Georgia: Overtime games in the College Football Playoff have a long history

Three games have gone into overtime since the College Football Playoff was started in 2014.

Georgia’s 2018 squad, which won in OT in the semifinals before losing in overtime in the national championship game, was engaged in each of the first two occurrences. Before Michigan defeated Alabama in the 2024 Rose Bowl, there was a six-year period with no overtime games. Here are some highlights from each of these overtime classics, as well as the game-winning plays.

2018 Rose Bowl (CFP semifinals) | Georgia 54, Oklahoma 48 (2OT)

Georgia’s Sony Michel scored in double overtime to defeat Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma in one of the wildest college football games in recent memory.

Two years ago, Georgia won a 2OT thriller of a Rose Bowl over Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma to advance to the National Championship game 🌹🔥 pic.twitter.com/gVn8Fl1Iun

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2020

Oklahoma led 31-17 at halftime, but two quick Georgia touchdowns tied the game at 31 going into the fourth quarter. With less than one minute remaining, Nick Chubb’s two-yard touchdown run knotted the game at 45, sending it to overtime.

Each team settled for a field goal in the first overtime period, and Oklahoma was lined up for a 27-yard field goal to give the Sooners the advantage in the second overtime period. Georgia’s special teams unit, however, made the game-winning play, stopping the short field goal attempt and giving the Bulldogs a chance to win with a score.

Georgia ended the game in just two plays, as Sony Michel broke past the Oklahoma defense and found the end zone from 27 yards out, sending Georgia to its first national championship game appearance since 1980.

2018 National Championship | Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (OT)

Just one week after beating Oklahoma in OT, Georgia found themselves in overtime again, this time against SEC rival Alabama.

Georgia had a 20-7 lead midway through the third quarter in the national championship game after Mecole Hardman scored on an 80-yard touchdown. But it was all Alabama after that, as head coach Nick Saban switched to freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in place of the experienced starter, Jalen Hurts.

This proved to be the correct decision for Saban and the Crimson Tide, as Tagovailoa rallied Alabama to tie the game with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.

Georgia got the ball first in overtime and, after a quick three-and-out, settled for a long field goal to grab a 23-20 lead.

On 2nd and 26, after a 16-yard loss on Alabama’s opening offensive play of overtime, Tagovailoa dropped back and found Devonta Smith for a 41-yard championship-winning touchdown.

2024 Rose Bowl (CFP semifinals) | Michigan 27, Alabama 20 (OT)