ATLANTA — The Georgia football sidelined emptied with a mad rush as soon as Trevor Etienne hit the end zone in overtime.
The No. 5 Bulldogs had just walked off a 22-19 SEC championship win in overtime in a game that may be viewed as devalued in the 12-team College Football Playoff era, but you couldn’t tell that from the reaction of Georgia players.
Defensive tackle Warren Brinson, who had four tackles including 2 ½ for loss with a sack, carried the trophy off the field and into the locker room, letting out a, “How ‘bout them Dawgs!” Tight end Oscar Delp had an SEC logo sign in hand after beating No. 2 Texas.
Mary Beth Smart, whose husband Kirby Smart won his third SEC title as Georgia’s coach, cupped her hand around her mouth and let out a, “Woof! Woof! Woof!,“ to fans that crowded near Georgia’s locker room in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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One Georgia player yelled: “Can’t beat them twice!,” a narrative that was out there in the lead up to the game after the Bulldogs won in Austin this season.
Georgia won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and also won an SEC championship in 2022, but sophomore linebacker C.J. Allen wasn’t a part of any of that.
“The confetti dropping, you’ve got your family and fans and the crowd,” said Allen, who had seven tackles and a pass breakup. “Everything you just work for throughout the year, throughout the week, it just comes down to that. It’s an indescribable feeling for sure.”
Etienne said he “appreciated this moment.”
He transferred from Florida after 6-7 and 5-7 seasons.
Now he and Georgia are going to the College Football Playoff and get to skip the first round and go straight to the quarterfinals of the 12-team bracket where it’s expected to play in the Sugar Bowl.
“I wanted this one bad,” said Etienne, who scored the game-winning 4-yard touchdown after missing the last three games with a rib injury and rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. “A lot of these guys have been to the SEC championship and the national championship. I’ve never experienced something like this.”
He told them about playing in the Las Vegas Bowl, a 30-3 loss to Oregon State.
“They were looking at me crazy,” Etienne said.
Etienne had never won a championship at Florida or even in high school.
“I’m sure somebody’s going to find the score and post it. It was like 50-something to 14.”
St. James beat Etienne’s alma mater, Jennings, 51-14 for the Louisiana Class 3A state title.
Etienne came to a place where when Georgia didn’t win an SEC championship or make the playoff last year, it was a step back despite a 13-1 record.
This time they have an SEC title.
Smart admitted this SEC championship game was lacking something beforehand.
“I didn’t think early in pregame that the game had the same juice, didn’t think it had the same atmosphere that I’ve seen it have before,” he said.
That may be because both teams were considered safe for the playoff.
Fans now have to pay for three or four playoff games if there team is to win a national title.
Georgia now has three and a half weeks before its next game.
Starting quarterback Carson Beck left the game with what Smart called “an upper extremity” injury that made it hard for him to grip the ball or throw it.
“I talked to Carson,” wide receiver Arian Smith said. “He should be good. I don’t know exactly what happened to him but he said he was fine.”
Beck came in to hand the ball to Etienne on the last play after Gunner Stockton was hit hard on a run and his helmet came off.
Etienne said it was a good play call.
“It was a perfect handoff,” Etienne said. “Best handoff of my life. I hit back side and everybody stormed the field. It’s something I’ll remember forever.”
