Georgia Football: Davis’ three favorite UGA victories

2016: Georgia 33, North Carolina 24

Some people may scratch their heads that this game is on the list. Just hear me out. I also attended this game in person so that may have made it more special for me.

The buildup for this game in the Georgia Dome was filled with so much hype and so many unknowns. Kirby Smart was about to begin his tenure at the head coach at Georgia. Jacob Eason, the 5-star quarterback prospect from Lake Stevens, Washington, was going to play in his first collegiate game.

The most significant thing about this game, however, was the return of Nick Chubb. He suffered a devastating knee injury against Tennessee in 2015 that had some questioning whether he could even play football again. Chubb dominated the rehab process and shocked Georgia fans when the team announced that he would play against North Carolina.

I could feel the intense levels of anxiety and excitement in the Georgia Dome that day among the Bulldog faithful. Everyone wondered if Chubb was returning too soon and concerned about him taking hits to his rehabilitated knee.

For the entirety of the game, it felt like the fans collectively held their breath every time Chubb touched the football and would then breathe a sigh of relief when he would jog back to the huddle after each play.

Chubb rushed for over 200 yards against North Carolina, which included a late 4th quarter touchdown that put the game away for Georgia. The Dome erupted into some of the loudest cheers I had ever heard as Chubb raced to the end zone.

This game was significant to me because Nick Chubb proved that a knee injury was not going to keep him from playing football like only Nick Chubb can. Given who Chubb is as a person, the successful return could not have happened to a nicer person.

It was nice to see Kirby Smart get a win in his first game at the helm for the Dawgs. It was also great to see Nick Chubb return to football and dominate North Carolina is one of the best games of his career.