At the stroke of midnight, the first few seconds of 2023, Noah Ruggles missed a 50-yard field goal and Georgia escaped the Peach Bowl — a CFP semifinal — with a 42-41 victory.
GEORGIA IS HEADED BACK TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP‼️ pic.twitter.com/9zENcba88W
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023
The Dawgs, who are looking to repeat as national champs, play TCU, which downed Michigan earlier in the Fiesta Bowl, for the national championship on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium.
The Dawgs trailed 38-24 and 41-35 when they got the ball with a few minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Stetson Bennett led a masterful drive of 72 yards over five plays. It ate up 1:49 and concluded with Bennett finding Adonai Mitchell for a 10-yard touchdown.
GEORGIA TAKES THE LEAD WITH 55 SECONDS LEFT! pic.twitter.com/PkOb99ySX0
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) January 1, 2023
Jack Podeslny’s PAT proved to be the difference as Ohio State only got two field goals over the last 15:31 of game time.
Earlier, Bennett found a wide-open Aaron Smith for a 76-yard TD after the Ohio State DB covering on the play slipped and fell.
GEORGIA STRIKES QUICKLY! Stetson Bennett to a WIDE OPEN Arian Smith for the 76 yard TD!! #PeachBowl pic.twitter.com/sjVg1Eacnu
— 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) January 1, 2023
C.J. Stroud was 23-of-34 for 348 yards passing and 4 touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
Stetson Bennett was 23-of-34 for 398 and 3 touchdowns. He was 10-of-12 for 190 in the fourth quarter.
