Georgia defeats Florida State in 90th Capital One Orange Bowl

By George Richards

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Georgia Bulldogs will not win a national championship in 2023, but they can undoubtedly ring in 2024 feeling pretty good about how their season ended.

Fueled by a 35-point second quarter, Georgia turned the 90th Capital One Orange Bowl into a rout as they beat No. 5 Florida State 63-3 in a record-breaking Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

If Georgia (13-1) was trying to make a statement after dropping from No. 1 to No. 6 in the College Football Playoff rankings following a 3-point loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game, consider it done.

Florida State, the ACC champions, finished this season 13-1.

“Well, the game mattered because we’re playing a game,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart, whose team set a couple of Orange Bowl records, including for point differential (60) and total yardage (673).

“As long as winning matters, we’re going to compete like hell at Georgia, it doesn’t matter what it is.”

Georgia’s Kendall Milton was named Orange Bowl MVP after the senior running back scored the first two touchdowns of the game and ran for a game-high 104 yards.

Milton ends his season with 790 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“You want to take every game serious, no matter what level it is. This is top-level college football and we took it very personal,’’ Milton said. “You have to take advantage of every opportunity.’’

Said cornerback Kamari Lassiter: “I think the game mattered because, if you’re a competitor, every game matters.’’

The Bulldogs set the tone for this game late in the first quarter as Milton opened the scoring from 15 yards out with 4:05 remaining.

Georgia got it to the 5 on the quarter’s final play when Milton went off tackle and went 43 yards.

He scored his second touchdown of the game on the opening play of the second quarter.

Miton’s second touchdown set off a record-tying second quarter for the Bulldogs as they hit the end zone five times.

That matched a 35-point outburst in the second by West Virginia against Clemson in the 2012 Orange Bowl.

The Bulldogs got second-quarter touchdowns from Milton, Daijun Edwards, Ladd McConkey, Arian Smith, and Dominic Lovett, leading 42-3 at the break.

That 39-point difference is now the largest halftime lead in bowl history, topping the Mountaineers’ 29-point advantage over Clemson 11 years ago.

Florida State did not help itself in the second as the Seminoles fumbled a kickoff down 21-3, allowing the Bulldogs great field position in which they took full advantage of as McConkey scored from 27 yards out on the ensuing play.

Down 35-3 in the closing seconds of the half, FSU quarterback Brock Glenn was sacked and fumbled, with the Bulldogs taking over at midfield with 49 seconds remaining.

Four plays later, Carson Beck found Dominic Lovett from the 2 to make it 42-3.

Beck’s day was eventful — but short.

Gunnar Stockton replaced Beck at the start of the third quarter.

Beck ended his first Orange Bowl by going 13 of 18 for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

“We’re still one of the best teams in the country,’’ Beck said. “Things didn’t pan out the way we wanted them to [this season] but to be able to play a really good opponent — obviously they had a few guys out but they are still a very talented team and ACC champions.

“To be able to come in and execute at a high level like we did tonight I think we sent a message.

The Bulldogs did not skip a beat when the third started.

After getting the opening kickoff, Georgia rumbled 75 yards in 10 plays, with Edwards getting his second touchdown as he blew through the line from the 2.

Georgia continued to roll as the third moved along, Stockton finding Lawson Luckie from 4-yards out to make it 56-3 with 2:30 remaining in the quarter.

Stockton threw his second touchdown at 12:10 of the fourth, connecting with Anthony Evans III from the 14.

The redshirt freshman completed six of 10 for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

Saturday was a rough way to end a memorable season for the Seminoles.

Florida State kicked off the 2023 season with a rousing 45-24 victory over LSU in Orlando, won at Clemson, and beat rivals Miami and Florida before topping Louisville in Charlotte for the ACC title.

The Seminoles beat the Gators and Cardinals without Heisman Trophy candidate Travis Henry after he was lost for the season in FSU’s home win over North Alabama on Nov. 18.

On Friday, Glenn started after he helped the Seminoles beat Louisville.

No. 2 quarterback Tate Rodemaker was one of over a dozen starters who left the team following their ACC championship.

Glenn, a freshman, ended his first Orange Bowl nine of 26 for 139 yards and a pair of interceptions.

Florida State got their only points on a 22-yard field goal from Ryan Fitzgerald to make it 14-3 with 12:34 left in the second.

“First of all, it was a very difficult night,” Florida State coach Mike Norvell said. “But I’m proud of this football team. I’m proud of the work they’ve put in, proud of what they’ve shown throughout the course of a season. To do some of the things that they were able to accomplish … they overcame a lot of adversity, they fought, they worked, they invested on and off the field.

“It’s a special group. It’s a group that will be remembered.”