CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Kirby Smart counter-programming revolution is upon us. Football is all about offense these days, passing and points and pace, but the Georgia coach is going to see how far his sledgehammer defense can carry the team.
You want shootouts? Smart wants shutouts. And he nearly got one Saturday night, holding No. 3-ranked Clemson to its fewest points in 14 years to win a 10–3 trench brawl of a season opener. There were zero offensive touchdowns, 13 punts and eight sacks. Georgia won while having exactly two plays longer than 20 yards.
The old saying about defense winning championships had become obsolete in college football.