Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett grew up in the state and is well aware that the Bulldogs haven't won a national championship in 41 years.
But Bennett, a senior from Blackshire, Georgia, insists the No. 3 Bulldogs won't carry that burden when they play No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T on Jan. 10.
"Maybe I'm not going to be able to put that weight on my shoulders, but no, I'm just looking at it as a football game," Bennett said on Monday. "Do I know it means a lot to a lot of people? Yes. Am I trying to be some kind of savior for millions by winning national championships? No. I don't think it's my job.
"My job is to go out there and meet the very talented people we have on this team. And I think it's as simple as that."
The Bulldogs will seek revenge for their 41-24 loss to the Crimson Tide in the December 4 SEC Championship Game. It was Georgia's seventh consecutive loss to Alabama, having defeated the Bulldogs 26–23 in overtime in the CFP National Championship at the end of the 2017 season.
"They have been a problem and a thorn in any team other than us," said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. "We have a lot in common with the teams that they've played. They have a really good football team, a really good coach, a really good program. It starts with really good football players and they Did a good job recruiting them."
Bennett was a scout-team quarterback while redshirting in 2017. He was on edge at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta when Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa threw a 41-yard touchdown to Devonta Smith on 26 and second in overtime to break Georgia's hearts. National Championship Game. This was perhaps the best opportunity for the Bulldogs to end their title drought.
Bennett, a former walk-on, has one of the best performances of his career. He completed 20 of 30 passes for 313 yards with three touchdowns in a 34-11 win against No. 2 Michigan at the Capital One Orange Bowl. He threw for 340 yards with three touchdowns in a loss to Alabama in the SEC title game. He also threw two interceptions, including a Jordan Battle pick-six, which gave the Tide a 21-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter.
"You have to play well," said Smart. "You have to play well in the red area. You have to play [good] situational football. You can't expect to turn the ball and beat good football teams. These are the things we did when we played them. We turned it around and we can't do that."
According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, 30 different teams have won a national championship since the FBS/FCS split in 1978. None of them have a more active drought than Georgia. Since the Bulldogs' last national championship in 1980, they have achieved 16 top-10 finishes in final AP polls, the most of teams that have not won a title during that period.
"I know it means a lot to a lot of people," Bennett said. "Is it just another sport? No, I'm not an idiot. But I don't think for 20-year-olds you can put that kind of pressure on yourself, because you can be crazy. I'm just going to treat it." As another game and I'm preparing my butt off, and so is everyone on this team. But we're doing it because we're out of Alabama and respect their team. And we Know that we have to give our best shot to win this game."