Torch has been passed: Georgia repeats as champ while Nick Saban becomes a talking head | Opinion

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Stetson Bennett IV bumped his center’s fist, then spread his arms, cocked his head and smiled in a pose befitting of this two-time national champion.

The look on the Georgia quarterback’s face was as if to say, this is too easy.

It was.

Bennett had just scored one of the easiest touchdowns of his career, strolling into the end zone untouched, shielded by a pair of lead blockers.

The national championship trophy ceremony was still a couple of hours away Monday at SoFi Stadium, but by then it already had become clear: Georgia remained on top of college football.

The nation’s best team shattered the glass slipper and pulverized Cinderella.

No. 1 Georgia 65, No. 3 TCU 7.

Georgia’s greatness is no fairy tale.

TCU earned its place in this game, but the national championship was decided when the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta, when Georgia prevailed by a single point over Ohio State in a semifinal. The Buckeyes’ record got stained because of two poor fourth quarters, but I’m convinced the nation’s two most talented teams met that night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

By the second quarter Monday, the only question had become whether Georgia would score on every possession. The Bulldogs achieved that until halftime.

Six first-half possessions. Six first-half scores.

In a show of mercy, Georgia punted to open the third quarter. Then the bludgeoning resumed.

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Nick Saban used to turn national championships into blowouts.

Four of Saban’s six national titles at Alabama were lopsided affairs. One of the two exceptions was Alabama’s overtime triumph against Georgia in 2018, a reminder of how close the Bulldogs came to winning three national titles in the past six seasons.

“We Want Bama” became a humorous paradox throughout Saban’s reign because all it took was a turn facing Bama to learn you wanted nothing to do with the Tide.

Until now, perhaps.

Alabama has inched off its perch, and that slogan from opposing fans requires a revision. “We Want Bama” should become “We Want Bama. Sure Beats Playing Georgia.”

When Georgia beat Alabama in the national championship last season, it felt like a snapshot rather than a reordering of the sport’s long-term power dynamic. Georgia possessed a historically great defense then and benefited from Alabama playing without two injured wide receivers.

Order would be restored this season, or so I thought, after those 2021 Georgia Bulldogs served up 15 NFL draft picks. Alabama entered this season ranked No. 1.

By winning a second consecutive national championship in a sport where such feats are uncommon, the Bulldogs proved their staying power under coach Kirby Smart. No team had successfully defended its title since Alabama’s 2011 and ’12 teams went back-to-back. Smart was Saban’s defensive coordinator in those years.

The list of coaches who possess one national championship includes the likes of Gene Chizik and Ed Orgeron. By winning a second title, Smart joins a more explosive group of multi-championship coaches, a fraternity that includes Saban, Urban Meyer, Dabo Swinney, Bobby Bowden, Tom Osborne and Joe Paterno.

Like the height of Saban’s dynasty, the mass departure of NFL talent did not send Georgia into rebuilding mode. It reloaded with a mix of holdovers and new stars.

And if you think Georgia will rescind next season, search the highlight of Mykel Williams sacking Max Duggan. Williams maneuvered past a veteran left tackle before crunching TCU's quarterback.

Williams is a freshman. A five-star freshman. But of course.

Replacing Bennett will be a chore, but if Georgia successfully transitions the power at quarterback, it must be considered a threat to become college football’s first three-peat champion since Minnesota won three straight titles from 1934-36.

Winning one national title can be achieved with a transformational talent like Cam Newton or Joe Burrow. Winning two straight requires a robust program.

Smart built that.

Bennett concluded his improbable college career with the flourish of Elton John on a farewell tour. The one-time walk-on turned Heisman Trophy finalist flayed the Frogs with 343 yards of offense. He exited early in the fourth quarter to a standing ovation.

But more than any single player, this championship is a byproduct of the continued recruiting and development of a program etched from the Saban blueprint.

TCU had not faced team speed like this. The Bulldogs close quickly, and they pack a punch when they arrive. TCU had no one who could cover Brock Bowers or handle Kenny McIntosh’s burst.

Georgia’s robust offensive line persistently opened running lanes and protected Bennett like he held the Crown’s jewels. Its defensive front manhandled TCU’s offensive linemen like they were Venice Beach hipsters.

Mostly, Georgia played like a team with no weakness. Smart recruits, then he develops, and he does so with the help of a quality staff. It’s all very familiar because Saban built Alabama's dynasty in a similar fashion.

On Monday, Saban sat on an ESPN set, previewing a game many expected he’d coach in as recently as a few months ago.

Saban became a talking head, and Smart seized his second trophy. Consider the torch passed.

Alabama won’t soon relinquish relevance. Talented players continue to flow into Tuscaloosa. But you’d rather face Bama than Smart’s Bulldogs right now.

No one wants Georgia.

Blake Toppmeyer is an SEC Columnist for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Georgia repeats, Nick Saban becomes a talking head as torch is passed