College Football Playoff score: Live Orange Bowl updates, TV channel, news and reaction as Georgia leads Michigan

Stetson Bennett throws a 39-yard pass to RB James Cook for his third passing TD of the night with just over 10 minutes remaining in the final quarter.

Cook now leads the Bulldogs with three receptions for 99 yards.

The Orange Bowl score remains 27-3, but Georgia continues to pull away with nearly double Michigan’s total yards (400 compared to about 200). The two teams are averaging roughly the same yardage per play this quarter (around 5.5 yards), but Michigan’s two turnovers have rendered any offensive effort obsolete.

Dean, the Butkus Award winner for being the best linebacker in the country, forces a fumble recovered by Georgia’s Devonte Wyatt.

Michigan’s last three possessions have ended in two interceptions and a fumble.

Georgia CB Derion Kendrick has a pair of interceptions tonight after some games to forget in his two most recent CFP appearances before transferring from Clemson.

Hassan Haskins found space for Michigan’s longest running play of the night, a 19-yard rush that continued into an 11-play, 56-yard drive (also Michigan’s longest total drive so far) before Derion Kendrick’s second interception of the night halts the Wolverines.

Georgia had 330 yards in the first half. The only Michigan opponent to put up that many in any game was Ohio State (394).

Georgia‘s efficiency sets a new bar in the College Football Playoff as the Bulldogs become the first team to score on each of its first five drives, according to ESPN. Michigan has scored on just one of its five drives tonight.

The Wolverines find themselves in a 24-point hole despite outscoring their opponents 227-76 in the first half this season prior to tonight (and out-pacing opponents 138-54 in the second quarter alone).

Michigan has also yet to trail at the half all season prior to tonight.

Smith II played in 10 games this season. Since the penalty occurred during the first half, he is only out for the rest of the game and will not have to miss any of the national title game should Georgia advance.

Jermaine Burton reels in Bennett’s 57-yard pass, covering the final 20 yards to reach the end zone and bring the Bulldogs to a 27-3 lead over Michigan.

The score was immediately followed up by a Derion Kendrick interception to regain possession.

Bulldogs’ Stetson Bennett completed the longest pass of the game so far, throwing 53 yards to running back James Cook. It was also the longest play the Wolverines have given up all season, according to ESPN’s broadcast.

Georgia followed it up with a 28-yard field goal to extend its lead back to 17.

The 2021 Lou Groza Award recipient (given to the top kicker in college football) puts the Wolverines on the board with a 36-yard field goal about halfway through the second quarter. He is 23 of 25 on the season.

With less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Bulldogs continue their shutout of Michigan with a field goal from Jack Podlesny.

The Bulldogs have 150 yards of total offense compared to Michigan‘s 42. Their efficiency shows as they are 3-3 on third downs and 2-2 on red zone attempts.

Michigan first quarter vs. Georgia: 42 yards, 3 first downs, 0 points

Vanderbilt first quarter vs. Georgia: 34 yards, 3 first downs, 0 points

Michigan has scored first in 12 of its 13 games so far this season. The only game in which the Wolverines were not the first to score was against Penn State on Nov. 13 — a game during which they trailed by more than four points and ended up winning 21-17.

With his 12th TD reception of the season, the freshman tight end has established himself as the program’s single-season leader in receiving touchdowns. The previous record was set by WR Terrence Edwards, who had 11 TD catches in 2002.

Georgia’s first two drives – featuring a run-pass balance, misdirection and a halfback pass – were a Todd Monken tour de force. The Georgia offensive coordinator should pull a George Costanza and get up, leave the press box and wait on the plane for everyone else to join him.

As the Wolverines’ head coach attempts to lead his team to its first CFP win, he will also try to amend his 1-4 bowl game record at Michigan. This is his third appearance in the Orange Bowl as head coach (2016, 2010).