The Georgia Bulldogs 2017 Rose Bowl matchup was ranked as one of the best college football games of the 2000s

Since the turn of the century, college football has witnessed numerous historic matchups that have shaped the sport as we know it today. Games that have become immortalized in the sport and are the standard by which all other college football matchups are judged.

According to The Athletic, the Georgia Bulldogs have played in a handful of these games during the 2000s, with one of them being the Dawgs’ 2017 Rose Bowl matchup with the Oklahoma Sooners. The game landed at the fifth spot for “Best College Football Games of the 2000s”.

Led by Heisman-winning quarterback and soon-to-be number-one overall pick in the NFL Draft Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma’s offense exploded to a 31-14 lead early in the first half. But a questionable onside kick provided the Dawgs with just enough time for a field goal before halftime.

Georgia scored the first 21 points of the second half and took a 38-31 lead before Baker Mayfield orchestrated an 88-yard drive to tie the game once again. Then, disaster struck for the Dawgs as an Oklahoma scoop and score would give the Sooners the lead with just minutes left in the game. The Bulldogs would eventually march down the field and force overtime.

The two teams traded field goals in the first overtime period before a blocked field goal attempt by Georgia’s Lorenzo Carter would provide the Dawgs with an opportunity to seal the deal. Then, on a second and 12, the Bulldogs would call on Sony Michel in their “Wild Dawg” formation. Michel scampered 27 yards for the final score, giving Georgia a historic 54-48 victory in double overtime.

Georgia and Oklahoma’s first and only meeting as college football programs had all the makings of a historic game. A Heisman-winning quarterback, two overtimes, a three-score comeback, a four-touchdown preformance from the game’s MVP, and numerous future NFL stars all combined with the implications of a national championship appearance to make the 2017 Rose Bowl one of college football’s most unforgettable games.

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Ryan is managing editor at Sooners On SI and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City.

Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more.

Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com.

Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters.

Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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The Oklahoma Sooners (49-7) took game one from the Alabama Crimson Tide 3-0 and are one win away from advancing to the Women’s College World Series. Sam Landry threw a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits and striking out five to move to 23-4 on the season.

Oklahoma’s bats provided just enough offense in this one as Kasidi Pickering joined Gabbie Garcia atop the Sooners’ home run leaderboard with her 18th home run of the season. It was Pickering’s 10th home run in her NCAA Tournament career, spanning just 45 at-bats.

The home run came in the bottom of the third after Abigale Dayton’s lead-off walk. Pickering swung at the first pitch from Alabama starter Jocelyn Briski to give Oklahoma the lead. With Landry dealing, that’s all the offense the Sooners would need but they got an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth from freshman Sydney Barker drove in Dayton, who doubled to start off the inning.

Landry only allowed one Alabama hitter to reach third base throughout the game. That came in the top of the fifth inning when Lauren Johnson advanced to third on a fly ball. Oklahoma’s ace proceeded to strike out Alabama slugger Kali Heivilin, who was batting .373 with 14 home runs on the season.

It was the sixth consecutive win for the Oklahoma Sooners, dating back to the final day of the regular season. They beat LSU and Arkansas in the SEC tournament and then swept through the Norman Regional.

With a win over Alabama on Saturday, the Sooners can clinch their ninth-straight Women’s College World Series berth. A loss to the Crimson Tide will force a game three on Sunday. Saturday’s game begins at 2 p.m. CT at Love’s Field in Norman.

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