In a fun offseason exercise, ESPN released its list of the top-60 college football games since the turn of the century.
Georgia fans have had no shortage of great games to watch over the last two decades and was featured five times on the list, including four times in the top-10. The unfortunate part is that the Bulldogs only came out victorious in one out of these five games.
Somber, however, is difficult to find amongst the DawgNation these days given the way the 2021 college football season ended when Georgia snapped a 41 year draught and beat Alabama for the national championship.
Here’s the five Georgia games that made ESPN’s list of the greatest games of the 2000s, plus two that I personally think could have made it as well.
Syndication: Montgomery
Via Bill Connelly:
Before Georgia finally got one over on the Crimson Tide and beat them for the 2021 national title, the Dawgs’ last 10 years were defined by close-but-no-cigar moments. In the 2018 SEC championship game, the Dawgs missed out on a spot in the CFP when Jalen Hurts, in for injured Alabama starter Tua Tagovailoa, led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives (which sandwiched an infamous failed fake punt) and scored the game-winner with 64 seconds left.
This was somehow only the third-most gut-wrenching defeat the Dawgs suffered against Bama in the 2010s.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper catches a touchdown against Georgia DB Damian Swann late in the game: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
This is where it all began. Where we learned that a big lead on Alabama meant absolutely nothing. Georgia came out swinging with Aaron Murray and Todd Gurley and had a 21-10 lead in the third quarter after Alec Ogletree returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown. Next thing you know, Georgia’s trailing 32-28 after a 45-yard Amari Cooper touchdown with just over three minutes to go. After a few punts, Georgia got the ball back at its 15 with 1:08 to go.
Aaron Murray, Arthur Lynch and Tavarres King put together a beautiful drive to get us down to the Alabama 8-yard line before disaster struck. After a 26 yard gain to Lynch and with the clock running, Murray rushed to the line and threw a pass that was tipped and then caught by Chris Conley at the 5. Conley fell to the ground but the clock kept running. Georgia would not get another snap off.
I still remember screaming “Georgia’s going to win this game!” after Ogletree’s touchdown on the blocked kick. And I continued thinking that all the way up to the last second.
This was the first real opportunity Georgia had to make it to the national title in a long time. And who was waiting for us? Notre Dame. A team Georgia would have beaten 50-0.
Alabama DeVonta Smith scores the game-winning TD against Georgia safety Dominick Sanders during overtime in the 2018 CFP national championship: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Via Bill Connelly:
Georgia had to wait five years (and change coaches) to get another shot. The Dawgs won the SEC to reach the national title game and took a 13-0 halftime lead, but backup quarterback Tua Tagovailoa brought the Tide back. They tied the game at 20-20, but it went to OT after they missed a late field goal. Georgia kicked a field goal in OT, then sacked Tagovailoa for a huge loss, but on second-and-26, he hit DeVonta Smith for a 41-yard touchdown. Bama won the national title.
Auburn WR Ricardo Louis catches a tipped ball by Georgia DB Josh Harvey-Clemons and scores the game winning TD: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
The Prayer at Jordan–Hare was an absolute thriller. Georgia was looking to play spoiler to Auburn’s season, but the Tigers pulled off the first two of miracles to close out the season, with the other being the “Kick-Six.”
With No. 25 Georgia leading No. 7 Auburn 38–37 with 36 seconds to go, the Tigers faced a 4th down and 18. Nick Marshall simply threw it up and UGA defensive backs Josh Harvey-Clemons and Tray Matthews both failed to knock it down, resulting in a 73-yard touchdown pass to Ricardo Louis.
Sony Michel scores the game winning TD against Oklahoma: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Via Bill Connelly:
Oklahoma went on a 24-7 run to take a commanding lead in the second quarter, but two touchdowns in two minutes gave Georgia a sudden edge early in the fourth. But after OU tied the game with a Baker Mayfield-to-Dimitri Flowers touchdown pass, Steven Parker returned a Sony Michel fumble 46 yards to push the Sooners back ahead. A short, late Nick Chubb touchdown sent the game to overtime, and in the second OT possession, Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter blocked Austin Seibert’s field goal attempt. That gave Michel a chance to atone: His 27-yard explosion sent the Dawgs to the national title game.
Justin Scott-Wesley scores the 25-yard go-ahead touchdown. (Photo by Jason Getz/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/MCT/Sipa USA)
This is one of the most exciting games ever played in Sanford Stadium. No. 9 Georgia versus No. 6 LSU on September 28, 2013. I’m actually surprised it did not make ESPN’s list, given it was a top-10 SEC thriller.
After LSU answered the Bulldogs’ initial touchdown with two of its own late in the first quarter, it was up to star quarterback Aaron Murray and the Georgia offense to lead UGA back into the game.
LSU made a strong push late, but Georgia would go on to win 44-41 behind four touchdown passes from Murray, including a late strike to Justin Scott-Wesley for the win.
Kelee Ringo returns a interception for a touchdown to seal UGA’s national title win over Alabama: Syndication: The Indianapolis Star
Sure, there were better, more exciting games than this one. But the whole country was tuned in to watch as Georgia finally dethroned Alabama and got over the hump. Maybe I’m biased, but that’s ok.
Alabama held a 9-6 halftime lead over Georgia after a low-scoring first half. Stout red zone defense and an injury to star Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams headlined the first half.
The game’s momentum changed after Stetson Bennett fumbled the ball deep in Georgia territory early in the fourth quarter. Several plays later, Alabama scored a touchdown to go up 18-13.
Georgia had to bounce back. Bennett led the Bulldogs down the field on a pass-heavy drive. Facing second-and-18 on Georgia’s next drive, Bennett connected with Adonai Mitchell on a 40-yard touchdown pass. Georgia never looked back.
Georgia’s defense forced a three-and-out on Alabama’s next drive. Next, UGA’s offensive line dominated Alabama as the Dawgs drove the ball into the red zone behind a spirited rushing attack. Bennett connected with Brock Bowers on a touchdown to build a 26-18 lead.
The Dawgs needed to stop Bryce Young and Alabama to win a national championship. Young and the Crimson Tide drove the ball to near midfield before he threw a third-down pick six to UGA’s Kelee Ringo.
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Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Nakobe Dean has been compared to a former Atlanta Falcon legend
After two seasons with the Bulldogs, Georgia offensive line coach Matt Luke will step down, per a report from Rivals.
Luke spent the last season as associate head coach along with offensive line duties. The former Ole Miss head coach released this statement today following the story, which includes a Kirby Smart statement.
Luke’s decision appears to be related to family reasons and one cannot blame him for such. At this level of college football, the work rates are outstandingly difficult and time consuming.
The question now remains for the Bulldogs: Who will replace Luke?
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