As a huge FP what-if, Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart’s most CFP what-if, Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart’s most underappreciated Bulldogs team from the NIL era endures.

The College Football Playoff (CFP) has produced a multitude of captivating storylines over the years. From dramatic comebacks to historic upsets, it has continually reshaped the landscape of college football, sparking endless debates over what-if scenarios and who really deserves to be called the best. One such what-if scenario involves Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart and a team that, while incredibly successful, remains underappreciated in the broader conversation: the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs.

In a landscape where the College Football Playoff (CFP) often awards prestige to teams who make dramatic runs or capture national attention, Georgia’s 2022 squad quietly—yet definitively—established itself as one of the most dominant teams of the era. However, the media narrative, the volatility of the transfer portal era, and the enormous attention to flashy recruiting classes often overshadowed the Bulldogs’ accomplishments. As we step into the future of college football, particularly within the framework of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), this team stands as one of Smart’s most underappreciated.

Georgia’s 2022 season was marked by a near-perfect record, a national championship, and a consistently dominant defense. However, despite all the accolades, this Bulldogs team’s unique makeup—and the challenges of competing in a rapidly evolving NIL landscape—sometimes seems overshadowed by flashier teams in the SEC or elsewhere. So, why is this Georgia squad from the 2022 season often lost in the shuffle of conversation about elite programs?

The College Football Playoff and the NIL Era: A Shifting Paradigm

Before diving into the specifics of Georgia’s 2022 team and why it’s underappreciated, it’s important to contextualize how the rise of NIL fundamentally changed the game of college football. In 2021, NIL regulations began allowing college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness. For high-profile programs like Georgia, this created new dynamics in recruiting, retention, and player development. Teams with the deepest pockets were able to secure talent, offer lucrative deals to recruits and existing players, and further alter the competitive landscape.

In the midst of these rapid shifts, Georgia’s 2022 season was an anomaly—a classic example of Smart’s ability to blend traditional football excellence with the evolving realities of NIL. While many programs were still adjusting to NIL’s full impact, Georgia stood out by combining its signature physicality, balanced offensive approach, and elite defense with the new recruiting and retention strategies provided by NIL.

Despite its national championship and nearly flawless season, the 2022 Georgia Bulldogs weren’t often considered the glamorous or most talked-about team. This was largely due to the fact that the program’s success came from consistency, strategic development, and a focus on team success rather than individual stars. In an era where NIL deals make headlines and players are increasingly making moves based on financial incentives, Georgia’s model of long-term development and reliance on a collective effort stands out as an underappreciated outlier.

A Team-Oriented Approach to Championship Football

At the heart of Georgia’s success in 2022 was its ability to embrace a team-first mentality—something that is often overshadowed in the modern college football landscape. While other top-tier teams like Alabama, Ohio State, and USC have been known for their star-studded rosters featuring highly-touted individual players, Georgia’s 2022 squad found its strength in collective cohesion.

Kirby Smart, a defensive mastermind, relied on a deep, talented roster of players who were all highly skilled but who didn’t necessarily fit into the mold of flashy, headline-grabbing athletes. The 2022 Bulldogs boasted a defensive unit that was incredibly well-coached, disciplined, and capable of stifling any offense they faced. The team was headlined by the likes of Jalen Carter, an imposing defensive tackle, and Nakobe Dean, an inside linebacker who commanded the defense with his leadership. Still, Smart didn’t just rely on these stars; he spread the talent across the roster and utilized each player in a way that maximized their potential.

Offensively, while Stetson Bennett was certainly a key contributor, his role was as a game manager who didn’t need to be the focal point of the offense. Bennett was efficient, smart, and made critical plays when needed, but Georgia’s offensive identity relied on the consistent, powerful running game, supported by a strong offensive line and playmakers like Brock Bowers at tight end. The Bulldogs ran the ball effectively, controlled the clock, and wore down opponents with an offensive strategy that made it difficult for teams to gain momentum.

In an era dominated by headlines surrounding explosive quarterbacks and running backs with massive NIL deals, Georgia’s collective team-oriented approach stood as a reminder that winning championships is still fundamentally about the total team, not just individual stars. However, this team-first mentality has, at times, been overlooked in favor of the more attention-grabbing programs that seem to dominate social media and the recruitment landscape.

The Defensive Dominance of 2022: A Historic Unit

Georgia’s defense in 2022 deserves special attention as it remains one of the most dominant defensive units in recent memory. The Bulldogs’ defense allowed an average of just 10.2 points per game throughout the season, making it the stingiest defense in the country. The ability to hold opponents to such a low point total in a high-scoring era of college football is remarkable.

The Georgia defense was led by Jalen Carter, a freakishly talented defensive lineman who was a force in both the run and pass game. Carter’s ability to disrupt plays, pressure the quarterback, and collapse the pocket made him a nightmare for opposing offenses. Alongside Carter, players like Nolan Smith, Keeley Ringo, and Nakobe Dean were instrumental in Georgia’s dominance. The secondary was physical, the linebackers were versatile, and the defensive line consistently overwhelmed offensive lines with its depth and power.

Despite the impressive accolades of these players, many of whom were first-round draft picks in the NFL, Georgia’s defensive dominance did not always garner the same level of media attention as high-octane offenses or high-profile quarterbacks. This is especially true in the context of NIL, where high-scoring offenses and flashy quarterbacks tend to capture the public’s imagination.

The Transfer Portal and Its Impact on Georgia’s Success

In the NIL era, the transfer portal has become a significant factor in team-building. Players can now enter the portal to explore new opportunities, and teams have been increasingly reliant on these transfers to supplement their rosters. However, Georgia’s success in 2022 came despite the increasing influence of the transfer portal.

Kirby Smart’s program has always focused on recruiting, developing, and retaining high-level talent from within. While Georgia has utilized the transfer portal to fill in gaps, particularly in areas of need, the Bulldogs have generally preferred to build their roster through strong high school recruiting and player development. This approach—particularly in a time when many programs use the transfer portal to drastically alter their rosters—has helped maintain stability and continuity in a rapidly shifting college football landscape.

Some may argue that the rise of the transfer portal and NIL has created a more fluid, dynamic college football environment, but Georgia’s 2022 success demonstrated that it is still possible to build a championship contender from within a program, relying on a strong recruiting base, player development, and team culture.

What Could Have Been: The 2022 Georgia Bulldogs as an Underappreciated Legacy

As we reflect on the 2022 season and Georgia’s place in the larger college football conversation, it’s clear that the Bulldogs were more than just another team that benefited from favorable circumstances or a weak schedule. They were a dominant, well-rounded squad that showcased the kind of football that can still win championships in the NIL era.

In a time when programs are focused on bringing in immediate impact transfers, landing top-ranked high school recruits, and capitalizing on NIL deals, Georgia’s approach was focused on building long-term success through development, depth, and a strong culture. While the Bulldogs enjoyed national attention in 2022, their ability to succeed without needing the glitz and glamour of the modern college football landscape has perhaps prevented them from being as widely recognized for their achievements as other programs with star power and headlines.

The 2022 Georgia Bulldogs are, in many ways, a reminder that even in an era dominated by NIL and flashy recruiting tactics, the true key to success in college football is finding a balance between talent, development, and team cohesion. And as Georgia continues to thrive in the NIL era, it will be fascinating to see how this underappreciated 2022 team continues to shape the legacy of the Bulldogs under Kirby Smart’s leadership.