By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 24, 2025 | The 2024 college football season, for me, was a blast. It was one of the most lively seasons in recent memory, thanks mainly in part to the new 12-team playoff system.
In the past with only four teams headed for the national championship, we found much more than we had thought we might in the new 12 team system.
What would have been ho-hum conference games that mattered little…..suddenly gained major importance. We’re talking about Syracuse wiping out a chance for Miami to be among the 12 playoff teams when it suffered this upset, giving it two losses. If there had been only one Atlantic Coast Conference team included in the final four, that game would not have amounted to anything.
That game also propelled one conference loss Clemson to take on Southern Methodist, and given a victory here, secured a berth in the 12 teams, even with three losses, since it upset SMU to gain the automatic conference title.
All season long, we had rooted for a team we know little about, Oregon, as it breezed through the regular season undefeated and looked like a possible national champion. It even knocked off mighty Ohio State (though by one point) and ended the regular season not only undefeated, but ranked first, getting a bye in the first playoff round.
And meantime, Ohio State was startled to lose again to Michigan, apparently losing major hopes of a national championship. Who knew?
Perhaps the favorite game of the year for us was hopeful Georgia Tech taking on the Georgia Bulldogs in their annual grudge match. (Complete disclosure: we’ve always, since high school days, been a Tech fan.) The past season, Tech had been somewhat good, especially upsetting Miami again. So there was hope for Tech against the Bulldogs, though Georgia looked particularly stronger.
The game turned out to be a real rip-snorter, with Tech ahead 17-0 at halftime. Announcers started talking about the last time Tech had a convincing lead against Georgia, but eventually lost. Still, at the end of the third quarter, Tech still prevailed, but now 17-6. Those wearing yellow were smiling, hoping a victory might be possible.
Finally, in the fourth quarter, Georgia came alive, scoring 21 points to Tech’s 10, to tie the game at 27 and force overtime. At the end of two overtimes, still tied 40-40. After four overtimes, still 40-40. After seven overtimes, 42-42, and no one could believe the game was still tied.
Then in the eighth overtime, Georgia got a quick 25 yard touchdown and walked off the field as winners, disappointing the Tech nation, who were mighty pleased that the Jackets had hung in there so long. What a game!
Just look at the score by quarters (and overtime):
GEORGIA TECH (7-5) vs. GEORGIA (10-2)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech | 3 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 |
| Georgia | 0 | 0 | 6 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 44 |
One more aspect to 2024 football: Even my alma mater, Mercer University, had a good regular season at 10-2, beating Furman 49-23 to win the Southern Conference. The Bears then beat Rhode Island 17-10 to go to the quarter finals of the Division One of the football championship, but lost in the semi-finals to the eventual winner, North Dakota State 31-7. Earlier in the season, Mercer again lost to its arch rival, Samford of Birmingham, 55-35. Wait ‘til next year!
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