ATHENS, Ga. —
As the clock crept past midnight in a marathon for the ages, Nate Frazier finally ended it for No. 6 Georgia with a little 3-yard burst that may have locked up the biggest prize of all.
The Game
Frazier ran for a 2-point conversion in the eighth overtime after Georgia pulled off an improbable fourth-quarter comeback, giving the Bulldogs a 44-42 victory over Georgia Tech on a Friday night that stretched into Saturday morning.
The Overtime
The overtime was epic, said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. "What a great game."
After falling behind 17-0 at halftime and being dominated most of the game, the Bulldogs (10-2, No. 7 CFP) showed grit in their bid for a spot in the 12-team playoff — no matter how they fare in next weekend’s Southeastern Conference championship game against either No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M.
The Player
Carson Beck threw five touchdown passes — two of them in OT — in a game the Bulldogs never led until after regulation ended 27-all. He finished 28 of 43 for 297 yards.
The Coaches
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key fought back tears, saying, "There’s no moral victories, but I’m proud of those guys." Smart, meanwhile, said, "That’s for someone else to decide. Our opportunity is in front of us."
The Result
Frazier, a freshman, took a handoff from Beck and burst up the middle, sending fireworks into the sky above Sanford Stadium.
The Takeaway
Georgia Tech: When Key took over this downtrodden program, he insisted the Yellow Jackets could compete with anyone — including their mighty state rival. This one will hurt for a while, but Georgia Tech showed it’s on the verge of backing up his bold words after just two full seasons in charge. "He’s done a tremendous job turning that program around," Smart said.
Georgia: The Bulldogs aren’t nearly as dominant as the team that won back-to-back national titles during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. They surrendered 563 yards to the Yellow Jackets, including 260 on the ground. But, amazingly, Smart’s squad still has a shot at winning it all for the third time in four years.
Up Next
Georgia Tech: Awaits a second straight bowl invitation and another shot at its first eight-win season since 2016, which also was the last year they beat the Bulldogs.
Georgia: Heads to the SEC championship game for the fourth straight season and seventh time in Smart’s nine years as coach. The opponent will be the winner of Saturday night’s game between Texas and Texas A&M.
Conclusion
This game will be remembered for ages, a true epic battle between two teams with different styles and different strengths. In the end, Georgia emerged victorious, but Georgia Tech showed it’s a force to be reckoned with.
FAQs
Q: Who scored the winning touchdown for Georgia?
A: Nate Frazier
Q: How many touchdowns did Carson Beck throw for Georgia?
A: Five
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: 44-42
Q: Who will Georgia face in the SEC championship game?
A: The winner of the Texas-Texas A&M game.
