MEMPHIS – With several key players returning for their senior seasons and a stellar class of commitments in coach Kirby Smart’s first full recruiting cycle, the Georgia Bulldogs had some momentum going into Friday afternoon’s Liberty Bowl against TCU.
They left with even more.
Nick Chubb rushed for 142 yards on 17 carries, Sony Michel added 87 on 15 and Jacob Eason threw for two touchdowns as Georgia rallied from a 16-7 second-quarter deficit to dump the Horned Frogs 31-23. The Bulldogs, who were playing in their 20th consecutive bowl game, capped an 8-5 debut year for Smart before an announced crowd of 51,087.
“I really believe that whether we had won or lost this game, this program is headed in the right direction,” Smart said. “It certainly helps in recruiting and momentum-wise to win the game, but it doesn’t matter whether you’ve got seven, 11 or 13 wins, because there is no elevator on the mountain. You’ve got to climb, and you’ve got to work, and that’s what this team is going to do.
“Going 8-5 is better than 7-6, but neither one are where we want to be, and we know that and we acknowledge that.”