Georgia Football: 10 games fans wish they could go back in time and change

2. 1983 Sugar Bowl vs. Penn State

Interestingly enough, a bowl game loss had never affected Georgia’s national Title hopes prior to 1982. Georgia either won the game and a National title, lost and still won a share (1968) or weren’t ranked high enough to matter.

The 27-23 loss to Penn State in the 1983 Sugar Bowl was the first loss in a bowl game that cost Georgia a National Championship.

Georgia blew through the 1982 regular season after close wins over Clemson, Brigham Young and Mississippi State. They ended the year with another close win over Auburn. Georgia was undefeated going into the Sugar Bowl for a rare no. 1 versus no. 2 match-up.

Penn State had a good strategy to slow down Herschel Walker, and their offense led by current ESPN color commentator Todd Blackledge, scored enough points to beat Georgia and win the National Championship.

You don’t need me to tell you that Georgia would have won their second national title in three years had they beaten Penn State.