ATLANTA —
Ohio State 41, Georgia 42
Second quarter
After one of the most exciting college football games in memory between Michigan and TCU, the Ohio State Buckeyes and Georgia Bulldogs got down to business on Saturday evening.
The game started out quiet with neither team able to put points on the board during their initial drives.
That quickly changed during OSU's second possession however as they needed just 4 plays and just over two minutes to score the game's first touchdown.
Not to be left out of the New Year's Eve festivities, Georgia evened things up on their next drive with 3:15 to play in the first half.
In the second, the Georgia defense gave Ohio State a gift in their own red zone with a pass interference call that gave the Buckeyes fresh downs from the two yard line. The Bucks capitalized by scoring their second touchdown of the game.
On their very next play from scrimmage, Georgia's Stetson Bennett threw an interception, once again giving Ohio State great field position.
C.J. Stroud capitalized in the next series of downs when he escaped pressure in the backfield to find Marvin Harrison Jr. in the end zone for the Buckeyes third touchdown of the game.
Georgia's high-powered offense struck next with a run for a touchdown by Kendall Milton with just over 9 minutes left in the half to keep things within one score.
Then, with just over 6 to play Georgia capitalized on a huge pass play to put the ball in the end zone and tie up the game.
Although Georgia once again made it to the red zone on their next drive, Ohio State was able to hold them to a field goal.
OSU retook the lead just before the half with a touchdown.
Ohio State struck first in the second half with touchdown pass from Stroud to Emeka Egbuka to put some distance between OSU and UGA.
A field goal increased the Buckeye's lead to 14 at the end of the third quarter.
Georgia had to settle for a field goal after driving deep into Ohio State territory, even with help from an overturned spot that gave them a first down inside the ten yard line.
After Georgia called a timeout just before Ohio State would most likely have gotten a first down on a fake punt, a huge play for a touchdown and subsequent 2-point conversion put Georgia back within three.
Although they were hoping for a touchdown, Ohio State took a lot of time off the clock with a drive that ended with a field goal and only 2:43 for Georgia to get in the end zone themselves.
And that was all Georgia needed, driving down the field and putting the Bulldogs ahead with less than a minute to play.
Still. The Buckeyes had just enough in the tank when Heisman finalist C.J. Stroud led OSU to field goal range and a chance to win the game off the leg kicker Noah Ruggles.
And as the clock struck midnight the ball went right, giving Georgia the victory.
Ohio State's Road to the Peach Bowl
The Ohio State University football team is in the College Football Playoff for the fifth time since its inception in 2014, but its inclusion was anything but a certainty going into conference championship weekend.
The Buckeyes (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) got trounced 45-23 by rival Michigan in their regular season finale and missed out on the opportunity to play for a conference title. They were ranked fifth in the CFP rankings and needed some if the selection committee was going to place them back inside the top four.
That help arrived in the form of the Utah Utes, who beat then-No. 4 USC 47-24 in the Pac 12 Championship game, allowing OSU to take their place in the final rankings.
Georgia's path to the playoff was much more straight forward. The Bulldogs (13-0, 9-0 SEC) were a virtual lock to make the top four regardless of the outcome of the SEC Championship game, which they won 50-30 over LSU.
UGA has been ranked No. 1 in the CFP rankings since Week 10 - the second week the rankings were released. This is Georgia's third trip to the playoff.
The winner of Saturday's Peach Bowl moves on to the national championship on Jan. 9.
THE BASICS
What: Peach Bowl - No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State.
When: Saturday at 8 p.m.
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium - Atlanta.
TV: ESPN.
Announcers: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge.
Line: UGA -6.5; Over/under 62 (as of Wednesday).
Last meeting: UGA won 21-14 in 1993.
BY THE NUMBERS
Points per game: OSU 44.5 | UGA 39.2
Points allowed per game: OSU 19.3 | UGA 12.8
Total yards: OSU 492.7 | UGA 491.9
Yards passing: OSU 294.2 | UGA 284.9
Yards rushing: OSU 198.5 | UGA 207.0
Yards allowed: OSU 303.9 | UGA 292.1
Pass yards allowed: OSU 184.0 | UGA 215.1
Rush yards allowed: OSU 119.9 | UGA 77.0
PLAYERS TO WATCH
OHIO STATE
Quarterback C.J. Stroud: 235-355, 3,340 yards, 37 touchdowns, six interceptions.
Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.: 72 catches, 1,157 yards, 12 touchdowns.
Running back Miyan Williams: 125 carries, 817 yards, 13 touchdowns.
Linebacker Tommy Eichenberg: 112 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception.
Safety Ronnie Hickman: 51 total tackles, six passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble.
GEORGIA
Quarterback Stetson Bennett: 269-395, 3,425 yards, 20 touchdowns, six interceptions; 184 yards rushing, seven touchdowns.
Tight end Brock Bowers: 52 catches, 726 yards, six touchdowns; 93 yards rushing, three touchdowns.
Running back Kenny McIntosh: 137 carries, 709 yards, 10 touchdowns; 37 catches, 449 yards, one touchdown.
Defensive lineman Jalen Carter: 29 total tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles.
Cornerback Kelee Ringo: 36 total tackles, six passes defensed, two interceptions.
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