LIVE UPDATES: No. 1 Georgia 42, No. 4 Ohio State 41 -- FINAL

ATLANTA — It’s finally here: game day between the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. After the announcement of the matchup occurred almost a month ago, the talk has been off the charts ahead of this game with two prestigious programs squaring off for just a second time, this time with a spot in the National Championship Game on the line.

“Happy and fired up to have an opportunity to play in what I always thought is one of the best bowls in the country because Atlanta is home to so much of college football, especially when you’ve been part of the SEC. So it makes for an awesome opportunity,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said during the Bulldogs’ bowl preparation. “Our players are excited for the opportunity to play in a CFP Semifinal against an opponent that we all have immense respect for. Ohio State is one of the premier teams in the country. Coach Day has done a fabulous job with his team, in terms of recruiting across the country, putting out NFL talent, and playing in the CFP over recent history. So the challenge lays in front of us, and our guys are excited to do it. We’re honored to be in this game.”

“Our players have enjoyed Atlanta, a lot of them from this area. Very convenient, like Ryan (Day) said,” Smart added during bowl week. “I could remember bowl games where it’s 30-minute rides, 20-minute rides from location to location. You never deal with that here. So the efficiency of things has been tremendous. I think the players have enjoyed some of the events they get to go to. I think that’s key from an experience standpoint and get their mind off the game some as well, especially early in the week. We’ve had a good week of practice and excited and ready to go.”

Georgia enters tonight’s semifinal showdown as a 5.5-point favorite, a number which has moved down from opening at 7.5 and spending the majority of the nearly-month lead up to the game at 6.5 points in favor of the Dawgs.

Kickoff time from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Below, DawgsHQ provides links for you to stream the game live, listen in, and follow along with the live stats.

STREAM | LISTEN | STATS

As always, there’s one more way to keep up with the goings on in this game. In the space below, DawgsHQ will be providing live updates, scores, highlights and news from before and during the game. Just use the refresh button on your browser to see those updates as they roll in.

Fourth Quarter

• Noah Ruggles misses from 50 yards out. Georgia takes over with three seconds to go and will take a knee.
• Ohio State kicker, Noah Ruggles, coming on for a 50 yard field go to win. Timeout Georgia.
• Ohio State is at the UGA 31 after a 27-yard scramble from CJ Stroud. Timeout Georgia, its second of the half. 24 seconds left.
• TOUCHDOWN – Stetson Bennett connects with AD Mitchell from 10 yards out to give Georgia the lead. Bennett and Brock Bowers picked up 15 before a 35-yard completion to Kearis Jackson got UGA to the OSU 15. Jack Podlesny makes the PAT. (Georgia 42, Ohio State 41 0:54 4Q)
• FIELD GOAL – Georgia pressures CJ Stroud and is able to get off the field without giving up a touchdown. Ohio State got into Georgia territory by way of the legs of Stroud. 21 yards from him on a pair of plays had the Buckeyes at the UGA 34. Buckeyes convert on 3rd and 8 down to the UGA 23 giving them a fresh set of downs and under five to go. Noah Ruggles makes from 48 yards out. (Ohio State 41, Georgia 35 2:38 4Q)
• TOUCHDOWN – Georgia needed a quick score and got it. One play, 76 yards, Arian Smith. Georgia going for two. Conversion attempt is good. (Ohio State 38, Georgia 35 8:41 4Q)
• PUNT – Georgia forces a three-and-out and a punt, to which Ohio State decides to punt. Buckeyes appeared to pick up the necessary yardage but the play is waved off after a fortunate time out. This time, the punt is actually kicked away and fair caught at the UGA 24.
• FIELD GOAL – A first-down picked from Daijun Edwards and Brock Bowers reception has Georgia inside the Ohio State 20. After it appeared Georgia turned it over on downs going for it on 4th and 6 from the 13 with Bowers coming up just short of the line to gain, the ruling was overturned and gives Georgia 1st and Goal from the OSU 7. Bulldogs ultimately settle for a field goal. (Ohio State 38, Georgia 27 10:14 4Q)

Third Quarter

• Georgia runs it once and picks up 17 yards on the last play of the quarter.
• FIELD GOAL – After Ohio State gets into the Georgia red zone, the Bulldogs force a Buckeye field goal. Kelee Ringo called for a pass interference on a long attempt down the field before Dallan Hayden rushes for 17. Then, Emeka Egbuka picks up 27 down to the UGA 10. Marvin Harrison goes down on the last play of the drive, initially called targeting on Javon Bullard before it was waved off. (Ohio State 38, Georgia 24 0:31 3Q)
• MISSED FIELD GOAL – Georgia goes three and out. Jack Podlesny misses from 52, his second miss of the night. Ohio State takes over at the OSU 42.
• PUNT – Georgia forces an Ohio State punt out of its own end zone. Javon Bullard had a sack on second down, and an illegal substitution penalty helped too. Kearis Jackson return sets up the offense at the OSU 32.
• PUNT – Georgia picks up a first down but punts shortly after. Ohio State will take over at its own 10 after the 52-yard punt from Brett Thorson.
• TOUCHDOWN – CJ Stroud and the Buckeye offense drive down the field with relative ease. Stroud completes to Julian Fleming for 25 yards, Emeka Egbuka for 19 and eventually Egbuka again for the 10-yard score. (Ohio State 35, Georgia 24 10:37 3Q)
• PUNT – Beginning the second half with possession, Georgia goes three-and-out. First punt for Brett Thorson.

Second Quarter

• HALFTIME – Georgia tries two passing plays, neither of which work well. Stetson Bennett takes a knee on third down, and the Bulldogs will go into the halftime break trailing 28-24. Georgia receives the opening kickoff of the second half.
• TOUCHDOWN – Ohio State responds in a heartbeat. Buckeyes pick up 75 yards in four plays, the last three that went for 13-plus through the air. Xavier Johnson scores from 37 yards out and gets the lead right back for Ohio State. (Ohio State 28, Georgia 24 0:49 2Q)
• FIELD GOAL – Jack Podlesny field goal gives Georgia its first lead of the game. Bulldogs forced to kick it after lining up and looking like it might go for it on 4th and 4 at the OSU14. (Georgia 24, Ohio State 21 1:44 2Q)
• Big third down conversion for Georgia on 3rd and 5 as Stetson Bennett completes to Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint for a gain of 28 to the OSU 35. Then, Kendall Milton rushes for 15 and into the Buckeye red zone.
• Chaz Chambliss goes down on the punt and appeared to be grabbing his knee. If that’s the case and he’s done for the game, Georgia’s down to Robert Beal and Marvin Jones at outside linebacker as its top two options.
• PUNT – After Ohio State picked up nine yard on first down, Georgia comes up with two big stops to force fourth and short. Ryan Day calls timeout, and when it appears CJ Stroud had picked up the first down, the play is called back for an illegal motion. Buckeyes punt instead. Georgia to take over at the UGA 33.
• TOUCHDOWN – Kenny McIntosh gets through the line of scrimmage in a crowded box for a 52-yard run. Falls down at the OSU 10. Two plays later, Stetson Bennett keeps it himself for the score. (Georgia 21, Ohio State 21 6:07 2Q)
• Injury announcement in the press box: Georgia tight end Darnell Washington is ‘out for now’ with a left ankle.
• PUNT – Mykel Williams with a bull rush to get home on a third-down sack. Georgia gets off the field in three plays. Bulldogs will take over at their 38.
• TOUCHDOWN – Georgia responds with a touchdown of its own. Daijun Edwards rips off a run of 21 yards on the first play of the drive followed two plays later by a 47-yard completion to Arian Smith. Then, Kendall Milton rushes it in from 11 yards out. Call on the field goes under review and stands. Jack Podlesny PAT is good. (Ohio State 21, Georgia 14 9:16 2Q)
• TOUCHDOWN – CJ Stroud escapes pressure and gets points for Ohio State off the Georgia turnover. Completes to Marvin Harrison for 16 yards and the score. PAT is good. (Ohio State 21, Georgia 7 10:56 2Q)
• INTERCEPTION – Stetson Bennett picked off by Steele Chambers on the first play of the drive. Didn’t have his feet set as he made the throw trying to escape pressure. Buckeye ball at the UGA 30.
• TOUCHDOWN – First play out of the timeout, Miyan Williams scores from 2 yards out. PAT is good. (Ohio State 14, Georgia 7 12:30 2Q)
• TIMEOUT OSU – Marvin Harrison picks up 24 yards on the first play of the quarter. Fumbles, but the ball goes out of bounds. Buckeyes keep possession. Couple plays later, Javon Bullard is called for pass interference in the end zone. Ball placed at the 2-yard-line.

First Quarter

• Ohio State in Georgia territory as the first quarter comes to a close. Buckeyes have picked up a pair of first downs on third down.
• TOUCHDOWN – Stetson Bennett finds Kenny McIntosh on a tunnel screen for the touchdown. 25 yard catch and run from the senior back. Big plays on the drive previous to that included a crucial third-down conversion from Dominick Blaylock to pick up 20 yards and prevent a Georgia three-and-out, an 18-yard run from Daijun Edwards where he bounced off Buckeye tacklers and a first-day 17-yard pickup to Brock Bowers. Jack Podlesny‘s PAT is good. Tie game. (Georgia 7, Ohio State 7 3:15 1Q)
• TOUCHDOWN – Ohio State picks up 24 yards to Marvin Harrison on its first play of the drive. Into Georgia territory at the UGA 47. Buckeyes continue to move the ball through the air with a 13-yard pickup to Emeka Egbuka and two plays later, a 31-yard touchdown completion to Harrison. PAT is good. (Ohio State 7, Georgia 0 8:16 1Q)
• MISSED FIELD GOAL – Georgia got into Ohio State territory in just three plays, two of which were completions good for first downs to AD Mitchell. However, once there, the Bulldogs were forced to settle for a field goal attempt. Jack Podlesny misses from 47 yards out. Buckeye ball at the OSU 37.
• PUNT – First play picks up 11 yards as CJ Stroud completes to Marvin Harrison. Georgia gets off the field in three after that though with a sack on third down from Smael Mondon. Punt is fair caught by Kearis Jackson, a switch up from Ladd McConkey‘s usual role, at the UGA 26.

Pregame

• Georgia wins the toss, called by Ohio State, and defers. Buckeyes will take the ball going right to left on your screen.
• Honorary captain for Georgia is Champ Bailey. He’s joined by Nolan Smith, Stetson Bennett, Christopher Smith and Sedrick Van Pran.
• TCU beats Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl and will get the winner of tonight’s game in the National Championship on January 9th. As you can imagine, a Michigan loss was met with a loud cheer from the Ohio State fans on hand.
• Seven-on-seven ongoing and McConkey is with the first team. Then, in full 11 on 11 walk through, McClendon is with the second team. Probably a pretty good indication of their respective statuses.
• Warren McClendon is working with the second-team offensive line in warm ups. Amarius Mims the first-teamer at right tackle.
• Couple of the Georgia early enrollees with the team this week. On the sidelines today: AJ Harris, Lawson Luckie, Jamaal Jarrett, CJ Allen and Tyler Williams.
• Georgia players are starting to make their way onto the field. DeNylon Morrissette is not dressed out. He’s in street clothes. More importantly though with the wide receivers, Ladd McConkey is an active participant with B-Mac throwing balls to the group.
• Watch as Georgia arrives at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the Dawg Walk below:

• Georgia’s got a depth chart out on the press box flip cards. Here’s how the Dawgs will line up.

DawgsHQ’s Pregame Reads

• Emptying the Notebook
• Palmer’s Players to Watch
• Three Keys to Victory for the Bulldogs
• DawgsHQ Staff Predictions
• Q&A with Spencer Holbrook of Lettermen Row
• Who Has the Edge?
• Injury Report
• Peach Bowl Media Day Highlights
• Georgia Hype Video
• What Munson Would’ve Worried About