Georgia and Georgia Tech nearly broke Penn State’s overtime record

While not one of the most celebrated moments in Penn State history, the Nittany Lions have one of college football’s more ridiculous records. And after a rivalry game between Georgia and Georgia Tech on Friday night, that record still stands.

Georgia and Georgia Tech played eight overtime games that saw the Bulldogs come back from a 17-0 deficit to celebrate a wild 44-42 victory. After making a defensive stop on Georgia Tech’s two-point attempt to start the eighth overtime shortly after midnight, Georgia clinched the victory when freshman running back Nate Frazier powered his way up the middle of the field for a short game-winning run. And as a result, Penn State’s record for most overtime games played survived unbeaten.

Penn State lost a nine overtime game to Illinois in 2021 by a score of 20-18. Needless to say, that game was far less entertaining than the one that unfolded in Athens, Georgia on Black Friday. Georga and Georgia Tech individually overcame the Penn State-Illinois debacle at the end of the first overtime, with the score tied 40-40 going into the third overtime.

The Georgia-Georgia Tech game became the longest game in SEC history when it moved to the eighth overtime session. Of course, it was the former SEC record holder for most overtime that led to the revised overtime rules in college football. LSU and Texas A&M played a grueling seven overtime game in 2018 under the old overtime rules that led the NCAA Rules Committee to move to the 2-point try model when entering the third overtime.

Penn State could potentially face Georgia in the upcoming College Football Playoff. Georgia’s win last night may have been enough to clinch a spot in the 12-team field regardless of what they do in next week’s SEC Championship Game (Georgia will play the winner of Saturday’s Texas-Texas A&M game in the SEC Championship Game ), although the Bulldogs already have two losses. A third loss could leave some questions for Georgia in the field depending on what else happens around the country this week and next.

However, Penn State has its own work to do today. Penn State hosts Maryland with a chance to likely secure a home playoff game in the first round. And if it somehow gets a big helping hand from Michigan, Penn State could play for the Big Ten title next week against Oregon.

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The story originally appeared on the Nittany Lions Wire