The greatest game in Rose Bowl history puts Georgia in the national championship.
An unforgettable comeback may’ve resulted in the Bulldogs’ most memorable game. They’ll face the winner of Clemson-Alabama on Jan. 6 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Here’s how the already legendary game went down:
After Georgia failed to produce on its opening drive, the Sooners responded with a lightning-quick score. Baker Mayfield and crew didn’t even break a sweat in building a 7-0 lead.
Heck of a start, Baker Mayfield.
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) January 1, 2018
4-for-4
63 yards.
TD. #RoseBowl #CFBPlayoff
Heck of a start, Baker Mayfield.
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) January 1, 2018
4-for-4
63 yards.
TD. #RoseBowl #CFBPlayoff
Fact is, Georgia has not faced an offense like Oklahoma’s this season… (in other words, a Big 12 offense)
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) January 1, 2018
They made that look easy.
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) January 1, 2018
Not the start the Georgia defense wanted.
On a related note, Baker Mayfield is not sick.
Georgia didn’t take long to answer, riding the Nick Chubb and Sony Michel duo to a tied game.
Complete list of Georgia players to score a Rose Bowl touchdown: Frank Sinkwich, Sony Michel.
— Mark Bradley (@MarkBradleyAJC) January 1, 2018
Sony Michel picks a great time to get his first receiving TD of the year. #RoseBowl#UGA: 7#OU: 7
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) January 1, 2018
Robby Anderson took over the next drive. Oklahoma ran down the field for another score.
Georgia had allowed 13.2 points per game entering today.
— NFL Draft (@NFLDraft) January 1, 2018
Oklahoma has 14 points, and we're 8:04 into the first quarter ... #RoseBowl #CFBPlayoff
12 plays, 155 yards, 2 TDs so far for Sooners.
— Chip Towers AJC (@ctowersajc) January 1, 2018
Oklahoma runs downhill, too.
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) January 1, 2018
Touchdown. Rodney Anderson after runs of 45, 9 and 9 on consecutive carries.
Rodrigo Blankenship shanked a 48-yard field goal to leave Georgia without points for the second time in three drives.
Rodrigo Blankenship's 48-yard field goal try is wide left.
— Yahoo Sports College Football (@YahooSportsCFB) January 1, 2018
That was 4th & 3 from the OU 31. pic.twitter.com/HrMnZ6npFO
The Sooners took advantage. They produced another balanced drive with Anderson’s 41-yard dash capping it.
Rodney Anderson is destroying Georgia's vaunted defense.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 1, 2018
Not to be outdone, Michel burst through the middle for a 75-yard touchdown.
Sony. Michel. #DontBlink #RoseBowl
— Eddie Timanus (@EddieTimanus) January 1, 2018
Defense optional I see. #RoseBowl
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) January 1, 2018
Oklahoma added a field goal to extend its lead to 24-14. After a trio of punts, Oklahoma ran a brilliantly designed trick play – resulting in Mayfield catching a touchdown.
UGA managed to squak out another three on Blankenship’s 55-yard kick as time expired in the half.
Heisman Trophy Winner 🏆 Baker Mayfield catches a Touchdown on a perfect 3rd & Goal playcall pic.twitter.com/5zYRpVCGxC
— NCAAF Nation (@NCAAFNation247) January 1, 2018
Only Auburn had more yards and points than #Oklahoma has against #Georgia (360 and 31) ... but Sooners has come in just one half. #RoseBowl
— Cory McCartney (@coryjmccartney) January 1, 2018
Here’s your #RoseBowl First Half recap... pic.twitter.com/WN7tT5CyEa
— Work-At-Home Head (@BigHeadBS) January 1, 2018
Georgia’s defense forced a three-and-out to start the second half, and Chubb’s 50-yard run pulled his team within seven.
One play, 11 seconds and 50 yards: @FootballUGA's Nick Chubb gets his first TD of the game. Score: OU 31, UGA 24 #RoseBowl #BoomerSooner #GoDawgs
— Rose Bowl Game (@rosebowlgame) January 2, 2018
This is at the 44-yard...Nick Chubb turned it into a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/c6IWBDi2Oi
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 2, 2018
What a start for UGA in second half. Ballgame again.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) January 2, 2018
Wow! Chubb has outstanding contact balance.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) January 2, 2018
Michel tore through the Sooners defense again to knot it up, erasing a 17-point deficit.
Sony Michel 6 carries, 142 yards
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 2, 2018
Nick Chubb 8 carries, 138 yards
Absolutely ridiculous.
Chubb & Michel.
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) January 2, 2018
8⃣,1⃣9⃣8⃣ rushing yards (and counting).
The most by a RB duo in college football history. pic.twitter.com/2IJKCwgFnD
the NFL should let a team draft Chubb + Michel as a package deal
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 2, 2018
You can fit NINE Sony Michel’s in that hole pic.twitter.com/Ujq9Q21EGj
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) January 1, 2018
Then Dominick Sanders picked off Mayfield and returned it inside the 5-yard line to complete the momentum shift. Jake Fromm found Javon Wims in the end zone and Georgia jumped in front, 38-31.
Wims has been a great, underrated receiver all year and he's showing up big time in the second half.
— Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) January 2, 2018
A Javon Wims touchdown catch, and the Bulldogs have the lead for the first time.
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) January 2, 2018
As you’d expect, Oklahoma responded with its back against the wall. Mayfield regained his first-half form and led the game-tying drive with 8:47 left.
Georgia was daring Mayfield to make a throw outside the numbers. He did. We got a game again
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) January 2, 2018
No quit in Baker Mayfield. What an incredible game.
— Bonnie Bernstein (@BonnieBernstein) January 2, 2018
Tell you what... Sugar Bowl has a tough act to follow...
This is an incredible game. Oklahoma ties it up, Sooner fans delirious. #rosebowl pic.twitter.com/WbNhvXfq0z
— Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) January 2, 2018
With the Bulldogs moving, Oklahoma safety Steven Parker scooped and scored on a Michel fumble. The Sooners scored 14 points in under two minutes to regain the advantage.
https://twitter.com/abdulamemon/status/948004187140427776
Baker Mayfield gets the defense fired up and they proceed to force a fumble for a TD
— 2020 NFL Draft (@DraftRT) January 2, 2018
Leadership skills ➕➕➕pic.twitter.com/SldnLgjDQd
This game has already made 2018 a successful year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 2, 2018
Tremendous play by Oklahoma
— Booger (@ESPNBooger) January 2, 2018
Georgia’s true freshman quarterback and future NFL running backs took over from there. The Bulldogs tied the game again with 55 seconds remaining.
Wild Dawg @NickChubb21 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) January 2, 2018
What a GAME!!!!
— Anthony Becht (@Anthony_Becht) January 2, 2018
Man I love college football!
— Derek Tyson (@DerekJTyson) January 2, 2018
The Sugar Bowl kickoff has been moved to July.
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) January 2, 2018
Those three points at the end of the half loom large
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) January 2, 2018
The Bulldogs defense stepped up to stop Oklahoma’s potential game-winning drive. The Sooners punted and Georgia played for overtime.
First overtime game in Rose Bowl history, by the way.
— Chip Towers AJC (@ctowersajc) January 2, 2018
The #RoseBowlGame heads into overtime! #UGA2RoseBowl pic.twitter.com/fVcnaXv0ie
— AJC (@ajc) January 2, 2018
Don't you even want to try one play? Not even a safe sideline pass for FG range?
— Jeff Schultz (@JeffSchultzATL) January 2, 2018
Georgia has two running backs averaging more than 10 yards a carry tonight and they won't even try a draw play and see if they can break a long run?
— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) January 2, 2018
Overtime wasn’t a disappointment. The teams exchanged field goals in the first period.
But Georgia blocked Oklahoma’s next kick attempt. And Michel sent them back to Atlanta for the national championship.
Georgia is headed to Atlanta for the National Championship. Get your keepsake of an unforgettable Bulldogs' season here: https://t.co/k3s4NvPuy5 pic.twitter.com/fR6J2oXyzI
— AJC Sports (@AJCsports) January 2, 2018
A touchdown Georgia fans will remember forever. pic.twitter.com/4pyS5OSako
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2018
THE DAWGS ARE GOING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/RJ3fI3Kpxp
— Georgia Bulldogs (@UGAAthletics) January 2, 2018
FINAL!!!!! #DawgsOnTop#CFBPlayoff // #ATD pic.twitter.com/S49jto22ao
— Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) January 2, 2018
Georgia's 17-point comeback win is the largest in Rose Bowl history!
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 2, 2018
StubHub's page for the college football title game has crashed.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 2, 2018
Way to go Georgia fans.
GEORGIA WINS!
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) January 2, 2018
Best. Rose Bowl. Ever. pic.twitter.com/fJGPViOtmu
