The 2020 college football season will end for the Georgia Bulldogs late Friday afternoon following their Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl matchup against Cincinnati.
And just when things were starting to get really fun.
Since JT Daniels was inserted into the starting quarterback role, the Bulldogs have flourished offensively, averaging 498.3 yards and 41.7 points in wins over Mississippi State, South Carolina and Missouri. The 49-14 victory at Missouri to close Georgia's 7-2 regular season was the premier showing under first-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken, as the Bulldogs rushed for 316 yards and threw for 299 for an eye-popping 615 total.
"We've been more efficient," redshirt sophomore receiver Kearis Jackson said Tuesday. "We've been able to stay on the field and convert on third downs and make big plays when we needed. We just continue to stay on the field and move the ball."
Georgia has converted 24-of-36 third-down opportunities (66.7%) since Daniels took the reins, and the transfer from Southern California is the biggest reason why. On third-down pass attempts, Daniels is 16-of-19 (84.2%) for 270 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions.
This was once a Georgia team that got to 4-1 with a 14-3 win at Kentucky that featured 131 passing yards by the Bulldogs.
"I do feel like we've been really hot as of late," Daniels said. "I think a lot of young guys have matured tremendously and a lot of guys have gotten a lot better, and I think you're seeing what that's looking like now. Obviously, it has happened a little later than we would have hoped, and I would love to play with this team forever.
"It's an amazing team. I think there is great central leadership. There are a lot of great things on this team, but obviously that's not the case. For me, I'm just focused on giving Cincinnati the best we have."
Despite practicing and playing for the first time amid a pandemic and with all the testing and social distancing that has come with it, the Bulldogs were unanimous in their desire to play more games had such an opportunity been available.
"I think we have kind of hit a good stride," junior left tackle Jamaree Salyer said. "I'm very excited about a lot of the young guys who are coming along and excited that we have a quarterback back there who is throwing it and commanding the offense. We've rushed for 300 in each of our last two games or something like that. We're excited to be able to have this opportunity to go out and compete again, and if we had three or four more opportunities, we would line up and play those, too."
Said redshirt sophomore running back Zamir White: "We definitely wish we had three or four more games."
Georgia's quarterback storyline this year would make for an intriguing ESPN "30 for 30," with Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman having been the favorite all summer before opting out in early September. D'Wan Mathis got the starting nod for the opener at Arkansas but couldn't make it until halftime before being replaced by Stetson Bennett IV.
A former walk-on, Bennett was impressive in early victories over Arkansas and Auburn, but his limitations became evident when trying to keep up with Alabama and Florida. Daniels became the starter after the loss to the Gators in Jacksonville, an outcome that all but ended Georgia's hopes of a fourth straight Southeastern Conference Eastern Division crown.
"It's hard to say what you envisioned," Monken said. "Obviously it was tough without having spring and without really the preparation you would like, but at the end of the day, no one really gives a (expletive). We're in a get-it-done business, and there are a lot of other teams that lose players, didn't have a spring, changed coaches and didn't have as good of players as we have. Everybody has their own issues they've got to deal with.
"Obviously there are a number of things that I will look back on and think I would have done and should have done differently, but the moment JT played and prepared, it was time to move forward, and I think he's done a great job."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.