After a turnover on downs during its first possession, Georgia rebounded to score a touchdown on its next nine drives. Florida State managed only a field goal early in the second quarter.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck posted 203 yards and two touchdowns. Veteran running back Kendall Milton added 104 yards and two scores on the ground while Dominic Lovett, Anthony Evans III, Arian Smith and Lawson Luckie all snagged receiving TDs.
FSU QB Brock Glenn, in his audition to turn this one-start cameo into a regular gig in 2024, completed 9 of 26 passes for 139 yards and two interceptions. He lost 9 yards on the ground.
As a team, Georgia tallied 673 total yards, the most ever accumulated in an Orange Bowl game.
By the third quarter, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart pulled Beck and diverted to his second-stringers. It was a luxury Florida State didn’t have.
The Seminoles were spread thin, having nine players opt out to prepare for the NFL Draft, two unavailable with injury and more than a dozen having entered the transfer portal. Among those who opted out were star WR Keon Coleman, WR Johnny Wilson, RB Trey Benson, TE Jaheim Bell, defensive linemen Jared Verse and Fabien Lovett and defensive backs Renardo Green, Jarrian Jones and Akeem Dent.
Star QB Jordan Travis, who finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting, suffered a season-ending leg injury against North Alabama on Nov. 18. Tate Rodmaker, who took over under center after Travis’ injury, entered the transfer portal before the Orange Bowl.
Georgia, however, had no healthy players opt out. Tight end Brock Bowers, right tackle Amarius Mims and inside linebacker Smael Mondon were all dealing with injuries.
Georgia’s dominance is a reflection of its culture
As much as this was about Florida State’s opt-outs, it was also about Georgia’s culture. The team didn’t have any non-injury opt-outs, and took this game seriously. That dates back to Georgia’s only bowl loss under Smart, to Texas in the Sugar Bowl to finish the 2018 season. Smart had players in the portal stick around the team, including Justin Fields, and it was generally clear the team wasn’t invested enough a year after making the national championship game. Since then the Bulldogs are 3-0 in their non-Playoff bowl games.
Of course it’s not just due to Smart’s approach, but the individual player leadership. The trick will be replacing that with Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Milton and others moving on. But the established culture also seems very strong. — Seth Emerson, Georgia senior writer
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Take a bow, Milton
This was a gratifying end for players like Milton, who battled through injuries the past four years. It was also a hopeful look at players who figure to be in bigger roles next year, such as receiver Dillon Bell (five catches for 86 yards).
Georgia also got a big game out of Mykel Williams (a sack and forced fumble), who was playing in his new role at outside linebacker.
Gunner Stockton, now the No. 2 quarterback, got to play the entire second half and threw two touchdown passes. And other younger players saw a lot of snaps, including cornerback Daniel Harris, inside linebacker Raylen Wilson and offensive tackle Monroe Freeling. — Emerson
Seminoles must find QB help
Freshman quarterback Glenn is a player the coaching staff was really, really excited about before Travis and Rodemaker were injured. But it’s hard to imagine coaches feel confident Glenn is the answer at quarterback moving forward.
He had a full arsenal of weapons around him in the ACC Championship Game and looked completely unprepared in his first college start, completing only 8 of his 21 attempts for 55 yards. FSU was missing two starting receivers, a tight end and its leading rusher when it played Georgia on Saturday — and Glenn didn’t play any better. He was 8-of-25 for 127 yards, two interceptions and a fumble lost entering the fourth quarter, and really only made one good throw when the game was still within reach in the first half. It was a 55-yard strike to receiver Kentron Poitier.
Glenn might have more success in his career moving forward, but there’s no way the Seminoles can go into 2024 without finding a starter in the transfer portal. Cam Ward and DJ Uiagalelei both visited Tallahassee this month as transfers, and the Seminoles have to land one of them to take over for Travis in 2024. — Manny Navarro, Florida college sports staff writer
Who actually stuck it out for FSU?
Required reading
(Photo: David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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