As the clock ticked past midnight in an unforgettable game, Nate Frazier sealed the victory for No. 6 Georgia with a 3-yard run that could help secure their place in the College Football Playoff.
Frazier ran for a 2-point conversion in the eighth overtime after Georgia made an amazing comeback in the fourth quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 44-42 win over Georgia Tech in a game that stretched into Saturday morning.
“The overtime was epic,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart. “What a great game.”
After being down 17-0 at halftime and struggling for most of the game, the Bulldogs (10-2, No. 7 CFP) showed resilience in their fight for a spot in the 12-team playoff, no matter the result of next weekend’s Southeastern Conference championship game against either No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M.
“That’s for someone else to decide,” Smart said. “Our opportunity is in front of us.”
Carson Beck threw five touchdown passes, including two in overtime, in a game where the Bulldogs never led until after the game ended 27-all at the end of regulation. He completed 28 of 43 passes for 297 yards.
Georgia Tech (7-5) was led by Haynes King, who ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more. King passed for 303 yards and rushed for 110, putting up an impressive performance that wasn’t enough to win.
Frazier, a freshman, took a handoff from Beck and ran straight up the middle for the final touchdown, triggering fireworks above Sanford Stadium.
This game became the longest in SEC history and was just one overtime away from tying the record for the longest FBS game. That record was set in 2021, when Illinois defeated Penn State 20-18 after nine overtimes.
“We are a beat-up football team,” Smart said. “We’ve got to get well.”
King scored on an 11-yard run to give Georgia Tech a 27-13 lead with 5:37 left in the game, looking like they might win. But the Bulldogs quickly answered by driving 75 yards in eight plays, cutting the lead to 27-20 with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Beck to Dominic Lovett with 3:39 remaining.
Then, Georgia’s defense stepped up, forcing a crucial turnover by King, who had been hard for the Bulldogs to stop all game. King ran on third-and-1 but lost the ball after being hit by Dan Jackson. Chaz Chambliss recovered the fumble at the Georgia Tech 32-yard line, and Beck led the team to a tying touchdown with a 3-yard pass to Lovett with 1:01 left in regulation.
The game then went into overtime, where the action kept going on and on. Beck and King each threw touchdown passes, followed by extra points. King then ran for a 1-yard touchdown, but Beck answered with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Cash Jones. Both teams failed on their 2-point conversions, leading to the game coming down to 2-point tries only.
Both teams scored on their 2-point tries in the fifth overtime, but it was Frazier who finally ended the game with his run.
“There’s no moral victories,” said Georgia Tech coach Brent Key, fighting back tears. “But I’m proud of those guys.”
The first half was a shock for the Bulldogs, who have dominated this rivalry known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” for years. Georgia Tech took a big lead, outgaining Georgia 307-137 in total yards and holding the ball for much longer in the first half.
King, who has dealt with shoulder problems, looked fully recovered as he led Georgia Tech down the field. He scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Haynes, who made a great leap to the pylon. The Yellow Jackets also added a 31-yard field goal by Aidan Birr.
However, Birr missed a 25-yard field goal attempt, and Georgia Tech lost another chance when Haynes was tackled for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 at Georgia’s 25-yard line.
Despite these missed opportunities, Georgia Tech had its biggest lead over the Bulldogs since 2013, when they led 20-0 before Georgia came back to win 41-34 in double overtime.
The Bulldogs pulled off another incredible comeback, extending their school-record home winning streak to 31 straight victories.
