Carson Beck makes decision on plan for Orange Bowl
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has made a decision. It’s not the one that all UGA fans have been waiting on, but it does mean that the Bulldogs will see him suit up at least once more in red and black. According to Atlanta Fox 5’s Victor Prieto, Beck told reporters on hand at an Academy Sports holiday shopping spree event that he plans to play in the Capital One Orange Bowl against No. 5 Florida State.
While he has made a decision as for his fate in the bowl game, Beck reportedly has not decided anything about his future at Georgia and whether he plans to return for the 2024 season. He called it “the hardest decision of [his] entire life.”
What Prieto shared adds up with what DawgsHQ has reportedly the last couple of weeks. As the Bulldogs prepare for the Orange Bowl, Beck is an active participant in practice alongside his teammates.
In 2023, Beck’s first as the starter, the Jacksonville, Fla. native threw for 3,738 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions. Beck finished top-15 in yards per game (287.5), top-10 in yards per attempt (9.4) and completion percentage (72.4) and top-5 in the NCAA for passing yards (3738).
Albeit aided by an extra game over the competition in many cases, it should be remembered that Beck didn’t take a single snap in the fourth quarter of four games for Georgia with the Bulldogs up big and not needing his help to secure a win. Beck was selected to the All-SEC Second-Team by the league’s 14 head coaches.
If Beck returns, he’s expected to have a few new targets to throw to with Georgia actively pursuing pass catchers in the transfer portal. He’s also already listed as one of the early favorites for the 2024 Heisman Trophy race.
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Georgia arrival in South Florida for the Orange Bowl is set for December 26th after a practice earlier that day in Athens. UGA will hold practice at Barry University in Miami on the 27th and 28th with portions open to media where a full picture of who’s in and who’s out for the bowl game should become clearer. The game between the Bulldogs and Seminoles, the first two teams on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoffs, will take place on December 30th at Hard Rock Stadium.
“This should be a great matchup,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said about the matchup with Florida State. “Two giants in college football across history and recently. I always worry about when you get in bowl games, the matchups you get to have. This matchup is really exciting. I know our players are pumped and excited when they found out who we get to play.”
“I don’t think there’s another team that we would love to be able to go compete against than Florida State,” he added. “I have so much respect for Mike (Norvell), his staff, the job he’s done there. I grew up going to Tallahassee every day of my life from where I grew up in south Georgia. To watch what he’s done with that Florida State program is just incredible. I know firsthand how hard it is to have an undefeated season. It is hard. It’s hard to win games in any conference. It’s hard to win games repeatedly. He had a perfect season and won every game. That’s really hard to do. A lot of kudos and congrats to he and his staff and his team and his players with all they’ve overcome, the team he’s assembled.”
Two weeks out from the game, Georgia is listed as a 14-point favorite over Florida State. Kickoff time is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
