DARNELL WASHINGTON

Cornerback Kelee Ringo and tight end Darnell Washington are headed to the NFL Draft after helping lead Georgia to a second consecutive national title.

With all sorts of turmoil behind them, No. 1 Georgia left no doubt about the top team heading into the College Football Playoff.

Georgia leaned on its defense in winning its first national championship since 1980 last season.

Stetson Bennett threw for 289 yards and two TDs as Georgia stamped its return to No. 1 with a 55-0 rout of Vanderbilt.

Georgia moved up to No. 2 in the first Associated Press college football poll of the regular season.

Third-ranked Georgia made a statement that its offense is ready to take the lead.

Stetson Bennett threw for 368 yards and accounted for three touchdowns and Georgia's revamped defense didn’t miss a beat.

Georgia and Alabama could be heading for another showdown in the Southeastern Conference championship game.

APTOPIX Kentucky Georgia Football Georgia tight end Darnell Washington leaps over Kentucky defender DeAndre Square for a first down during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, in Athens, Ga. (Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) (Curtis Compton)ATHENS, Ga. — (AP) — With Georgia playing its first game as the nation's No. 1-ranked team since 2008, Stetson Bennett tossed three touchdown passes and the Bulldogs got another stifling defensive effort in a 30-13 victory over No. Bennett, starting his third straight game in place of injured JT Daniels, hooked up with freshman tight end Brock Bowers on a pair of scores. Otherwise, Georgia's top-ranked defense lived up to the billing, limiting Kentucky to 249 total yards and blocking a pair of kicks. Kentucky trailed only 14-7 at halftime, matching Georgia's smallest lead of the season after two quarters.