Tag: Orange Bowl

Apr 20, 2024; Notre Dame, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish Defensive Coordinator Al Golden participates in warmups before the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Orange Bowl notebook: Notre Dame DC Al Golden faces alma mater

Posted on | by Field Level Media

This week’s trip to South Florida isn’t the first homecoming for Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden. He’s come back in the years since the end of his tenure as head coach at the University of Miami.

But facing his alma mater, Penn State, in the Capital One Orange Bowl this Thursday night with a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff national championship game is sparking a different set of emotions.

Golden, 55, was a tight end at Penn State from 1988-1991 before a brief NFL stint with the New England Patriots.

“I’m excited that Penn State is doing well and happy for the program, but more importantly it’s been a great journey for us,” Golden said on Tuesday afternoon after the Fighting Irish arrived at the team’s hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “This is my third year at Notre Dame and I had an opportunity to build it with Coach (Marcus) Freeman and get to this point. It’s been a long time and we’re on the brink of being where we want to be when we had our first conversations.”

Golden, who coached Miami from 2011-2015, has been back to coach in South Florida on two prior occasions when he was an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals.

But Thursday’s game will be the first time he’ll be on the sideline at Hard Rock Stadium for a collegiate game since he was fired in Week 8 of the 2015 season following a humbling 58-0 loss to Clemson.

At Notre Dame, Golden has helped build one of the top defenses in college football. The Irish rank second in the nation in scoring defense (13.6 points allowed per game) and fifth in passing yards allowed (167.4 per game). Golden has been rumored of late as a possible candidate to return to the NFL next season.

“For me, I’ve loved the people I had the opportunity to form relationships with when I was here and the student-athletes I had the chance to work with,” Golden said. “I’ve reconciled that stage and had great moments since.”

–Penn State continues to be aggressive and successful on fourth downs this season, which was a byproduct of having the depth it lacked in recent years, according to coach James Franklin.

The Nittany Lions have converted 16 of 23 such attempts this season, which puts them in a tie for 13th nationally in fourth down conversion percentage. Penn State ranked 88th in that category in 2021 before ranking in the top eight each of the past two seasons.

“You’ve got to play to your strengths, and sometimes your strength is to punt and play good defense and early on, that was our strength when we got here,” Franklin said. “We had a little bit more depth and talent on that side of the ball.”

–It’s unclear whether Notre Dame will have two of its top players available for Thursday’s game.

Linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, who played 13 snaps against Georgia in the quarterfinals, continued to practice this week although albeit with a brace on his right knee. Jeremiyah Love is also working his way back from a knee injury, but it’s unclear how close he is to returning to action.

–The Orange Bowl brought back memories for Penn State wide receiver Liam Clifford, who was once recruited by Notre Dame out of St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. Clifford has caught 18 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown this season.

“I grew up a Notre Dame fan and the games I went to as a kid were always Notre Dame games, and my cousin was going there at the time,” Clifford said on Tuesday during the team’s media conference in Fort Lauderdale. “This is a cool full-circle moment for me. They have a ton of tradition, which makes this game awesome.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CFP denies request to flip dates of semifinal games

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The College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played as scheduled, despite a request for an alteration.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Thursday that he wanted the CFP committee to flip the dates of the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl.

His request came after the Sugar Bowl, in which Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10, was delayed one day after the truck attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Notre Dame moves on to meet Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Ohio State and Texas will play in the Cotton Bowl the following day for a berth in the national championship.

Per ESPN, Sankey was worried the winner of the Sugar Bowl could be at a disadvantage having two fewer days of rest and preparation time than Penn State, which played on New Year’s Eve.

But CFP executive director Rick Clark told ESPN on Friday the schedule will not change.

“We’re not going to flip the games,” Clark said. “The concession we made with the athletic directors was to start the Sugar Bowl earlier — an 18-hour or so delay. We slipped the game 18 hours to ensure we could provide safety and security for teams, coaches, staffs, fans and others involved. (New Orleans) and Sugar Bowl officials were amazing.”

Sankey told Finebaum that the “incredible horrible tragedy” in New Orleans warranted consideration of a change of dates.

“Sometimes just like within a game you have to adapt you have to adjust,” Sankey said.

Clark said such a change would have a wide-ranging impact.

“Logistics are very complicated, disruptive to the other teams involved that have schedules in place, especially Texas and Ohio State,” he said. “Fans have made arrangements already and this creates issues for them. There’s more, but these are some of the major points.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2023; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton (2) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half in the 2023 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

No. 6 Georgia throttles No. 5 Florida State in Orange Bowl rout

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Carson Beck passed for two touchdowns in two quarters of action and No. 6 Georgia steamrolled No. 5 Florida State 63-3 on Saturday in a record showing at the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Beck completed 13 of 18 passes for 203 yards before exiting as the Bulldogs won by an Orange Bowl-record 60 points. The previous largest margin of victory was 55 when Alabama routed Syracuse 61-6 on Jan. 1, 1953.

Kendall Milton rushed for 104 yards and two touchdowns and Daijun Edwards also ran for two scores as Georgia (13-1) pummeled a previously unbeaten Florida State squad. The Seminoles were missing several key players on both sides of the ball, most of them either declaring for the NFL draft or entering the transfer portal.

Georgia backup quarterback Gunner Stockton was 6-of-10 passing for 96 yards and two scores. Daylen Everette and Malaki Starks had interceptions for the Bulldogs, who have won 46 of their past 48 games.

Freshman Brock Glenn completed 9 of 26 passes for 139 yards and two interceptions in his second straight start for Florida State (13-1). Glenn became the starter after star Jordan Travis broke his leg and Tate Rodemaker sustained a concussion and later entered the portal.

The shellacking ended Florida State’s 19-game winning streak, which was second-longest behind Washington (20).

The Bulldogs rolled up an Orange Bowl-record 673 total yards and limited the Seminoles to 209.

Georgia blew the game open with a 35-point, second-quarter blitz.

Milton scored on a 15-yard run with 4:05 left in the first quarter and tacked on a 5-yard touchdown run three seconds into the second to make it 14-0.

After Ryan Fitzgerald kicked a 22-yard field goal for the Seminoles, Edwards scored on a 15-yard run for the Bulldogs to make it 21-3.

Florida State’s Deuce Spann fumbled away the ensuing kickoff when hit by Chaz Chambliss and Cole Speer recovered for Georgia at the Seminoles’ 27-yard line. On the next play, Ladd McConkey scooted 27 yards on a reverse to give the Bulldogs two touchdowns in 20 seconds and a 25-point advantage with 10:18 left in the half.

Beck threw two touchdowns passes later in the half, first hitting Arian Smith from 12 yards out and then tossing a 2-yarder to Dominic Lovett to make it 42-3 with 24 seconds to go.

Stockton replaced Beck at the outset of the second half and guided Georgia on a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Edwards capped it with a 2-yard run.

Stockton threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Lawson Luckie to make it 56-3 with 2:30 left in the third quarter. He added a 14-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Evans III with 12:10 left in the game.

–Field Level Media

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Brock Glenn (11) throws against the Louisville Cardinals during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 FSU, No. 6 Georgia aim to get past anger in Orange Bowl

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Florida State owns a 19-game winning streak that ranks second nationally, and Georgia has won 45 of its past 47 games.

However, neither program is part of the four-team College Football Playoff, leaving the No. 5 Seminoles and the No. 6 Bulldogs to face off in the Orange Bowl on Saturday at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Florida State (13-0) appeared in great position to land a playoff spot until star quarterback Jordan Travis, who finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting, sustained a broken leg on Nov. 18 against North Alabama.

The Seminoles won their next two games behind two different starting quarterbacks, but they wound up fifth in the final rankings, when chairman Boo Corrigan said the committee decided that “Florida State is a different team without Jordan Travis.”

At the time, Seminoles coach Mike Norvell described himself as “disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision.” Now he is focused on leading Florida State to its second-ever 14-0 season.

Georgia (12-1) fell from No. 1 to No. 6 in the final rankings but only had itself to blame. The Bulldogs lost 27-24 to then-No. 8 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game.

Georgia is making its 27th straight bowl appearance, the longest active streak in the nation.

The big question for the Bulldogs is whether All-America tight end Brock Bowers will play. Bowers injured an ankle against Vanderbilt on Oct. 14, underwent surgery two days later and returned Nov. 11 but wasn’t a big-time force the rest of the season.

“Brock’s been with us the whole time and he’s been doing all the things he’s got to do,” Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. “It’s more important, though, that he’s 100 percent. The guy probably played earlier than he should have, came out there and competed his butt off.”

Bowers has 56 catches for 714 yards and six touchdowns this season. He ranks second in school history in touchdown receptions (26), third in catches (175) and fifth in receiving yards (2,538).

Smart expects Ladd McConkey to be available after the wideout was limited to nine games due to injuries.

Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck considered declaring for the NFL draft before announcing his return for 2024. Beck is completing 72.4 percent of his passes this season (which would be a school record) for 3,738 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions.

“We’ve felt pretty good that Carson was coming back the entire time,” Smart said. “He certainly had options, but he communicated that he wanted to grow and continue to get better.”

Florida State has been hit heavily by departures since defeating then-No. 14 Louisville 16-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game on Dec. 2.

Backup quarterback Tate Rodemaker, who guided the Seminoles past Florida on Nov. 25, announced earlier this week that he is entering the transfer portal and won’t play in the Orange Bowl. That leaves freshman Brock Glenn to make his second straight start. Glenn passed for just 55 yards in the Louisville game when Rodemaker sat out due to a concussion.

“Definitely excited to see (Glenn) take the step from his first start to his second start,” Norvell said. “A lot of confidence in what he’ll be able to do, what he’ll be able to accomplish. … I know Brock is going to be fired up and excited for the opportunity that he has.”

Other Seminoles sitting out include top running back Trey Benson (905 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns), receivers Keon Coleman (50 catches, 11 for touchdowns), Johnny Wilson (41 receptions) and Jaheim Bell (39 catches), All-America defensive end Jared Verse (team-best nine sacks). Defensive tackle Fabien Lovett also is headed for the NFL, but it was unclear if he would compete against Georgia.

Florida State enter its 50th bowl game with a 30-17-2 bowl record, including a 5-5 mark in the Orange Bowl.

Georgia has won six consecutive bowl games and is 37-21-3. The Bulldogs are 3-1 in past Orange Bowl appearances.

Georgia is 6-4-1 all-time against Florida State. The Bulldogs won the most recent meeting 26-13 in the Sugar Bowl following the 2002 regular season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 2, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) runs the ball against the Louisville Cardinals during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State RB Trey Benson, two others skipping Orange Bowl in favor of NFL

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Florida State running back Trey Benson announced Sunday that he will not play in the Orange Bowl to instead focus on NFL draft prep, one of three FSU players to declare for the draft.

Benson, who led the undefeated Seminoles with 905 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this fall, along with tight end Jaheim Bell and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett join two other players who had previously declared for the NFL, wide receiver Johnny Wilson and cornerback Jarrian Jones. All but Jones intend to skip the bowl game.

On Instagram, Benson wrote in part, “I cannot begin to express how valuable my two years have been, especially the relationships I’ve made with teammates, coaches, athletic training, academic staff and the whole FSU family. … I have decided to enter the 2024 NFL Draft and will not play in the Orange Bowl.”

Benson, a redshirt junior, joined Florida State in 2022 after two uneventful seasons at Oregon. He rushed for 990 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season in Tallahassee.

Over his career, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry while scoring 23 touchdowns on the ground.

Bell recorded 39 receptions with 503 yards and two touchdowns for the Seminoles after transferring in from South Carolina.

Lovett, who started his career at Mississippi State, played in 13 games, recording 22 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups.

Florida State was left out of the CFB Playoff despite finishing 13-0 and will face Georgia on Dec. 30 in Miami Gardens, Fla.

–Field Level Media

Dec 2, 2023; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck (15) throws a pass against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the third quarter of the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State-Georgia in Orange Bowl highlights non-CFP bowl games

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Undefeated ACC champion Florida State and two-time national champion Georgia will face off in the Orange Bowl in the biggest showdown of the non-playoff New Year’s Six bowl matchups, announced Sunday.

The Orange Bowl will pit No. 5 Florida State against No. 6 Georgia on Dec. 30 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The 13-0 Seminoles, who feel they were snubbed from a top-four spot by the College Football Playoff selection committee, will settle for the traditional destination of the ACC champion.

Georgia dropped from No. 1 to No. 6 after a wild weekend saw the Bulldogs lose the SEC championship game 27-24 to Alabama. At 12-1, the Bulldogs fell behind not only the Crimson Tide but also No. 3 Texas and the Seminoles.

On Jan. 1, No. 1 Michigan will face No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl in one CFP semifinal, and No. 2 Washington will play No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl for the other.

In other New Year’s Six bowl game action:

–Ohio State will meet Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29. The Buckeyes’ only loss came in their regular-season finale against current No. 1 Michigan. That knocked Ohio State out of the running for the Big Ten championship game. Missouri went 10-2 in its first double-digit-win season since 2014.

–Penn State will face Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 30. The third Big Ten-SEC matchup of the New Year’s Six, this game pits two 10-2 teams that fell short of making their respective conference title games.

–Oregon will face Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. The Ducks’ two losses both came by three points to Washington, the latter time in the Pac-12 title game. They’ll face undefeated Liberty, which is playing in its first New Year’s Six bowl game in program history. The 13-0 Flames earned the Group of Five conferences’ automatic New Year’s Six bid after Tulane lost to SMU in the American Athletic Conference title game.

The full schedule of bowl games is as follows:

Dec. 16
–Myrtle Beach Bowl: Georgia Southern vs. Ohio
–New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana vs. Jacksonville State
–Cure Bowl: Appalachian State vs. Miami (Ohio)
–New Mexico Bowl: New Mexico State vs. Fresno State
–LA Bowl: Boise State vs. UCLA
–Independence Bowl: Texas Tech vs. Cal

Dec. 18
–Famous Toastery Bowl: Western Kentucky vs. Old Dominion

Dec. 19
–Frisco Bowl: Marshall vs. UTSA

Dec. 21
–Boca Raton Bowl: South Florida vs. Syracuse

Dec. 22
–Gasparilla Bowl: UCF vs. Duke

Dec. 23
–Birmingham Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Troy
–Camellia Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Northern Illinois
–Armed Forces Bowl: James Madison vs. Air Force
–Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: Utah State vs. Georgia State
–68 Ventures Bowl: South Alabama vs. Eastern Michigan
–Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern vs. Utah
–Hawaii Bowl: San Jose State vs. Coastal Carolina

Dec. 26
–Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green vs. Minnesota
–First Responder Bowl: Texas State vs. Rice
–Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Kansas vs. UNLV

Dec. 27
–Military Bowl: Tulane vs. Virginia Tech
–Duke’s Mayo Bowl: North Carolina vs. West Virginia
–Holiday Bowl: Louisville vs. Southern California
–Texas Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M

Dec. 28
–Fenway Bowl: SMU vs. Boston College
–Pinstripe Bowl: Miami vs. Rutgers
–Pop-Tarts Bowl: NC State vs. Kansas State
–Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Arizona

Dec. 29
–Gator Bowl: Clemson vs. Kentucky
–Sun Bowl: Oregon State vs. Notre Dame
–Liberty Bowl: Iowa State vs. Memphis
–Cotton Bowl: Ohio State vs. Missouri

Dec. 30:
–Peach Bowl: Penn State vs. Ole Miss
–Music City Bowl: Auburn vs. Maryland
–Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Georgia
–Arizona Bowl: Toledo vs. Wyoming

Jan. 1
–ReliaQuest Bowl: LSU vs. Wisconsin
–Citrus Bowl: Iowa vs. Tennessee
–Fiesta Bowl: Oregon vs. Liberty
–Rose Bowl: Michigan vs. Alabama (CFP semifinal)
–Sugar Bowl: Washington vs. Texas (CFP semifinal)

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2022; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Bru McCoy (15) scores a touchdown past Clemson Tigers cornerback Jeadyn Lukus (10) during the first half of the 2022 Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Milton III’s 3 TDs lead No. 6 Tennessee past No. 7 Clemson in Orange Bowl

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Joe Milton III passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 6 Tennessee to a 31-14 victory over No. 7 Clemson on Friday night in the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Squirrel White caught nine passes for 108 yards and one touchdown and Bru McCoy and Ramel Keyton also had scoring receptions for the Volunteers (11-2). Jabari Small rushed for a touchdown while Aaron Beasley and Byron Young each had two sacks as Tennessee achieved its first 11-win season since 2001.

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik was 30-of-54 passing for 320 yards and two interceptions and also rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. Joseph Ngata had eight catches for 84 yards for the Tigers (11-3).

Milton completed 19 of 28 passes in his second start since star Hendon Hooker tore the ACL in his left knee against South Carolina on Nov. 19.

The Volunteers held a 21-6 lead after Milton tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to White with five seconds left in the third quarter.

Clemson took over and finally found the end zone on its 11th possession of the contest. The Tigers drove 71 yards on 12 plays with Klubnik scoring on a 4-yard run and Will Shipley adding a two-point run to pull within seven with 10:01 remaining in the game.

But Tennessee wasted no time answering back as Milton threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Keyton. That capped a six-play, 75-yard drive that gave the Volunteers a 28-14 advantage with 8:34 left.

Chase McGrath booted a 32-yard field goal with 3:07 remaining as Tennessee finished off the triumph.

The Volunteers led 14-3 at halftime despite being outgained 273-191.

Clemson was unable to finish first-half drives and B.T. Potter missed three field goals — he was wide right from 55 and 49 yards and wide left from 42.

The Volunteers struck first when Milton tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to McCoy with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

Tennessee made it 14-0 after Milton’s 50-yard connection to White moved the ball to the Clemson 2-yard line. Small ran in on the next play with 9:03 left in the half.

Potter’s fourth field-goal attempt of the half slid inside the left upright to get the Tigers on the board with 5:11 remaining.

Potter booted a 40-yard field goal with 10:57 remaining in the third quarter. It was his 73rd career make, surpassing Nelson Welch (72 from 1991-94) for most in Clemson history.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III (7) throws a pass during Tennessee football practice at Haslam Field in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022. The Vols are preparing to play in the Orange Bowl against Clemson on Dec. 30. Ut Football Practice

Top 10 matchup, QB changes add intrigue to Orange Bowl

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A few weeks ago, a Tennessee-Clemson bowl matchup would have been one of the most appetizing of the season, featuring quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and DJ Uiagalelei.

Neither player will be on the field when the No. 6 Volunteers face the No. 7 Tigers on Dec. 30 in the Orange Bowl at Miami Gardens, Fla., on Dec. 30.

Hooker saw his sensational season for Tennessee end when he tore the ACL in his left knee against South Carolina on Nov. 19. The following week, the Gamecocks had a major hand in ending Uiagalelei’s tenure at Clemson by harassing him into a poor performance.

Uiagalelei then started slowly in the ACC championship victory over North Carolina and was pulled in favor of freshman Cade Klubnik, who completed 20 of 24 passes for 279 yards and one touchdown. When Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Klubnik would start the Orange Bowl, Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal to search for a new school.

Clemson makes its 18th straight bowl appearance — the fifth-best streak nationally — with Klubnik leading the way. He said he observed the way everything played out and learned from how Uiagalelei handled the situation.

“He was consistent through it all. He led through it all,” Klubnik said of Uiagalelei. “He stayed to who he was and stayed true to his teammates. Never tried to point a finger. Never turned an eye. Just stayed who he was, and that really showed a lot.”

Joe Milton III makes his second start of this season and fourth of his Tennessee tenure due to the season-ending injury to Hooker, who finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

The Orange Bowl gives Milton a head start toward being the Volunteers’ starter next season. One of his tasks is achieving the school’s first 11-win season since 2001.

“We have to finish it off, obviously, for our brother Hendon,” Milton said. “He put a lot into the program, and if he was out there, he’d be playing his heart out. I feel like that’s what we’ll do as a team.”

Milton will be missing Biletnikoff Award winner Jalin Hyatt and fellow receiver Cedric Tillman after both opted out of the Orange Bowl and declared for the NFL Draft.

Two other Volunteers — defensive end Byron Young and right tackle Darnell Wright — will play in the contest and then declare for the draft.

The Clemson defense is led by Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who has 12 tackles for loss.

“He’s just a baller. He’s an incredibly instinctive player,” Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said of Trotter. “… He’s put the work in. He’s incredibly focused.”

Tennessee opened the season with eight straight victories and was No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings before losing to then-No. 3 Georgia on Nov. 5. Though the goal was to reach the playoffs, defensive tackle Bryson Eason said the team’s mood is good for the Orange Bowl.

“I feel like everybody is dialed in and focusing and we’re ready to have a big game and show the world what it is,” Eason said. “We are blessed to be in this opportunity to play in a New Year’s Six bowl.”

Tennessee holds a 11-6-2 series lead against the Tigers, but Clemson won the most recent meeting, 27-14 in the 2003 Peach Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2021; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Stetson Bennett (13) runs with the ball ahead of Michigan Wolverines defensive lineman Julius Welschof (96) in the second quarter during the Orange Bowl college football CFP national semifinal game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

No. 3 Georgia blasts No. 2 Michigan, earns title-game rematch with Tide

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Stetson Bennett passed for 307 yards and three touchdowns and No. 3 Georgia advanced to the College Football Playoff title game with a dominating 34-11 win over No. 2 Michigan on Friday night in a national semifinal at Miami Gardens, Fla.

Derion Kendrick intercepted two passes as the Bulldogs (13-1) turned the Orange Bowl into a one-sided contest in the first half and were never threatened.

Georgia will meet No. 1 Alabama in the CFP final on Jan. 10 in Indianapolis. The Crimson Tide walloped the Bulldogs 41-24 in the Southeastern Conference title game on Dec. 4, Georgia’s lone loss.

Bennett completed 21 of 31 passes and threw scoring aerials to Brock Bowers, Jermaine Burton and James Cook (three receptions, 99 yards). Kenny McIntosh tossed a halfback option touchdown pass to Adonai Mitchell, and Georgia accumulated four sacks.

Cade McNamara completed 11 of 19 passes for 106 yards and two interceptions for Michigan (12-2), while backup J.J. McCarthy was 7 of 17 for 131 yards and one touchdown. Heisman Trophy runner-up Aidan Hutchinson had four tackles, with one going for a loss.

Georgia rolled up 515 yards of total offense to Michigan’s 325.

The Bulldogs set the tone for the rout with two touchdowns in the first 10-plus minutes.

Bennett capped a game-opening, seven-play, 80-yard drive with a 9-yard scoring pass to Bowers.

Georgia dipped into its bag of tricks on its second possession as McIntosh took the handoff and delivered a strike to Mitchell for an 18-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 with 4:41 remaining in the period.

Jack Podlesny kicked a 43-yard field goal to boost the lead to 17 early in the second quarter. Jake Moody connected on a 36-yard field goal to get the Wolverines on the board with 7:16 left in the half before Podlesny tacked on a 28-yard field goal to make it 20-3 with 3:50 to play.

Two-plus minutes later, Burton badly beat Michigan cornerback Vincent Gray for a 57-yard scoring pass from Bennett as the Bulldogs led 27-3 at the break. Georgia more than tripled the Wolverines’ total offense in the half — 330 to 101.

Michigan had a scoring opportunity early in the third quarter, but McNamara’s throw to the end zone was intercepted by Kendrick with 10:02 left.

The Bulldogs increased their advantage to 34-3 when Bennett threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Cook with 11:11 left in the contest.

The Wolverines finally found the end zone with 4:25 left when McCarthy threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Andrel Anthony. A.J. Henning scored on an end-around on the two-point conversion play.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2021; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Conference championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 2 Michigan eager for first CFB appearance vs. No. 3 Georgia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jim Harbaugh’s tenure at Michigan was looking a bit murky with no victories over rival Ohio State and no bowl victories since his first season on the job.

However, Year 7 has been the breakthrough season, and No. 2 Michigan will make its College Football Playoff debut when it faces No. 3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 31 at Miami Gardens, Fla.

The Wolverines (12-1) got that first win over Ohio State in the Harbaugh era by a 42-27 score and then steamrolled Iowa 42-3 in the Big Ten title game to land the national semifinal spot against the Bulldogs (12-1).

The winner will face either top-seeded Alabama or fourth-seeded Cincinnati in the national championship game on Jan. 10.

“The goal wasn’t to get this far, right?” Wolverines running back Blake Corum said. “The goal was to keep going. So our focus is the same. The goal is the same.”

Michigan features the top defensive player in the nation, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Yet how the offense fares against the ferocious Georgia defense might be the key element.

The Wolverines rank 12th nationally in scoring offense at 37.7 points per game and topped 30 points on 10 occasions. But Georgia leads the nation in scoring defense (9.5 points allowed per game) and ranks second in total defense (254.4 yards per contest).

The Bulldogs gave up 10 or fewer points nine times, pitching three shutouts.

In fact, the Bulldogs allowed nearly one third of their point total — 41 of 124 — in a 17-point loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game.

Though Georgia extended its bowl streak to a nation-leading 25 in a row, the bitter loss to the Crimson Tide is serving as motivation.

“It is new life, it is one game and you have to win to advance,” outside linebacker Nolan Smith said of the national semifinal. “A lot of people watch Georgia football for a long time and a lot of people didn’t get this opportunity that we have had, and now that we have it, we have to seize it.”

Bulldogs defensive coordinator Dan Lanning became Oregon’s head coach, but he is assisting Georgia in the playoffs. Will Muschamp and Glenn Schumann are co-coordinating the defense.

Georgia ranks seventh in scoring offense (39.4) and scored at least 30 in 11 straight games prior to the Alabama setback.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett passed for 2,325 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Stetson is the starter because JT Daniels sustained two different injuries — first to an oblique, the second a lat strain.

Daniels reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before Christmas, and it was unknown if he would be available to face Michigan.

The Bulldogs will have to deal with Hutchinson, who had 14 sacks and is a strong candidate to be the first player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he got his first scouting report of Hutchinson from his 9-year-old son. Then he did his own legwork and said the Bulldogs haven’t faced a player like him.

“There’s not going to be anything casual about this game,” Smart said. “There’s going to be a bunch of strain and physicality, which (Hutchinson) prides himself on and does a tremendous job. It’s an incredible opportunity for our offense to go up against the likes of their defense.”

Meanwhile, Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara isn’t flashy but is efficient with 2,470 yards and 15 touchdowns against four interceptions.

The Wolverines see no reason to alter their blueprint no matter how dominant the Georgia defense has been.

“Not trying to change or do anything different,” Michigan receiver Cornelius Johnson said, “but just play our brand of football.”

The teams split two previous meetings with the Wolverines prevailing in 1957 and Georgia winning in 1965.

–Field Level Media