Since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, three games have made it to overtime. Coincidentally, each of the first two instances involved Georgia's 2018 team, which won in overtime in the semifinals, before falling in overtime in the national championship game. There was a six-year frame with no overtime games before Michigan beat Alabama in the 2024 Rose Bowl. Here are some notes, and the game-winning plays from each of these overtime classics.
2018 Rose Bowl (CFP semifinals) | Georgia 54, Oklahoma 48 (2OT)
Two years ago, Georgia won a 2OT thriller of a Rose Bowl over Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma to advance to the National Championship game 🌹🔥
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)
In what became one of the wildest college football games in recent history, Georgia's Sony Michel found the end zone in double overtime to beat Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma jumped out to a 31-17 halftime lead in this game, but two quick Georgia touchdowns evened the score at 31 entering the fourth quarter. Nick Chubb's two-yard touchdown run with under one minute remaining tied the score at 45, sending the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, each team settled for a field goal and in the second overtime frame, Oklahoma was lined up for a 27-yard field goal to give the Sooners the advantage. But, Georgia's special teams unit made the play of the game, blocking the short field goal attempt and giving the Bulldogs a chance to win the game with a score.
It took just two plays for Georgia to end the ballgame, as Sony Michel shot through the Oklahoma defense and found the end zone from 27 yards out to send Georgia to its first national championship game appearance since 1980.
2018 National Championship | Alabama 26, Georgia 23 (OT)
Just one week after surviving Oklahoma in overtime, Georgia once again found itself in the extra period, this time against SEC foe Alabama.
In the national title game, Georgia built a decent lead at 20-7 midway through the third quarter after Mecole Hardman scored on an 80-yard touchdown. But, from that moment on, it was all Alabama as head coach Nick Saban turned to freshman quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in relief of the experienced starter, Jalen Hurts.
This proved to be the right move for Saban and the Crimson Tide, as Tagovailoa rallied Alabama to tie the game on a touchdown pass with just under four minutes remaining in regulation.
Georgia began overtime with the ball, and after a quick three-and-out, settled for a long field goal to take a 23-20 lead.
After a 16-yard loss on the first offensive play of overtime for Alabama, Tagovailoa dropped back and found Devonta Smith for a 41-yard championship-winning touchdown on 2nd & 26.
2024 Rose Bowl (CFP semifinals) | Michigan 27, Alabama 20 (OT)
JALEN MILROE IS STOPPED ON 4TH DOWN😱
— ESPN (@espn)
THE WOLVERINES ARE HEADED TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 🏆
The Rose Bowl has been home to two of the three overtime games in CFP history, and the 2024 edition was just as wild as its 2018 predecessor.
Top-ranked Michigan battled No. 4 Alabama in a defensive slugfest that found the Wolverines trailing by a score near the end of regulation. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy led the Michigan offense on an eight-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Roman Wilson touchdown grab with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.
It took Michigan just two plays in overtime to find the end zone, as Blake Corum reached pay dirt on a 17-yard touchdown run that put the Wolverines back in front.
On Alabama's ensuing possession, the Tide found itself in a first-and-goal situation. But a goal line stand on fourth-and-goal sent Michigan to the program's first national championship appearance since 1997.
