Stetson Bennett responds to doubters following Georgia Orange Bowl win

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett has had no shortage of doubters throughout this season. Bennett opened the year as the backup to JT Daniels, but injuries have forced Bennett to remain in the starting role. As many have questioned Georgia’s upside on offense with Bennett, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart has stuck with him.

Bennett was exceptional in Georgia’s win over Michigan on Friday night. He completed 20 of his 30 pass attempts, throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His strong performance wasn’t about proving anybody wrong, though. Bennett is just focused on playing well and winning football games.

“Yeah, like Coach Smart said, this game is all about how well you play,” Bennett said. “There’s really nothing – I didn’t go out there and play well today in spite of people. I came out there and played well and worked hard throughout the few weeks we had off because my teammates needed me to do that, and we needed that to win.”

Bennett’s strong performance as Georgia’s starting quarterback sent a message to his critics, whether that was his intention or not.

“So as far as a statement, that’s my goal every week is to play that well,” Bennett added.

Kirk Herbstreit: Bennett has the opportunity to change Georgia’s quarterback narrative

Ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal matchups, College GameDay’s Kirk Herbstreit said that Bennett has a great opportunity to change the narrative at quarterback for Georgia. His performance on Friday night was certainly a good start.

“How do you get over that hump? You beat Michigan, you play in the national championship, you play well and you beat Alabama,” Herbstreit said. “Other than that, I don’t know if anything is going to allow this perception, and by the way I don’t agree with it, but how do you change that narrative? That’s what you do.

“You don’t turn the ball over. You don’t have to be Bryce Young, be Joe Burrow throwing for 525 the other day, but you do have to go out there and make some plays and put the ball on the money and not turn it over and win. Then you go to Indianapolis and you do it over again. Avenge your only loss of the year. That would make the narrative completely go away. Anything short of that, I think you’ll find people questioning whether or not they made the right call in going with him all year. I’m not agreeing with that, I just think that’ll be the narrative from a lot of people.”

Next up for Georgia is a rematch with Alabama in the national championship.