happened twice since 1957. Now, entering the twelfth week of the college football season, Georgia fans still have sky high expectations for their Bulldogs. With big wins against highly ranked teams like Oregon and Tennessee, Georgia easily finished out the rest of their schedule without a loss and earned a spot in the college football playoff.  

“I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to recruit a kid, and they tell me they said, ‘you all are not going to be good on defense, you all are losing everybody.’ They said that two years ago, they said that last year, [and] they are saying that this year,” Kirby Smart, Georgia football coach, said in an article. 

Although fans had undeniable confidence in Georgia coming into the season, experts were doubtful about the team’s chances. In 2021, they had one of the greatest defenses in college football history, and many claimed that, with only 3 returning defensive starters, it would be impossible to follow up. Smart has proven those critics wrong, as his defense still ranks in the top five nationally. He has said before that a vital part of coaching in college football is recruiting, and he has shown that importance clear as day. The fact that he has been able to follow up a once in a generation team with another championship contender is just a testament to Smart’s recruiting prowess.  

“I do not see us losing, Tennessee had the best chance to beat us, and we won. We will win the SEC Championship easily,” Ryan Shiflett, senior, said. 

Although one can never predict with 100% accuracy, it is a safe bet to say the Bulldogs are destined for greatness this season. A conference championship seems to be right there for the taking, and a spot in the playoffs is all but guaranteed. There is only one question: who will stand in Georgia’s way for a repeat national championship? The answer is not so clear. One thing for certain though is that the path to the national championship will go through Athens this year.