3. The Most Overrated Thing Was …
Georgia starting quarterback Stetson Bennett.
It’s totally not fair to pin Georgia’s 41-24 to Alabama on him, and this doesn’t mean the College Football Playoff dream is over for the program, but the offense needed an elite quarterback performance on Saturday night, and it didn’t get it.
He’s an absolutely wonderful story.
Bennett dreamed all his life of playing quarterback for Georgia, walked on, had no chance of playing, went the JUCO route, returned, and he worked his way into the starting job after Jake Fromm left early for the NFL, Jamie Newman opted out, JT Daniels wasn’t ready yet with an injured knee, and D’Wan Mathis struggled against Arkansas.
Bennett came through in the second half against the Hogs – which looks a whole lot better now than it did at the time – was terrific in a win over Auburn, and was strong against Tennessee.
Stetson Bennett starting to look like the fourth-stringer he was supposed to be.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 18, 2020
The good 2.5 games he played to start the season – along with his wonderful story – made him the a big media thing leading up to the game with Alabama, and then ….
18-of-40 for 269 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions – and no Bulldog points in the second half.
Again, it’s really not all his fault considering the Dawg defense got lit up for 417 passing yards and the game plan didn’t rely enough on the running game, but Clemson has Trevor Lawrence. Alabama has Mac Jones – who has been beyond brilliant so far.
Ohio State has Justin Fields, Florida’s Kyle Trask is on a 2019 Joe Burrow-like pace, and even Notre Dame has a longtime veteran in Ian Book at quarterback.
Bennett will get his chances to shine at Kentucky in two weeks and with the showdown against Florida to follow. He’s still learning, he’s still getting his at-bats, and the team around him will have to be better.
But if Georgia is going to win the national championship – and it absolutely has the talent to do it – it’s going to need its guy under center to keep up the pace.
NEXT: The most underrated thing was …