BAKER DOESN’T
Georgia focused on slowing OU’s Heisman winner
LOS ANGELES — Georgia has had a month to prepare for the best offense in the nation. The Bulldogs have spent more than four weeks studying the best player in the country.
In becoming more and more familiar with Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma, Georgia became less and less certain what to expect from the Sooners’ seemingly unstoppable offense.
“You can’t compare anybody to Oklahoma,” Georgia defensive tackle John Atkins said. “They’re in their own category.”
The tape offered similar intel to the Sooners, confirming what they’d heard about Georgia’s seemingly impenetrable defense.
“We have never played a team like this,” Oklahoma center Erick Wren said. “You can see that on film.”
In an intriguing contrast of styles, the historic programs will meet on the f ield for the f irst time ever on New Year’s Day, when No. 2 Oklahoma (12-1) and No. 3 Georgia (12-1) battle for a national championship spot in the 104th Rose Bowl.
While the Sooners are in the College Football Playoff for the second time in the past three years, secondyear Georgia coach Kirby Smart has his alma mater nearing its f irst national title since 1980, following the Bulldogs’ first SEC title in 12 years.
Moving any closer means getting past the Heisman Trophy winner Mayf ield, who led the top-ranked Sooners offense to nearly 45 points per game, and holds the sport’s alltime passer rating record. It means spilling the paint of the unpredictable quarterback and free-form field artist, referred to by Georgia’s coach as a more-creative Johnny Manziel. It means slowing a superstar unlike anyone Smart — the former Alabama defensive coordinator, who won four national championships under Nick Saban — has ever seen.
“The guy is a winner. He is a gunslinger. He’s every defensive coordinator’s nightmare,” Smart said. “I mean, the guy believes he can make every throw. He’s seen every defense known to man. … Baker Mayfield is the great equalizer.
“Every game I go back in his history and watch, he has a wow moment, he has a wow play. He’s really good at that. … He’s going to make some plays, so you’ve got to go out and make your mind up that, hey, when he makes one, how are we going to respond to it and handle that the right way.”
Despite Bob Stoops’ sudden retirement in June, Oklahoma won its third straight Big 12 championship with the youngest head coach in the country, Lincoln Riley, improving the 34-yearold’s already devastating attack by leading the nation in yards per play (8.44) and yards per game (583.3).
But when Riley was the offensive coordinator two years ago, a similarly dominant Oklahoma offense arrived at the Orange Bowl and was limited to a season-low 17 points by Clemson, the best defense it had faced that season .
Mayfield, then a sophomore, had 311 yards passing, throwing one touchdown and two interceptions.
“I think obviously losing is not something you ever want to feel, but losing a playoff game when you’re that close to finishing your ultimate goals hurts even worse,” Mayf ield said. “That’s something we’ve talked about, the guys that were there for that … that’s something you never want to feel again.” So much has changed since. Mayfield has morphed from a former walk-on to an all-time legend. Georgia ended its 15-year relationship with Mark Richt, took a step back last season with five losses, then transformed into a national power behind a defense that allows 13.2 points per game.
As Mayfield earned unending praise this season, Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith quietly impacted games as much, finishing higher in the Heisman voting (10th) than any defensive player in the country.
“They s ay to be the best you have to go up against the best,” Smith sai d. “They say he’s the best college football player in America, so we’re def initely looking forward to that challenge. … When you are a great defense you love going up against a great offense because it brings out your defense and shows why it’s the best.”
Though Mayfield has had flu-like symptoms since arriving in California, neither side expects it will hinder his performance. In the biggest game of his career, the spotlight-loving quarterback could be better than ever.
“I can remember when Michael Jordan had the flu once,” said Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, referring to the 1997 NBA Finals. “They were having to carry him off the floor during timeouts, and he had one of his best games. I expect Baker Mayfield to be at his best.”
Sickness may not slow Mayfield. But can Georgia?
“They’re as good as we’ve faced in a long time,” Riley said. “There’s just not many holes. … They don’t give you anything. To play well offensively against a group like them, you’ve got to be razor sharp, and if you’re not, they can expose you in a heartbeat.”