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WATCH: Georgia players and coaches arrive for Peach Bowl

Palmber-Thombsby:Palmer Thombs•12/26/22•

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Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl

ATLANTA — Georgia players and coaches are officially in Atlanta. After practicing in Athens earlier in the day, the Bulldogs made the short drive over to the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta, their home for the next few days. Ohio State players and coaches made the trip yesterday. Now both the Bulldogs and Buckeyes are present and ready to go for Saturday’s College Football Playoff showdown.

“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 about the Ohio State matchup. “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.”

Georgia will practice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the location of Saturday’s game, during their stay in Atlanta. Players and coaches will also meet with the media several times before kickoff. Co-defensive coordinators Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp are both scheduled to speak tomorrow (Tuesday). Then comes offensive coordinator Todd Monken on Wednesday. All players and coaches will take part in a team-wide media day on Thursday at the College Football Hall of Fame before just the head coaches take the stage once again to speak on the final preparations of their team on Friday.

This is just the second time that Georgia and Ohio State have matched up, a somewhat surprising number considering both programs’ standing in College Football. That one also came during bowl season, just shy of 30 years ago to the date come kickoff at the 1993 Citrus Bowl. Heisman Trophy finalist Garrison Hearst won MVP honors as he rushed for two touchdowns in a 21-14 victory over Robert Smith and the Buckeyes, quarterback by Kirk Herbstreit who will ironically be calling the game on Saturday.

Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 8:00 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on ESPN. It’s the second of a two-part College Football Playoff semifinal doubleheader with No. 2 Michigan and No. 3 TCU clashing in the Fiesta Bowl at 4:00 p.m. ET. The winners of the two games will meet on January 9th with a National Championship on the line at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

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