No. 1 Georgia is looking the part of its recently acquired status as the best team in college football for the 2022 season, riding its dominant defense and holding a 24-0 lead on the road at South Carolina. This is the conference opener for the Bulldogs in their pursuit of a fifth SEC East title in six years, and so far the reigning national champions have made the Gamecocks look very similar to each of their previous two opponents, who they outscored 82-3 in two victories to open the season.
The fact that Georgia has found similar results with the likes of Oregon, Samford and so far South Carolina speaks to the efficiency with which Kirby Smart’s program is operating. The defense, in particular, lost a record haul to the NFL Draft and yet this is a group that has still yet to give up more one single field goal through 10 quarters of action. Offensively, Georgia has continued to lean on Stetson Bennett to lead the way, and even though he has appeared visibly under the weather at times this half he’s got one passing touchdown and is responsible for a couple of the Bulldogs’ longer rushing plays.
While South Carolina’s defense has a few things to be proud of at halftime, like limiting Georgia’s ground game to 79 yards and forcing one punt — more than Oregon could say at halftime — the game has been just as lopsided as the oddsmakers projected. Unless South Carolina’s offense can find a rhythm, the day is trending to No. 1 remaining No. 1, as Georgia possibly even strengthens its hold on that claim with another dominant performance.
Keep it locked here for highlights, game updates and analysis as the reigning national champions face their first true road test of the 2022 season.
