Georgia Bulldogs Celebrity Alumni Maria Taylor and Elle Duncan Relive Dawgs’ 2022 Championship Glory in Emotional Reunion
The electrifying energy of Georgia’s 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship victory came rushing back this weekend as two of UGA’s most prominent media personalities – NBC Sports’ Maria Taylor and ESPN’s Elle Duncan – reunited to celebrate the historic 33-18 triumph over Alabama in Indianapolis. The beloved Bulldogs alumni, who both covered the championship game as star sportscasters, shared behind-the-scenes memories and emotional reflections during a special appearance at the Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall.
Taylor, the Emmy-winning host of NBC’s “Football Night in America” who called the championship for ESPN, became emotional recalling Stetson Bennett’s iconic fourth-quarter touchdown pass to Brock Bowers that sealed the victory. “I lost all professionalism in that moment,” laughed Taylor, a 2009 UGA graduate. “When Kelee Ringo intercepted that pass and ran it back for the clinching touchdown, I think every Georgia alum in Lucas Oil Stadium – including me – completely blacked out from joy.”
Duncan, ESPN’s “SportsCenter” anchor and a 2004 UGA grad, shared how she fought back tears while reporting from the confetti-covered field. “After 41 years of waiting, to see our Dawgs finally climb that mountain – and to have the privilege of documenting it – that’s a career highlight I’ll cherish forever,” Duncan said. The two journalists displayed the championship rings they received as alumni, with Taylor joking, “This might be the only jewelry I ever wear to bed.”
The reunion event featured never-before-seen footage from their live broadcasts, including Taylor’s viral reaction shots and Duncan’s emotional post-game interviews with Bennett and head coach Kirby Smart. Both women credited their UGA education with preparing them for the career-defining moment of covering Georgia’s long-awaited return to college football’s summit.
Current Georgia players in attendance said hearing Taylor and Duncan’s stories added new meaning to the championship legacy. “They showed us that being a Bulldog is forever,” said offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild. The celebration coincided with preparations for the 2024 season, serving as a powerful reminder of the program’s transformed expectations under Smart’s leadership.
As Taylor and Duncan led the crowd in one final “Go Dawgs!” chant, the moment captured how Georgia’s 2022 breakthrough united Bulldogs across generations – from the players on the field to the alumni in the broadcast booths who helped tell the story of a championship that changed a program forever.
