Georgia's stout defense faces major playoff test
December 3, 2017
You want a contrast in styles? The Rose Bowl between Georgia and Oklahoma in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff is just for you.
Led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Baker Mayfield, who has completed 262 of 369 passes for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns with just five interceptions, the Sooners lead the country in total offense with 583.3 yards per game. They are seventh in passing (367.4) and 45th in rushing (215.9).
"He's entertaining to watch. He's unbelievably talented; he's got great athletic ability. It seems like he's been playing forever, and he's what college football is all about. He embraces it, he loves it," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.
"I love the way the guy plays the game. He plays with talent and passion and he's a phenomenal player that we'll get to see and have a lot of sleepless nights over the next 30 days."
Georgia, meanwhile, is one of the nation's top defensive teams.
The SEC champion Bulldogs rank 12th nationally in rushing defense (112.6 yards per game), but more importantly -- and perhaps more pertinent -- are second in pass defense, allowing just 158.3 yards per contest.
Georgia and Big 12 champ Oklahoma (12-1) will be meeting for the first time, while the Bulldogs' Rose Bowl appearance will be the program's first since 1943, a 9-0 win over UCLA.
"I couldn't be more excited for our team and especially our seniors with the selection of our team to participate in the College Football Playoff," Smart said. "Playing in a venue with such rich tradition will be a rewarding experience and it represents another step for our team and program."
Like Oklahoma, Georgia (12-1) comes in on a roll, having defeated Auburn 28-7 to win the SEC Championship and move up to the third seed in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma is seeded second.
The Sooners -- who have had defensive issues at times this year -- will have to deal with a powerful Bulldogs ground game, which ranks 17th nationally with 263.5 rushing yards per game, led by the three-headed monster of Nick Chubb (1,175 yards), Sony Michel (948 yards) and freshman D'Andre Swift (597 yards).
"I don't know if we've seen anybody with the caliber of the backs that they have there," said Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley. "Ohio State had two pretty good backs and ended up having good years, but the two backs or really the three backs they have there are all tremendous. ...
"That's definitely going to be a challenge. We've been lucky enough here over the last few years to have some great backs of our own. You realize how special those guys are and how difficult they can make it to defend."
Oklahoma can't overlook freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who has completed 145 of 230 passes for 2,173 yards with 21 touchdowns, a Georgia record for freshmen.
December 3, 2017
You want a contrast in styles? The Rose Bowl between Georgia and Oklahoma in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff is just for you.
Led by Heisman Trophy frontrunner Baker Mayfield, who has completed 262 of 369 passes for 4,340 yards and 41 touchdowns with just five interceptions, the Sooners lead the country in total offense with 583.3 yards per game. They are seventh in passing (367.4) and 45th in rushing (215.9).
"He's entertaining to watch. He's unbelievably talented; he's got great athletic ability. It seems like he's been playing forever, and he's what college football is all about. He embraces it, he loves it," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.
"I love the way the guy plays the game. He plays with talent and passion and he's a phenomenal player that we'll get to see and have a lot of sleepless nights over the next 30 days."
Georgia, meanwhile, is one of the nation's top defensive teams.
The SEC champion Bulldogs rank 12th nationally in rushing defense (112.6 yards per game), but more importantly -- and perhaps more pertinent -- are second in pass defense, allowing just 158.3 yards per contest.
Georgia and Big 12 champ Oklahoma (12-1) will be meeting for the first time, while the Bulldogs' Rose Bowl appearance will be the program's first since 1943, a 9-0 win over UCLA.
"I couldn't be more excited for our team and especially our seniors with the selection of our team to participate in the College Football Playoff," Smart said. "Playing in a venue with such rich tradition will be a rewarding experience and it represents another step for our team and program."
Like Oklahoma, Georgia (12-1) comes in on a roll, having defeated Auburn 28-7 to win the SEC Championship and move up to the third seed in the College Football Playoff. Oklahoma is seeded second.
The Sooners -- who have had defensive issues at times this year -- will have to deal with a powerful Bulldogs ground game, which ranks 17th nationally with 263.5 rushing yards per game, led by the three-headed monster of Nick Chubb (1,175 yards), Sony Michel (948 yards) and freshman D'Andre Swift (597 yards).
"I don't know if we've seen anybody with the caliber of the backs that they have there," said Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley. "Ohio State had two pretty good backs and ended up having good years, but the two backs or really the three backs they have there are all tremendous. ...
"That's definitely going to be a challenge. We've been lucky enough here over the last few years to have some great backs of our own. You realize how special those guys are and how difficult they can make it to defend."
Oklahoma can't overlook freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who has completed 145 of 230 passes for 2,173 yards with 21 touchdowns, a Georgia record for freshmen.