Georgia football proved a point with its downright dominant victory

On Saturday in Atlanta, the Georgia football team set out to dominate their opening game against Oregon — and dominate they did. The Dawgs put on as dominant a show as you will likely ever see from head coach Kirby Smart’s program running out 49-3 winners over Dan Lanning’s Oregon Ducks.

Much of the build-up to Georgia’s season opener against Oregon focused on the almost immediate return of Lanning to face Smart or Georgia facing a resurgent Bo Nix. The truth is, this was all media talk.

Georgia focused on one thing and one thing only — to overpower Oregon and earn the first win of the season.

At SEC Media Days,  Smart struck fear into the hearts of opponents when he said, “We will not be hunted at the University of Georgia. I can promise you that. The hunting we do will be from us going the other direction”.

Georgia football overpowered the Ducks in the first victory of the season

The Dawgs did their job on Saturday, and the physicalness showed through. That aggressive mentality was what people wanted to see out of Georgia. To hold the No. 11 team to three points is downright impressive, regardless of experience.

While much will get written about an inept Nix and the Oregon offensive performance, this was all about a dominant Georgia defense. Georgia hunted down the Oregon Ducks right from the get-go. This performance never let Nix and his offense settle. They never got into any rhythm.

The Oregon offense tallied 313 total offensive yards, and a field goal — 187 yards of these were from Nix. Compared to Oregon’s offensive yards, Georgia’s offense totaled 571 yards.

And unlike last season, the Georgia offense needed no time to warm up. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett, who, according to some, is incapable of leading the team, and his offense drove a dagger right through the heart of this Oregon defense. Time after time — it was a masterclass.

By the time the clock had hit midway in the 4th quarter, Georgia had scored on every drive it had made. Seven in total, resulting in, well, yes, 49 points. Few teams left on Oregon’s schedule will do that to the Ducks this year — meaning Georgia is different.

Another mail delivery from Stetson Bennett

Bennett recorded a career-high 386 yards, completing 25-of-31 passes for three passing touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown before sitting out the 4th quarter.

What will please Georgia football fans is that this was a complete offensive performance, from the quarterback and the offensive line to the tight ends to the running backs — everyone played their part.

I will also remind you that this is the same Oregon defense that had been hyped as a playoff contender — a defense that includes future NFL stars such as Noah Sewell and Justin Flowe.

From the first Georgia offensive drive, which led to a touchdown from Ladd McConkey early in the first quarter, set the tone for the rest of the game. The Dawgs didn’t lay off until Carson Beck completed an 18 yards touchdown pass to Kendall Milton in the fourth quarter. From start to stop, Georgia out-manned Oregon.

In fact, Georgis made history in this season opener. As reported by the Athletic, this was the Bulldog’s largest blowout of a ranked opponent in Georgia history. This blowout underlines how much of a statement this performance was to the rest of college football.

Downright dominant Dawgs

I don’t apologize for using the word dominant so frequently in this article because it is the word that best describes this Georgia football performance.

But let’s not get some notion that Georgia was angry or needed to prove a point. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the new world of Georgia football — a world where Georgia fears no one and backs down from no one.

Smart has built a culture that does not need to be motivated by anger or fear. There is self-belief in Athens now, which allows the Bulldogs to expect, no, demand victory in every game.

Last season the Georgia defense dominated, and the offense was adequate. But this year? This swagger that Georgia football has all over the field should frighten the rest of college football. The Dawgs fear no one.

Watch out, college football world — Georgia has only just started hunting.