Rose Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs Heading To Championship With Win

It was a Rose Bowl for the ages on Monday. After the first overtime periods in the iconic game's 116-year history, the Georgia Bulldogs are headed to the National Championship Game with a 54-48 shootout win over the Oklahoma Sooners.

Running back Nick Chubb scored four touchdowns in the record-breaking comeback, in which the Bulldogs roared back from a 31-14 first-half deficit to score 24 unanswered points.

"What a game. What an atmosphere," said Georgia head Coach Kirby Smart. "My heart goes out to the Oklahoma team because those guys played their tails off."

Georgia, which was ranked No. 3 in the nation going into the game with No. 2 Oklahoma, will face No. 4 Alabama in the National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 8, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Alabama, Georgia's fellow SEC squad, defeated Clemson 24-6 Monday in the Sugar Bowl.

In the Rose Bowl, so extensive was Heisman Trophy-winning Baker Mayfield's impact for the Sooners in the first half that he even scored a touchdown as a receiver. Mayfield got wide open for a pass from receiver CeeDee Lamb on a reverse play with six seconds remaining in the half to put the Sooners up, 31-14.

But a short squib kick from Oklahoma gave the Bulldogs a chance to grab back a little bit of momentum, when Rodrigo Blankenship converted on a Rose Bowl-record 55-yard field goal to make the score 31-17 at the half.

Georgia started the second half strong. After stopping Oklahoma's offense, the Bulldogs tallied on a 50-yard touchdown run from Nick Chubb to pull within one score.

Georgia's vaunted defense tightened up again, sacking Mayfield multiple times, and, with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Sony Michel scampered 38 yards to tie the game.

Then, the fourth quarter started with an interception of Mayfield by Dominick Sanders, who ran the ball all the way back to the Oklahoma five yard line. Two plays later, freshman UGA quarterback Jake Fromm connected with Javon Wims for a touchdown to take Georgia's first lead of the game at 38-31.

After the teams traded defensive stops, Mayfield tied the game once again with 8:47 remaining, connecting with receiver Dimitri Flowers on a short touchdown pass.

Then, the tide turned against the Dawgs. With 6:52 left in the game, Oklahoma's defense forced a Sony Michel fumble and Stephen Parker ran it into the end zone to put the Sooners back up, 45-38.

The teams traded punts and Georgia got the ball back with 3:22 remaining. After an end zone interference call against the Sooners, Chubb took a direct snap in the wildcat formation and ran the ball in for a game-tying touchdown of his own.

The game went into overtime. After failing to score a touchdown with the first possession, Georgia settled for a Blankenship field goal to put them up 48-45. Oklahoma's Austin Seibert answered with a field goal of his own and the Sooners got the ball first in second overtime.

Georgia's Jonathan Ledbetter intercepted Mayfield in the end zone, but the play was called back due to an offside penalty on the Bulldogs. The Dawgs held, though, and then Seibert's effort to put the Sooners ahead again was blocked.

Two plays later, Chubb once again took a direct snap and broke through for the 27-yard game-winning touchdown.

Nick Chubb of the Georgia Bulldogs carries for a 45-yard gain in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl Game at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)