No. 1 Georgia can write another chapter in a historic stretch of college football dominance by winning the Governor’s Cup in Atlanta on Saturday.
The Bulldogs, back-to-back champions on a 28-game winning streak and massive favorites at Georgia Tech, can propel the program to the top of Southeastern Conference annals with a 29th consecutive win. Only Alabama, twice winners of 28 games in a row, has equaled Georgia’s current run of success.
Georgia Tech (6-5) can secure a winning season and an upset for the ages by taking down Georgia (11-0).
However, the Yellow Jackets haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since 2016. Keeping it close might qualify as a moral victory for the Yellow Jackets, who are eager to make the rivalry more competitive.
The most recent Georgia loss to Tech was the 28-27 shocker in ’16. The Bulldogs have won five in a row, including the past three games by a combined score of 134-21.
An offensive lineman for Georgia Tech from 1997-2000, Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said his current players would know by the end of the week that he was on Georgia Tech teams that beat Georgia three times in a row.
Georgia Tech was 3-4 at one point this season but beat Syracuse last week to earn its sixth win and secure bowl eligibility.
“For rivalries to be rivalries, they have to be competitive football games,” Key said.
More than a three-touchdown favorite over their in-state rivals, Georgia has clinched the SEC West and goes back to Atlanta next week for the SEC championship game against the Crimson Tide.
Two wins — this week and next — assure the Bulldogs a spot in the College Football Playoff. At that point, two more wins would complete Georgia’s three-peat mission. And speaking of history, the last time a team won three consecutive college football championships was 1934-36 (Minnesota).
The rest of the world is 0-13 in bids to go from repeat to three-time winners.
For at least a few more weeks, Georgia coach Kirby Smart is trying to keep his team focused on what’s next.
“Geographically, they’re close,” Smart said of facing Georgia Tech. “They’re in your state. You are playing for something every time you play them. You’re playing for the state championship.”
Smart said the three Cs — culture, chemistry and character — are the defining the Bulldogs’ unparalleled levels of success, with 24 of their 28 wins in the current streak coming by double-digit margins.
Adding a “B” to the equation won’t draw boos in Athens.
First-year starter Carson Beck has 21 touchdowns and five interceptions and is on pace to push 4,000 passing yards even without factoring in any bowl games down the line. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 298 yards and three touchdowns against Tennessee last week.
“I have super high expectations for myself. They’re only going to continue to get higher,” Beck said.
–Field Level Media
