Texas falls to Georgia 22-19 in overtime of SEC Championship
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: A general view of the field prior to the 2024 SEC Championship between the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Image
ATLANTA - The Texas Longhorns on Saturday fell short in their attempt to win the SEC Championship in their first season in the Southeastern Conference.
The Longhorns lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in overtime Saturday night, 22-19.
The Bulldogs won the game despite not have quarterback Carson Beck for the second half.
The Georgia signal caller went down with an injury at the end of the first half and did not return until the final play of overtime.
Redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton took over for Beck in the second half. The backup threw from 71 yards and an interception. He added 27 yards on the ground. Stockton was taken out of the game after taking a hard hit from Andrew Mukuba on a quarterback run that saw the quarterback lose his helmet.
The game ended on the next play when Beck handed the ball off to Trevor Etienne from the 4 yard line for the game-winning score.
The Bulldogs leaned on running back Etienne to carry the load.
Etienne rushed for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
The game was a rematch from October when the Bulldogs got the best of the Longhorns 30-15 when the two faced off in Austin on Oct. 19.
While this is the first time the Longhorns are playing in the title game, the Bulldogs are making their seventh appearance in the last nine seasons.
The Bulldogs are 2-4 in their last six title games.
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A familiar face missing
When the Texas Longhorns take the field for the Southeastern Conference Championship game on Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs, one notable face will be missing.
Longhorn mascot Bevo did not make the trip to Atlanta.
Texas' Bevo will not travel to Atlanta for SEC Championship game
SEC officials said they could not find a place for Bevo to be on the sideline safely during Saturday's SEC Championship game in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs' live mascot, Uga, will be in attendance for the game, the conference confirmed.
"Yes. Georgia's bulldog requires an extremely small amount of space," Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent said.
Vincent said they looked a several options to allow Bevo to come to the game.
"We did identify several options for Bevo, including a location at SEC FanFare but there was no opportunity for him to be in the stadium due to space," Vincent said.
1st Quarter: Texas 3, Georgia 0
The Bulldogs won the coin toss and chose to defer possession.
The Longhorns started their first possession at the 11.
Quinn Ewers connected with DeAndre Moore and Matthew Golden for a couple of long passes before a pass intended for Isaiah Bond bounced off the receiver’s hands and into the waiting arms of Daylen Everette for a Georgia interception.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Daylen Everette #6 of the Georgia Bulldogs reacts after an interception against the Texas Longhorns during the first quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgi
The Bulldogs took over at their own 33.
The Longhorn defense held strong and forced a 3-and-out and a Bulldog punt.
The next drive saw Ewers connect with Golden for 50 yards and Bond for 22 yards to set up the Longhorns in the red zone.
A costly pass interference penalty pushed the Longhorns back to the 36 yard line and the Bulldog defense would hold the Longhorns to a field goal for the game’s first points.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Bert Auburn #45 of the Texas Longhorns kicks a field goal with teammate Michael Kern #39 against the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024
On their next offensive possession, the Bulldogs struggled to get anything going and were forced to punt.
The Longhorns would find themselves threatening again after Ewers and Golden connected for a long pass at the end of the quarter.
2nd quarter: Texas 6, Georgia 3
With Texas threatening to start the second quarter, the Georgia defense again held strong and forced the Longhorns to try a field goal.
The kick was good and the Longhorn lead was extended to 6 early in the second quarter.
Georgia would finally add to the scoreboard with six minutes to play in the half on a 44-yard field goal from Peyton Woodring to pull the Bulldogs within 3.
Longhorn kicker Bert Auburn would miss his third field goal attempt from 36 yards out.
Georgia was unable to capitalize on the missed kick and were forced to punt on the following drive.
The teams traded possessions before a the half came to a wild end with 1 send left, the Bulldogs attempted a Hail Mary at the end of the half that was intercepted.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Carson Beck #15 of the Georgia Bulldogs lays on the ground after an injury against the Texas Longhorns during the second quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Ge
After the play, Bulldog Quarterback Carson Beck stayed down on the field and had to be helped to the locker room.
3rd quarter: Georgia 13, Texas 6
Georgia got the ball to start the second half without Beck at quarterback.
Instead, the Bulldogs opening drive was led by redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Gunner Stockton #14 of the Georgia Bulldogs throws a pass under pressure against Anthony Hill Jr. #0 of the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07,
With Stockton at the helm, the Bulldogs marched down the field for the games first touchdown on a 10-yard run by Trevor Etienne to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game.
A made extra point from Woodring made the score 10-6 Bulldogs.
The two teams traded punts and on the next Texas possession, Auburn missed a 51-yard field goal.
Georgia’s next drive started with an explosive 48-yard run by Etienne.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Trevor Etienne #1 of the Georgia Bulldogs celebrates his touchdown against the Texas Longhorns during the third quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (P
The Bulldogs would add three to the scoreboard after the drive stalled out at the 6 yard line.
The Longhorns will start the fourth quarter down by 7 with the ball.
4th quarter: Texas 16, Georgia 16
The Longhorns wasted no time in the game’s final stanza with Ewers connecting with Moore for a 41-yard score. The extra point would tie the game.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: DeAndre Moore Jr. #0 of the Texas Longhorns avoids the tackle by Dan Jackson #17 of the Georgia Bulldogs to score a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December
Georgia’s next possession lasted more than nine minutes and a went 16 plays for 72 yards ending in a field goal to put the Bulldogs up 3 with less than five minutes in the game.
The ensuing Texas possession saw the Longhorns moving backwards until a Ewers pass was again intercepted by Everette.
Georgia would take over on the Texas 28 yard line with under four minutes to play.
The Longhorns defense forced the Bulldogs into a 3rd and 13 situation and pressured Stockton into an interception by Jahdae Barron.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Jahdae Barron #7 of the Texas Longhorns pushes Nate Frazier #3 of the Georgia Bulldogs out of bound during the fourth quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Atlanta, Georg
Texas took over at their own 34 yard line with just over two minutes to play down by 3.
The Longhorns moved the ball down the field and converted a 4th and 3 to get the drive alive.
With 17 seconds left in regulation, the Longhorns went to Auburn again for a field goal. This time from 37 yards to send the game to overtime.
Auburn had missed two field goals on the night.
Overtime: Georgia 22, Texas 19
Texas went on offense first during the first overtime.
The Bulldog defense held the Longhorns to a field goal as Auburn kicked one in from 32 yards away.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 07: Michael Kern #39 and Bert Auburn #45 of the Texas Longhorns react after making a field goal against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter of the 2024 SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 07, 2
Then it was Georgia's turn, needing a field goal to tie or a touchdown to win.
Much like the Longhorns, the Bulldogs were able to make some positive gains on offense.
Then on a 2nd down play, Stockton took a big hit from Andrew Mukuba.
The play would be reviewed for targeting which was overturned.
Stockton would come out of the game only for Beck to return as the Bulldog quarterback.
The Bulldogs would give the ball to Etienne who ran in the winning touchdown from 4 yards out to win the SEC Championship.