Kirby Smart shares how Georgia has changed since last year's title game

The Georgia Bulldogs likely have a level of comfort heading into their second straight National Championship game, especially after hoisting the title trophy last season. But despite their experience and championship DNA, head coach Kirby Smart believes that this season’s team is far different than the one that defeated Alabama in last year’s National Championship game.

“You think about this time last year, who we were and who we are now, it couldn’t be further from the same team, just very different mental makeup, physical makeup, very different path to get here,” Smart said.

Last season, the makeup of the Bulldogs was that of an NFL roster, setting an NFL record for most players taken in a single draft with 15 players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many of those players from last season’s National Championship team may be now playing on Sundays, but this year’s squad is still a special unit according to Smart.

“But the journey is what it’s about,” Smart said. “And these guys have everything we’ve asked. I’ve just been so pleased with the mental makeup and the character of this team. They’ve embodied everything we’ve asked them to do.”

Unlike last year’s Georgia team, the Bulldogs this season have a blemish-free, undefeated record heading into the National Championship game, along with an SEC Championship victory. Statistically, especially offensively, they are better than last year’s team, but the outcome of Monday’s National Championship game versus TCU will be the true test of how they compare.

Georgia’s journey from last season’s Nation Championship to this seasons was a long one, as they look to accomplish what only seven teams have in the history of college football and repeat as National Champions.

“It’s funny, now you start making plans for next year of what you’re going to do when you get back and when you start workouts. We were doing the same thing this time last year and had no clue who we did this for,” Smart said.

Georgia would make history Monday by repeating as National Champions, but so would TCU, as it’d be the first time they won one since 1938. It will all be settled on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET in SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles Smart’s Bulldogs take on the Horned Frogs in the National title game airing on ESPN.