A season ago, the national-champion Georgia Bulldogs were written off after having to replace virtually their entire defense lost to the NFL draft.
All they did was ride quarterback Stetson Bennett to an undefeated season and another national championship.
But can the Dawgs become the first team in the modern era to go back-to-back-to-back, especially now that college football's biggest gamer in recent memory (Bennett) is gone?
While it's hard to bet against them, it's also tough to bet against history, which says it won't happen. But if you look at their schedule, there aren't a ton of pitfalls. The biggest roadblock appears to be a trip to Knoxville late in the season.
A year ago, the Dawgs' defense overwhelmed Hendon Hooker and the top-ranked Vols in Athens, humbling them with a 27-13 win in wet conditions. The Vols still went on to win 11 games and beat Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
Now, coach Josh Heupel's team gets a chance to return the favor in Neyland Stadium, and though replacing Hooker won't be an easy task, Joe Milton III has the skill set to make all the throws, and there are weapons all over Tennessee's offense.
The Vols' defense should take a big step forward in '23, too, so even though Georgia absolutely should be favored, this won't be an easy trip. If the Vols win, they could surge to the top of the East.
