In an electrifying contest that shattered records and tested resilience, the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs edged past Georgia Tech with a 44-42 victory in eight overtimes on Friday night at Sanford Stadium. The dramatic finish, orchestrated by freshman Nate Frazier’s decisive two-point conversion, etched the game into history as the longest-ever in SEC play.
Georgia Tech struck first in the eighth overtime, but quarterback Haynes King, under heavy pressure from linebacker CJ Allen, overthrew his target in the end zone. Georgia seized the moment as Frazier took the handoff, darted up the middle, and clinched victory, setting the crowd ablaze in red and black jubilation. The triumph marked Georgia’s 31st consecutive home win and their seventh straight in the “Clean Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry.
The game was a showcase of determination and comebacks. Georgia overcame a 17-point halftime deficit, their largest comeback since 2006, and clawed back from a 14-point gap late in the fourth quarter. This incredible turnaround saw Georgia’s offense, initially plagued by mistakes, roar to life, scoring 21 points in the final 8:18 of regulation.
Quarterback Carson Beck was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ resurgence, throwing for five touchdowns and 297 yards on 28-of-43 passing. His crucial connections, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dominic Lovett with just over a minute left in regulation, kept Georgia alive. On the other side, Haynes King was phenomenal, amassing 303 passing yards, 110 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns. His performance made him the first player to achieve such a feat against an AP top-10 team.
The marathon matchup saw both teams battle through eight overtimes, with neither able to convert two-point tries in the third and fourth periods. Key moments included Beck’s slant pass to Dillon Bell in the fifth overtime and King’s immediate response to tie it again. Defensive plays, like Dan Jackson’s critical sack and a late fumble recovery, kept the tension high.
Ultimately, the thrilling encounter concluded eight periods and just minutes past midnight, falling one overtime short of the NCAA record. Georgia’s grit and Frazier’s decisive run will be remembered as one of the most dramatic finishes in college football history.
