Winners and Losers from the 2022 National Championship

The Georgia Bulldogs can rejoice for the first time in 41 years as a national champion football program.Riding a huge fourth-quarter performance from quarterback Stetson Bennett and a dominant defensive performance throughout the game, the nation's top defense proved it was the top football team in a 33-18 win over Alabama in Indianapolis.The victory gave UGA its first national title since 1980, gave coach Kirby Smart his first-ever win over former mentor Nick Saban and gave Dawgs fans everywhere plenty to bark about."It's a special moment for the University of Georgia," Smart told ESPN afterward, "a special moment for this team."And it's a special moment for Smart, whose program already had been on recruits' minds and looks like the top is ready to come off in a big way. They turned it up a notch with the game on the line, sealing the game with Kelee Ringo's pick-six of Young.As Nick Saban and Kirby Smart met at mid-field at the end of the game, the mics caught Saban telling Smart, "You guys kicked our [butt] in the fourth quarter." Young probably felt a culmination of that throughout the game.Georgia fans have heard it for so long, bristling at rival fans ending any argument about SEC supremacy with "1980."That, of course, is the last time the Bulldogs won a national championship, way back when Vince Dooley coached the Dawgs.Kirby Smart exorcised those demons Monday night with a 15-point win over the Alabama Crimson Tide. But they unfortunately were left to deal with a big loss and hope one of their stars didn't have a lasting injury yet again.Maybe it's time for college kickers to have their time to shine in the spotlight—perhaps a NIL deal for a gym promoting "leg day" or something.After Monday's national championship game, companies should strike while the iron's hot.In a game that featured offensive stars like Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, Alabama receiver Jameson Williams, Georgia freshman phenom tight end Brock Bowers and elite pass-catcher George Pickens, kickers Will Reichard and Jack Podlesny got a foot in the door at center stage (at least in the first half).At halftime of the title game, it was 9-6 Alabama, thanks to three Reichard field goals, including a 45-yarder.