Before ringing in the new year, we get the second semifinal of the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs face the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes. The CFP Semifinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta is an actual home game for the Bulldogs.
Reigning national champ Georgia entered the day as one of only three FBS teams to not allow more than 21 points in any half this season, but that quickly changed as Ohio State jumped out to a 21-7 lead by the middle of the second quarter.
Despite the early deficit, the Bulldogs put up three scoring drives and briefly led 24-21. Some bad news for the Bulldogs: Georgia ranks 1-9 under Kirby Smart when trailing by at least 14 points and the Buckeyes quickly regained the lead thanks to a 37-yard touchdown pass from CJ Stroud which came 49 seconds before the break.
The winner of this game will move on to face the TCU Horned Frogs, but in the meantime, here are the sights and scenes from Atlanta:
Kudos from King James
Marvin Harrison Jr. He found the end zone often this season, and that trend continued in the first half. Harrison Jr. tied Chris Olaf (2021) and David Boston (1998) for the third-most touchdown reception in a single season in Ohio State history with the first score of the game, which was the 13th touchdown reception. He also caught the eye of a notable Buckeyes fan and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
π£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈ Let’s go!!! Best WR in the country! Who cares about your votes!! #18 Hit them with βThe Silencerβ π€«
– LeBron James (@KingJames) January 1, 2023
Harrison Jr. ran before halftime. He hauled in five receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns. His seventh 100-yard receiving game of the season was second in a single season in Buckeyes history.
I got one for you @employee #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Kp2lCoU4JW
– Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) January 1, 2023
1οΈβ£8οΈβ£ That’s it!! π£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈπ£οΈ
– LeBron James (@KingJames) January 1, 2023
Harrison and Stroud’s call is this special!!
– Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 1, 2023
making an entrance
π Mercedes-Benz Stadium#goodies | #ciofapitch pic.twitter.com/jiIRxlM57X
– Georgia Football (GeorgiaFootball) December 31, 2022
Buckeyes has arrived π pic.twitter.com/8GGFkJysBd
– Ohio State Buckeyes π° (@OhioStAthletics) December 31, 2022
hometown support
Good luck πͺ#GoBucks https://t.co/bwR5ZK961X pic.twitter.com/vAcpBxWtxa
– Columbus Blue Jackets (BlueJacketsNHL) December 31, 2022
Scene mode
GAMEDAYβΌοΈ#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/HaV4vGzuVz
– Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 31, 2022
Ohio State Buckeyes enter Mercedes-Benz Stadium. pic.twitter.com/tUBfCgmOzN
– David Paschall (@DavidSPaschall) December 31, 2022
threads
π΄π΄π΄#goodies | #ciofapitch pic.twitter.com/xMYDMkEsLR
– Georgia Football (GeorgiaFootball) December 31, 2022
πππ ππ πππ π ππππππ πΎοΈ#GoBucks | #ciofapitch pic.twitter.com/MxtBkLa8PT
– Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (CFAPeachBowl) December 31, 2022
getting ready π# GoBks pic.twitter.com/WqGVk95Nkk
– Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 30, 2022
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