In a rivalry game that will be remembered for generations, the No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs outlasted the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 44-42 in an epic octuple-overtime thriller. The annual clash, known as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate,” lived up to its billing and then some, as the teams traded blows late into the Athens night at Sanford Stadium.
Georgia, now 10-2 on the season, kept its College Football Playoff hopes alive with the improbable victory. But it certainly didn’t come easy. The Bulldogs trailed 17-0 at halftime and looked listless for much of the game before staging a furious fourth-quarter rally to force overtime.
Beck and King Duel in Overtime
In the extra periods, it was a battle of quarterbacks. Georgia’s Carson Beck threw five touchdown passes, including two in overtime, to spearhead the Bulldogs’ effort. He finished 28-of-43 for 297 yards in a gritty performance.
Not to be outdone, Georgia Tech’s Haynes King accounted for five total touchdowns himself – three rushing and two passing. The elusive signal-caller racked up 303 yards through the air and 110 on the ground, nearly willing the Yellow Jackets to the upset.
Dramatic Fourth Quarter Comeback
Trailing 27-13 with under six minutes remaining, Georgia looked dead in the water. But a quick touchdown drive capped by a 17-yard Beck-to-Dominic Lovett scoring strike cut the deficit to 27-20 with 3:39 to play.
The Bulldogs defense, maligned for much of the night, then came up with the play of the game. King, trying to put the contest away, instead coughed up the football on a huge hit by safety Dan Jackson. Chaz Chambliss pounced on the loose ball, giving Georgia possession at the Yellow Jacket 32-yard line.
Beck frantically guided the Bulldogs to the tying score, finding Lovett again from three yards out with just 1:01 on the clock. 27-27. On to overtime we went.
Marathon Overtime
In the first two overtimes, the quarterbacks traded passing touchdowns. In the third, it was matching rushing scores – a 1-yard King plunge and a 25-yard Beck scamper.
The offenses finally stalled in the fourth overtime, leading to a string of 2-point conversion attempts. Both teams converted in the fifth extra period. Then, mercifully, in the eighth overtime, freshman running back Nate Frazier bulldozed into the end zone to seal the 44-42 Georgia victory.
The overtime was epic. What a great game.
– Georgia head coach Kirby Smart
Playoff Hopes Alive, But a Gritty Grind Ahead
The win keeps alive Georgia’s chances of returning to the College Football Playoff, where they lost in the title game a season ago. But the Bulldogs, now self-described as “a beat-up football team,” have little time for rest.
They have a date in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday, likely against either No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M. Win there, and Georgia can all but punch its ticket to the playoff, no matter how they looked for much of the night against their in-state rival.
For Georgia Tech, it was a gut-wrenching defeat in a game where they had victory firmly in their grasp. The Yellow Jackets, who fall to 7-5 with the loss, gave the highly-ranked Bulldogs all they could handle and then some.
There’s no moral victories. But I’m proud of those guys.
– Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key
When the history books look back on this rivalry, the 2024 edition will stand out for its drama, its length, and its sheer improbability. But for Georgia, surviving this “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” means their lofty goals remain in reach – if they can recover in time for the mighty challenges ahead.
The Bulldogs defense, maligned for much of the night, then came up with the play of the game. King, trying to put the contest away, instead coughed up the football on a huge hit by safety Dan Jackson. Chaz Chambliss pounced on the loose ball, giving Georgia possession at the Yellow Jacket 32-yard line.
Beck frantically guided the Bulldogs to the tying score, finding Lovett again from three yards out with just 1:01 on the clock. 27-27. On to overtime we went.
Marathon Overtime
In the first two overtimes, the quarterbacks traded passing touchdowns. In the third, it was matching rushing scores – a 1-yard King plunge and a 25-yard Beck scamper.
The offenses finally stalled in the fourth overtime, leading to a string of 2-point conversion attempts. Both teams converted in the fifth extra period. Then, mercifully, in the eighth overtime, freshman running back Nate Frazier bulldozed into the end zone to seal the 44-42 Georgia victory.
The overtime was epic. What a great game.
– Georgia head coach Kirby Smart
Playoff Hopes Alive, But a Gritty Grind Ahead
The win keeps alive Georgia’s chances of returning to the College Football Playoff, where they lost in the title game a season ago. But the Bulldogs, now self-described as “a beat-up football team,” have little time for rest.
They have a date in the SEC Championship Game next Saturday, likely against either No. 3 Texas or No. 20 Texas A&M. Win there, and Georgia can all but punch its ticket to the playoff, no matter how they looked for much of the night against their in-state rival.
For Georgia Tech, it was a gut-wrenching defeat in a game where they had victory firmly in their grasp. The Yellow Jackets, who fall to 7-5 with the loss, gave the highly-ranked Bulldogs all they could handle and then some.
There’s no moral victories. But I’m proud of those guys.
– Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key
When the history books look back on this rivalry, the 2024 edition will stand out for its drama, its length, and its sheer improbability. But for Georgia, surviving this “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” means their lofty goals remain in reach – if they can recover in time for the mighty challenges ahead.
