Game Summaries
1960's
LSU’s Mike Hillman passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Tigers to a comeback win in the first Peach Bowl Classic. The Seminoles jumped to a 13-0 first half lead in cold, rain-swept Grant Field before LSU unleashed its attack which featured Hillman’s TD passes. Bill Cappelman tossed three touchdown passes for the Seminoles.
Ed Williams of West Virginia rushed for 208 yards as the Mountaineers sloshed to a win. West Virginia completed only one pass in two attempts but rushed for 356 yards in the driving rain at Grant Field. The Gamecocks had a chance to win with a first and goal from the seven in the fourth quarter and the score 7-3, but West Virginia held off the threat and added the clinching score with only 23 seconds left in the game.
1970's
Undefeated Arizona State outscored North Carolina 27-0 in the second half to capture the win at Grant Field. The Sun Devils churned out 451 yards, 306 on the ground, in the swirling snow while holding the Tar Heels to 254. Monroe Eley rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns and Bob Thomas added 124 yards and three touchdowns for the Sun Devils. Don McCauley led North Carolina, which scored all 26 of its points in the second quarter, with 143 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Mississippi erupted for 38 first-half points in the rain and mud of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium en route to an easy win. Taking advantage of five Tech turnovers, the Rebels scored 28 second quarter points to lead at the half. Greg Ainsworth collected 118 yards rushing, while Norris Weese passed for 116 yards and rushed for 36 more to lead the Rebel attack. Rob Healy rushed for three touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets.
In the first precipitation-free Peach Bowl, NC State took advantage of the ideal weather conditions to roll to an upset win. The Wolfpack blasted the Mountaineers 35-0 in the second half. Led by QB David Buckley, NC State chalked up 535 yards, including 337 on the ground. West Virginia ran for only 91 yards.
Georgia defeated Maryland behind its defense which gave up 461 yards but only one touchdown. Georgia stopped the Terps five times inside the Bulldog 15-yard line, allowing Maryland’s only touchdown on a 68-yard bomb. Georgia broke a 10-10 tie on an eight yard drive following a Maryland fumble and held on for the win. Maryland’s Steve Mike-Mayer kicked three field goals.
Vanderbilt, making its first bowl appearance in 19 years, locked horns with Texas Tech in a defensive struggle that ended in a tie. Vanderbilt’s Mark Adams and Tech’s Brian Hall each booted two field goals to account for the scoring. The Red Raiders failed on a first and goal from the one-yard line just before halftime and missed another chance when Dennis Harrison blocked a 33-yard fourth quarter field goal attempt.
West Virginia avenged its 1972 Peach Bowl loss to NC State with a come-from-behind victory. The Mountaineers trailed 10-6 in the fourth quarter, when Don Kendra hit Scott McDonald on a 50-yard touchdown pass. Kendra also completed a 39-yard pass to Artie Owens with four seconds left in the first half for West Virginia’s other score.
Led by a bruising defense that limited North Carolina to 108 yards of total offense, Kentucky shut out the Tar Heels. The Wildcats, making their first bowl appearance since 1951, were led by FB Rod Stewart’s 104 rush yards and three touchdowns. A sellout crowd of 54,132 attended the game despite a temperature of 28 degrees.
N.C. State, paced by QB Johnny Evans and TB Ted Brown, jumped to 21-0 halftime lead and held on for the victory. Evans passed for 202 yards and rushed for 62 more, while Brown notched his second 100-yard Peach Bowl game with 114 yards on the ground. The win, before 36,733 fans, gave the Wolfpack two wins in three Peach Bowl Purdue 41, Georgia Tech 21
Purdue stormed to a 34-7 halftime lead and went on to defeat Georgia Tech, handing the Yellow Jackets their second Peach Bowl loss. Purdue limited Tech to zero yards of total offense in the decisive first half. The Jackets, playing without All-American RB Eddie Lee Ivery, finished with only 12 yards rushing for the game. Mark Herrmann threw two touchdown passes for the Boilermakers and rushed for another.appearances.
Purdue stormed to a 34-7 halftime lead and went on to defeat Georgia Tech, handing the Yellow Jackets their second Peach Bowl loss. Purdue limited Tech to zero yards of total offense in the decisive first half. The Jackets, playing without All-American running back Eddie Lee Ivery, finished with only 12 yards rushing for the game. Mark Herrmann threw two touchdown passes for the Boilermakers and rushed for another.
Freshman QB Mike Brannon threw two touchdown passes and Baylor blocked two Clemson punts to lead the Bears to victory before 57,321 fans. The Tigers, led by Billy Lott’s 204 passing yards , were stopped late in the game following an onside kick recovery as Baylor held on for the win.
1980's
Jim Kelly passed for 179 yards and the stingy Miami defense limited Virginia Tech to 10 points as the Hurricanes upended the Hokies. Miami jumped to a 14-0 lead then used two Danny Miller field goals to clinch the win. Cyrus Lawrence led Virginia Tech with 134 yards on the ground, 105 in the first half.
West Virginia stifled Florida’s offense in a decisive victory, becoming the first team to win three Peach Bowls. The Gators were held to minus-30 yards rushing and 135 yards passing in cold, rain-soaked Atlanta- Fulton County Stadium. Paul Woodside kicked four field goals to lead the Mountaineers.
Iowa scored 21 second quarter points to open a 21-7 lead and held on to win before 50,134 fans. Iowa QB Chuck Long threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns to spark the Hawkeyes and break the previous Peach Bowl passing mark with 220 yards in the first half. Tennessee was led by RB Chuck Coleman who gained 103 yards on 11 carries
Florida State jumped to a quick 21-0 lead and relied on powerful defense to win. North Carolina managed only 32 yards on the ground, while the Seminoles rolled up 265 yards. Eric Thomas, making his first collegiate start, threw two touchdown passes to Weegie Thompson and ran for a third to lead Florida State. The Tar Heels suffered their third Peach Bowl defeat in three appearances.
Virginia, playing in its first bowl game ever, got two fourth quarter field goals from Kenny Stadlin to complete a rally from a double-digit halftime deficit and upend Purdue. Cavalier QB Don Majkowski passed for one score and ran for another, while RB Don Howard Petty rushed for 116 yards and one TD. Boilermaker QB Jim Everett passed for three TDs, but Purdue was held scoreless in the second half.
In a game which saw 16 Peach Bowl records broken or tied, Army defeated Illinois in one of the most exciting games in the Bowl’s history. The two teams combined for a Peach Bowl record 863 yards of total offense. Army’s 291 yards on the ground, including 107 by Cadet QB Rob Healy, proved to be worth more than Illinois’s 401 yards through the air by future NFL QB Jack Trudeau. The Fighting Illini’s two-point conversion attempt to tie the game with 34 seconds left failed.
Driving 57 yards in the last 1:53, Virginia Tech nipped N.C. State 25-24 on Chris Kinzer’s 40-yard field goal as time expired. A crowd of 53,668 watched the Hokies and the Wolfpack battle in sun-drenched Atlanta- Fulton County Stadium. N.C. State went ahead 24-22 with over seven minutes remaining before the Hokies’ decisive march.
Playing before the largest crowd (58,737) in Peach Bowl history and the game’s second consecutive sellout, Tennessee’s came from behind to defeat Big-Ten runner-up Indiana, 27-22. Reggie Cobb scored the Volunteers’ decisive touchdown on a nine-yard fourth-quarter run.
A 75-yard Shane Montgomery touchdown pass fueled a 21-point second quarter as North Carolina State held on to defeat Iowa. The combatants combined to shatter 18 Peach Bowl records as the Hawkeyes battled back from an early hole but fell shy of the win. Iowa quarterback Chuck Hartlieb threw for 428 yards in the defeat.
On a day that offered the warmest weather in Peach Bowl history, Georgia led the majority of the contest and appeared destined to capture the second Peach Bowl victory in school history. However, the Bulldogs could not put the Orangemen away, and K John Biskup’s 26-yard field goal with 25 seconds to go gave Syracuse its first and most important lead.
1990's
A one-yard bootleg by Auburn QB Stan White with 39 seconds left gave the Tigers a heart-stopping, come-from-behind victory over Indiana. Auburn’s last-second victory was the fourth in the last five Peach Bowls decided in the last minute of play.
In the final Peach Bowl at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, East Carolina rallied from a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat in-state rival N.C. State, 37-34. The game took place in front of the largest crowd (59,322) in Peach Bowl history. Pirates QB Jeff Blake completed the last of his record-setting four TD passes to TE Luke Fisher with 1:32 remaining to give ECU the victory.
The Silver Anniversary Peach Bowl was the first played in the Georgia Dome, and a sellout crowd of 69,125 established new Peach Bowl and Georgia Dome records. In the first quarter, Mississippi State jumped ahead 14-0, but the Tar Heels tied the game at 14 with a returned blocked punt touchdown. A fourth-quarter interception return score proved enough to cement the Tar Heels’ win.
The Peach Bowl’s decade of close games continued as Clemson came from behind to upend Kentucky, 14-13. Emory Smith, brother of NFL star RB Emmitt, scored the winning TD on a 21-yard pass from Clemson’s fourth quarter replacement QB Patrick Sapp with 20 seconds remaining.
North Carolina State and Mississippi State followed Peach Bowl protocol with a hard-fought, back-and-forth contest. With the score tied at 20 early in the fourth quarter, Wolfpack QB Terry Harvey connected with Jimmy Gressett for a 62-yard completion. The four-play 80-yard scoring drive was capped off by an 11-yard Carlos King touchdown run. A stingy Wolfpack defense limited Mississippi State to only a field goal in the final minutes to seal the school’s fourth Peach Bowl win.
Virginia controlled the game and led 27-17 after three quarters. Early in the fourth quarter, Georgia kicked a field goal to narrow the margin to seven points. With 1:09 remaining, Georgia’s Jason Ferguson picked up a Virginia fumble and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown. With a record crowd of 70,284 roaring, the ensuing kickoff was run back by Virginia’s Demetrius Allen for record-setting and game-winning 83-yard return for a touchdown.
LSU’s Aaron Adams blocked a potential game-tying Clemson field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game to preserve the victory. In a game dominated by defense, LSU overcame an early seven point deficit and a 151-yard rushing performance by Clemson tailback Raymond Priester to capture its second consecutive bowl victory and post its first 10 win season since 1987.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl continued its reputation as one of the most exciting bowls in the nation as Auburn skidded by Clemson, 21-17. Auburn drew first blood with a 52-yard Jaret Holmes field goal in the first quarter. Clemson answered back in the second quarter following a touchdown off a blocked punt. Holmes booted another 24-yarder to make it a 7-6 game at the half, but Clemson answered out of the gate with a Terry Witherspoon touchdown to make the score 14-6. Auburn QB Dameyune Craig answered a Clemson field goal with a 22-yard scamper to close the gap to 17-12. With 8:45 left in the game, Auburn’s Rusty Williams rushed in from seven-yards out to put the SEC’s Tigers ahead. Holmes sealed the 21-17 win with a 22-yard field goal as the clock wound down.
The No. 19-ranked Georgia Bulldogs avenged their 1995 Peach Bowl loss to Virginia with a stirring, come-from-behind 35-33 victory in front of a record crowd of 72,876. After 12th-ranked Virginia built a 21- point lead, the Bulldogs responded with 21 points of their own. Virginia regained the lead late in the third quarter on a 67-yard pass from Aaron Brooks to Terrence Wilkins. The extra-point failed and at the end of three quarters the Cavaliers led 27-21. Georgia took the lead for good on its first possession of the fourth quarter when senior running back Olandis Gary capped a 67-yard drive with a two-yard run. After a Quincy Carter quarterback sneak from one yard out and an extra point conversion upped the Bulldog lead to eight points, Virginia responded as Brooks scrambled 30 yards to cut the lead to two points 35-33 with 1:34 remaining. The two-point conversion failed, seemingly icing the victory for Georgia. However, Virginia recovered the onside kick, setting up a 48-yard field goal attempt with 19 seconds remaining. The kick sailed wide right, though, and Georgia held on for the victory.
The second scoreless first half in Peach Bowl history greeted a new record crowd of 73,315 as the Clemson and Mississippi State defenses forced their will on their opponents. In the third quarter, MSU finally broke through with a 39-yard field goal from junior kicker Scott Westerfield capping a seven-play, 31-yard drive. The Bulldogs added a touchdown just 3:20 into the fourth when sophomore quarterback and game MVP Wayne Madkin scrambled in from the Clemson two-yard line. Clemson stormed back, moving the ball 70 yards on eight plays and finding the end zone on Brandon Streeter’s quarterback sneak from the one. Mississippi State put the game away on their next possession when Madkin hooked up with Dontae Walker on a 15-yard pass play. The win gave the Bulldogs a 10-2 record and No. 12 national ranking.
2000's
The 2000 edition of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl saw an interesting match-up of a heavily favored Georgia Tech team – virtually playing at home in the Georgia Dome – against an upstart LSU squad. Despite four turnovers, everything seemed in order as Tech’s running game mounted a 14-3 halftime lead. In the third quarter, LSU quarterback Rohan Davey – in for starter Josh Booty –connected on a three-yard pass to FB Tommy Banks, but the conversion attempt failed and LSU still trailed 14-9. In the fourth, the Tigers tallied 19 unanswered points on three scoring drives and two two-point conversions and a career-long, 49-yard field goal by John Corbello. The 28-14 upset victory for LSU was played in front of a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl record crowd of 73,614.
The Tar Heels, after an 0-3 start, completed an 8-5 season with a 16-10 victory over Auburn. UNC built a 16-0 lead behind the defensive power of All-American Julius Peppers and Defensive MVP Ryan Sims and the scrambling ability of quarterback Ronald Curry. That lead was narrowed to 16-3 by 34-yard Damon Duval field goal with 13:16 left in the game. Later, a botched punt by North Carolina set up a 12-yard Daniel Cobb touchdown pass to Lorenzo Diamond to make the score 16-10 with 1:18 left. Carolina’s Richard Moore recovered the ensuing onside kick to end Auburn’s comeback. It was the fifth straight sellout for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in a game that maintained the bowl’s tradition of close contests.
For the second straight season, the Terrapins finished a 10-win campaign with a bowl matchup against an SEC powerhouse. Maryland quarterback and Offensive MVP Scott McBrien engineered two lengthy touchdown drives, capped by his own TD runs of one and six yards, while Defensive MVP E.J. Henderson had 12 solo tackles to lead a surprising Terrapin rout. Maryland Cornerback Curome Cox picked off a Casey Clausen pass and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. Maryland won with key plays in all three phases of the game, as kicker Novak protected the lead with three field goals and Steve Suter had a bowl-record 95 yards in punt returns, including one for 79 yards.
Unranked Clemson, who won its last three regular season games by a combined 95 points, stunned sixth-ranked Tennessee. Head Coach Tommy Bowden and the Tigers used their hurry-up offense throughout the first half and caught the Vols off-guard when Kyle Browning scored from eight yards on a “fumblerooskie”.Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen threw for 384 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Led by Defensive MVP Leroy Hill, Clemson clamped down on the Vols’ ground attack to a mere 38 yards on 26 carries. Clemson’s Duane Coleman added a TD run and Aaron Hunt kicked two field goals (23, 28).
The No. 14 Miami Hurricanes stormed to an early lead via key plays on defense and special teams and never looked back to defeat No. 20 Florida. In the first quarter, Thomas Carroll blocked a Florida punt and Devin Hester returned it 78 yards for a touchdown. On the next series, Hester intercepted Florida QB Chris Leak and returned it 28 yards, leading to a Jon Peattie 47-yard field goal. Miami forced another Florida punt and Roscoe Parrish returned it 72 yards for a 17-3 halftime lead. Florida actually outgained Miami for the game (406 yards to 277) but Miami QB Brock Berlin would not be denied against his former team, passing for 171 yards. Berlin’s 20-yard touchdown strike to WR Ryan Moore in the third quarter gave Miami a 24-3 lead to seal the school’s first Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory since 1980.
The No. 9 Miami Hurricanes took on the No. 10 LSU Tigers in the 38th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Fresh off an upset loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game, the Tigers used their return trip to Atlanta as a way to regain respect. What unfolded was the most lopsided victory in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl history and the worst bowl defeat in Miami history – a 40-3 massacre by LSU. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn – in for the injured JaMarcus Russell – was the surprise of the night, connecting on 13 of 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors LSU’s defense held the high-powered Miami offense in check all night in what evolved into a one-sided game.
In the inaugural Chick-fil-A Bowl, Virginia Tech jumped out to a quick 21-3 halftime. The second half, however, saw a complete shift in momentum. The Bulldogs cut the lead to 21-6 on a 52-yard Brandon Coutu field goal by early in the third quarter. It was then that Georgia’s Mark Richt decided to use a little trickery of his own with an early on-sides kick, which his team recovered. The ensuing possession led to a 6-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to tight end Martrez Milner that sliced the Hokies’ lead to 21-13. In the next quarter and a half, Tech quarterback Sean Glennon turned the ball over four times, three of them leading to 18 UGA points. Kregg Lumpkin’s 3-yard touchdown run, followed by a Stafford to Milner two-point conversion, tied the game. The Bulldogs capitalized on two more VT turnovers via a 28-yard field goal, and a Brannon Southerland one-yarder for a 31-21 lead which secured the largest, second-half come-from-behind victory in Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl history.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl’s 40th anniversary game between No. 15 Clemson and No. 22 Auburn marked the first first overtime game in Chick-fil-A Bowl history and a record 11th straight sellout crowd of 74,413. Clemson took a 7-3 first half lead when star tailback C.J. Spiller broke free for an 83-yard touchdown run. On the first drive of the second half, Auburn answered with a touchdown of its own. In the fourth quarter the two teams put up a combined 17 points leaving the game knotted at 20. In overtime, Clemson managed only 17 yards on seven plays before settling for a 25-yard Buchholz field goal. On Auburn’s possession, Cox hit Rodgeriqus Smith for 12 yards to set up a Kodi Burns seven-yard TD run that ended the game in thrilling fashion, as the entire Auburn team sprinted for the end zone to celebrate the 23-20 victory.
The LSU Tigers routed No. 14 Georgia Tech 38-3. Led by freshman quarterback and Offensive MVP Jordan Jefferson and running back Charles Scott, the LSU Tigers routed No. 14 Georgia Tech 38-3. The Tigers tied a Bowl record with 28 second quarter points to leap out to a 35-3 lead at the half. Scott started off the second with a pair of touchdown runs, equaling the Bowl record for rushing touchdowns in a game with three and points in a game with 18. The win runs LSU’s record in the Chick-fil-A Bowl to 5-0, while Georgia Tech is 0-4 in its hometown bowl. LSU additionally now boasts two of the biggest blowouts in Chick-fil-A Bowl history, with the Tigers also owning the most lopsided win in their 40-3 win over Miami in 2005.
Following defeats at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Alabama in the Georgia Dome and at Georgia Tech earlier in the season, No. 11 Virginia Tech’s third trip to Atlanta in 2009 proved fruitful. The Hokies relied on their trademarks – power running and aggressive defense – to defeat Tennessee, 37-14.Virginia Tech jumped ahead 14-0 early behind a pair of touchdown runs from ACC Freshman of the Year Ryan Williams. The Volunteers cut the deficit to 17-14 going into halftime. Virginia Tech would not look back from there, again turning to its defense to close the game. Touchdown runs from Virginia Tech’s Tyrod Taylor and running back David Wilson cemented the victory The game drew a sell-out crowd – the Chick-fil-A Bowl’s 13th in a row – of 73,777.
2010's
Key offensive injuries on sides, a lopsided turnover margin and a Chick-fil-A Bowl-record-tying four field goals by a single team would make the difference in Florida State’s 26-17 victory over South Carolina. Florida State grabbed the early advantage using steady play from back-up quarterback E.J. Manuel and riding kicker Dustin Hopkins’ leg that tallied 14 of the Seminoles’ 26 points by itself on four field goals and a pair of PATs. The Gamecocks battled themselves, handing FSU five turnovers on three interceptions and two fumbles. The tenacious Gamecocks chipped away at Florida State’s lead in the third and fourth quarters, using two key drives to come to within two points. Florida State managed the clock in the fourth quarter to score the game-clinching, seven-yard touchdown pass with 5:27 remaining.
Spurred by an explosive offensive attack and timely special teams play, No. 25 Auburn broke open a close game in the second quarter and claimed its fourth Chick-fil-A Bowl victory in school history with a 43-24 win over Virginia in front of 72,919 fans at the Georgia Dome. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 14-7 lead in the 2nd quarter. However, the Tigers responded with touchdowns on three consecutive drives, Auburn marched down the field to open the second half to put the Tigers up 35-17. Virginia was poised to regain the momentum following a Kevin Parks touchdown run, but the Tigers’ special teams came registered its second blocked punt of the night through the back of the end zone for a safety to put the Tigers up 37-24. Kicker Cody Parkey would tack on two more field goals, from 45 and 37 yards out to put the game out of reach.
In the first matchup of 10-win teams in Chick-fil-A Bowl history, No. 14 Clemson and No. 8 LSU proved to be one for the ages as Clemson came back from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat LSU, 25-24. Spurred by a late passing attack by quarterback Tajh Boyd, Clemson went 60 yards in just 1:39 during the game’s final drive. Kicker Chandler Catanzaro booted a 37-yard field goal as time expired to seal the victory. Clemson wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins turned in one of the finest performances in Chick-fil-A Bowl history as he set Bowl records with 13 receptions for 191 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown grab before halftime.
The 2013 Chick-fil-A Bowl was the first time meeting between Duke and Texas A&M, as well the inaugural Chick-fil-A Bowl appearance for both teams. In a contest dominated by both teams’ offensives, Duke scored first and stayed ahead of the Aggies for the majority for the game. Going into halftime, the Blue Devils led the Aggies 38-17. Behind the arm of Heisman winner, Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M staged an epic second-half comeback in the highest-scoring game in the Bowl’s history. Twenty game records were tied or broken including points scored, total offense and first downs over the course of the game.
The 2014 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl kicked off the inaugural College Football Playoff and New Year’s Six bowl games by hosting No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 6 TCU. The Horned Frogs got off to a quick start and took a 28-0 lead into the locker room. Offensively, they shared the wealth as three different players threw passes, six registered rushing attempts and 12 caught passes. They were led by quarterback Trevone Boykin who threw for 187 yards and three touchdowns while adding 65 yards on the ground. The Rebels were outgained by TCU 423-129 and didn’t score until a 27-yard field goal midway through the final frame.
The 2015 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl was the 17th all-time matchup between the No. 18 Houston Cougars and No. 9 Florida State Seminoles. Houston, playing in its biggest bowl game in years, took advantage of the opportunity early and raced out to a 21-3 halftime lead. The Cougars were led offensively by quarterback Greg Ward, Jr. who not only threw for 238 yards and a touchdown, but also added 81 yards on the ground along with two scores. Florida State made a fourth quarter charge when a Jesus Wilson 14-yard touchdown catch cut the deficit to 31-24 with five minutes to play, but a late Houston score ended all hopes of a comeback. Florida State quarterback Sean Maguire threw for 392 yards and wide receiver Travis Rudolph set a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl record with 201 yards receiving.
The 2016 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl was the highest-ranked matchup in the 49-year history of the Bowl as No. 1 Alabama took on No. 4 Washington for a berth in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Huskies raced out to an early 7-0 lead when Jake Browning threw his 43rd touchdown pass of the season, tying a Pac-12 record, when he connected with Dante Pettis from 16 yards out. From that point forward, the game was all Alabama as the nation’s No. 1 defense did not allow Washington to cross the 50-yard-line until less than two minutes remained in the game. Defensive MVP Ryan Anderson scored the Alabama’s 11th defensive touchdown of the year when he returned one of Browning’s two interceptions 26 yards for a score late in the first half. Offensive MVP Bo Scarbrough sealed the win with the only score of the second half, a 68-yard touchdown run, which capped off a career-high 180-yard performance. A total of 75,996 fans were in attendance, setting a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and Georgia Dome record in the final college football game to be played in the stadium.
The 50th Anniversary Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl rang in the New Year featuring an elite matchup against No. 7 Auburn and No. 12 UCF in front of a sold-out crowd of 71,109 in the Bowl’s inaugural game in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. UCF took an early 13-6 halftime lead over Auburn. The Tigers began their comeback early in the third quarter thanks to a 72-yard kick return by Noah Igbinoghene. Two plays later, Jarrett Stidham connected with Will Hastings for 26 yards and a touchdown to tie the game at 13-13, but ultimately their comeback bid fell short. McKenzie Milton connected with Otis Anderson to tie the game back up with 1:30 to play in the third. Dredrick Snelson broke the tie with a catch from eight yards out to give the Knights a 27-20 lead they would never relinquish. The Tigers got down to the UCF 21-yard line with a chance to tie the game at 34 points apiece, but Stidham’s last-gasp attempt was intercepted in the end zone by Antwan Collier to secure a 34-27 UCF win and capped off the Knights’ first-ever 13-0 season.
The 51st annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl featured a top-10 matchup of No. 7 Michigan versus No. 10 Florida with a sold-out crowd of 74,006 fans, the fifth-largest in the Bowl’s history. It marked Michigan’s first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and represented the first Big Ten vs. SEC matchup for the Bowl in 28 years. Florida took the lead in the first half with two field goals and a 20-yard run for a touchdown by quarterback Feleipe Franks, but Michigan still sat within striking distance down only 13-10 at the half. In the second half, Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson set the tone in the third quarter with a 53-yard interception return from the Florida 3 to the Michigan 44. On the following drive, Franks then threw to running back Lamical Perine for five yards and a score. The Gators built on their lead with a one-yard touchdown by running back Jordan Scarlett to end the third 27-10. Michigan started the fourth quarter with a field goal but the Gators answered with a 53-yard rush by Perine into the end zone for his second score of the game. Finally, with 4:43 remaining in the fourth, Gardner-Johnson ended the game with his second interception of the day with a 30-yard return for a score. The Gators came out on top 41-15 in what was their first-ever win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the program’s first victory against the Wolverines.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl’s second College Football Playoff Semifinal featured a top-four matchup between No. 4 Oklahoma and No. 1 LSU in front of a record crowd of 78,347 fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It marked Oklahoma’s first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, LSU’s first-ever game in the College Football Playoff and the first time that two Heisman Trophy finalists played in the Bowl. LSU needed only three plays to race 42 yards for its first score as Joe Burrow connected with Justin Jefferson for a 19-yard TD less than 3 minutes into the game. The Sooners quickly countered after a Hurts' 51-yard pass to CeeDee Lamb set up a 3-yard touchdown run by Kennedy Brooks that tied the score at 7-7, but it was all LSU after that. The Tigers would go on to score touchdowns in seven of their first eight drives in the half, posting a dominating 49-14 lead going into halftime. The Sooners and Tigers exchanged a pair of touchdowns each in the second half, but the Tigers’ insurmountable lead would never be relinquished as LSU would go onto win its record sixth Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and its first-ever CFP Semifinal victory. Heisman winner Joe Burrow finished the day with eight total touchdowns and 493 yards passing, both Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl records, while Justin Jefferson was on the receiving end for four of those scoring plays. Jefferson also set multiple Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl records for receiving yards (227), receptions (14) and receiving touchdowns (four). In total, 18 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl records were broken or tied as the Tigers defeated the Sooners 63-28 on the way to winning the CFP National Championship in New Orleans.
2020's
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl’s New Year’s Day matchup of No. 9 Georgia and No. 8 Cincinnati signified the third consecutive top-10 match up for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and its fifth top-10 contest since becoming a New Year’s Six bowl in 2014. The undefeated Bearcats took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a Desmond Ridder 14-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce. The Bulldogs answered when George Pickens caught a 16-yard touchdown from JT Daniels to even the score at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter. Georgia would tack on a 37-yard field goal in the second, before the Bearcats went into the half with a 14-10 lead after a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard passing touchdown from Ridder to Josh Whyle. Cincinnati then extended its lead to 21-10 on the first drive of the third quarter thanks to a 79-yard touchdown run from Jerome Ford. Georgia’s defense would step up for the remainder of the game, keeping the Bearcats scoreless for the rest of the second half thanks in large part to the Bulldogs’ record-tying eight sacks, including three from defensive MVP Azeez Ojulari. After a forced fumble in Cincinnati territory, the Bulldogs would counter with a nine-yard touchdown run from Zamir White to cut the deficit to 21-16 after a failed two-point conversion. Georgia tacked on another field goal with 6:43 left in the fourth and then JT Daniels led an eight-play, 44-yard drive to the Cincinnati 36 trailing 21-19. Bulldog kicker and offensive MVP Jack Podlesny would then kick a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl record-tying 53-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to put the Bulldogs up 22-21. Georgia tacked on a safety as time expired on the way to its 24-21 win, handing the Bearcats their first loss of the season and tying Georgia for second in all-time Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victories with four.
The 54th Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl welcomed two teams making their first-ever appearance in the Bowl, as ACC champion No. 12 Pitt faced off with No. 10 Michigan State. The matchup represented the first Big Ten vs. ACC matchup in the game since 1988 and the first Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in 36 years that featured two northern teams. The scoring started early on when Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne hit wide receiver Jayden Reed for a 28-yard score to take a 7-0 lead at the 13:11 mark of the first quarter. Pitt would answer back with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to knot the score at 7-7 off of a Nick Patti 16-yard run for a touchdown. The Spartans then tacked on a 36-yard field goal in the second to reclaim the lead, before the Panthers answered following a Brandon Hill interception which led to a six-play 87-yard drive that ended with a four-yard passing touchdown from Davis Beville to Jared Wayne. After going into the half with a 14-10 lead, the Pitt defense would step up again early in the third quarter when Michigan State quarterback Payton Thorne stripped by Pitt’s John Morgan III. The fumble was then picked up and run back for a 26-yard touchdown by Pitt’s Cam Bright. With a 21-10 lead and a turnover on downs forced in the third, all the momentum stood with the Panthers entering the fourth. The Spartans would mount an impressive comeback starting with 8:06 remaining in the game when Thorne hit Spartan tight end Connor Heyward for a 15-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-16. After a three and out forced by the Spartan defense, Michigan State got the ball back and drove 71 yards to take the lead on another Reed touchdown, this time from 22 yards out. The Spartans then converted a two-point conversion to extend their lead 24-21 with over two minutes remaining. Pitt and Beville began driving and looked in prime position to win the game or force overtime after reaching the Michigan State 26-yard line until Michigan State Freshman All-American linebacker Cal Haladay forced a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown that would seal the game with less than 30 seconds left. The 78-yard pick six would stand as a Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl record and gave the Spartans a 31-21 victory in the program’s first-ever Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. Reed was named offensive MVP for his two touchdowns and Haladay was honored as defensive MVP for his interception return touchdown to seal the win. The Spartan victory would stand as the Big Ten’s first Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Victory since 1982.
The third iteration of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl saw No. 4 Ohio State matched up against reigning National Champions No. 1 Georgia. The primetime game on New Year’s Eve was played in front of a record crowd of 79,330 fans in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Ohio State Buckeyes made their first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, while the Georgia Bulldogs were making their seventh trip to Atlanta for the Bowl. The teams traded scores in the opening frame and the game was tied 7-7 after one quarter. Ohio State scored back-to-back touchdowns to open the second quarter, as Miyan Williams rushed for a score and C.J. Stroud found Marvin Harrison Jr. for his second touchdown of the game. Georgia would rally back with two scores of their own as Kendall Milton and Stetson Bennett each ran in for touchdowns, followed by a Jack Podlesny field goal. OSU would then score with less than a minute remaining in the half to take a 28-24 lead going into the break. The Buckeyes again came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, with C.J. Stroud throwing his fourth touchdown of the game, while the Ohio State defense held Georgia to just 32 yards in the third, stretching their lead out to 38-24 heading into the fourth. Offensive MVP Stetson Bennett was dominant in the final quarter, connecting with Arian Smith for a 76-yard touchdown and Adoni Mitchell for a 10-yard score with 54 seconds remaining on the game clock to take the lead. Ohio State drove down field and missed a potential game winning field goal as time expired and clock struck midnight on 2022, giving Georgia its fifth win in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl with a 42-41 win. Bennett finished the contest with 398 yards and four total touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, while Javon Bullard earned defensive MVP totaling three tackles, a sack, tackle for loss and a pass breakup in the contest. The Georgia Bulldogs would go on to win their second consecutive CFP National Championship after toppling No. 3 TCU 65-7 the next week in Los Angeles.
The 56th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl featured No. 11 Ole Miss and No. 10 Penn State in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. It marked Penn State's first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and represented the sixth Big Ten vs. SEC matchup in the bowl’s history. Despite competing against the nation’s top defense, Ole Miss’s offense came out firing on all cylinders in the first half, jumping out to a 20-17 lead at halftime. Following the break, Ole Miss’s defense forced three consecutive three-and-outs while the offense successfully picked up 11 more points going into the fourth quarter. The Rebels built on their lead in the fourth up 38-17 as part of an 18-0 run. Penn State responded with a score and a two-point conversion, but it wasn’t enough as Ole Miss held on for a 38-25 victory. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart set an Ole Miss bowl passing record with 394 passing yards, while the Rebels’ offense scored the most points (38), passing yards (394) and total yards (540) Penn State’s top-ranked defense had allowed all season. Rebels tight end Caden Prieskorn was named the offensive MVP with two touchdowns, an Ole Miss bowl record 10 receptions and 136 receiving yards. Defensive MVP Jared Ivey ended the day with five tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. With the win, Ole Miss recorded its first 11-win season in program history and its second victory in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
As part of the newly expanded 12-team CFP, the first-ever CFP Quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl rang in the New Year between the No. 5 Seed Texas Longhorns and the Big 12 Champion, No. 4 Seed Arizona State Sun Devils. Texas advanced to the CFP Quarterfinals and their first-ever Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after defeating No. 12 Seed Clemson 38-24 in the CFP First Round game. The Sun Devils secured a berth in the CFP and a first-round bye as the fourth-highest ranked conference champion, returning to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl for the first time since 1970. Texas jumped out to an early 17-3 first half lead thanks to a 23-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to DeAndre Moore Jr., along with a 75-yard punt return touchdown by Silas Bolden. The Sun Devils then cut the lead to 17-8 in the third quarter thanks to a Shamari Simmons safety and a 36-yard field goal by Carston Kieffer. Texas would then answer with a 13-play, 76-yard drive that took 10 minutes off the clock and finally ended with a 5-yard Ewers touchdown to put the Longhorns up 24-8. The Sun Devils overcame a 16-point deficit to force overtime, partially thanks to a pair of missed Longhorn field goals, including one that hit off the left upright from 38 yards away as time expired. Skattebo put Arizona State ahead for the first time all day with a 3-yard touchdown run to start overtime. Ewers then answered with a 28-yard touchdown to Golden on fourth-and-13 to force a second overtime. The Longhorns opened the second overtime with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Gunnar Helm, followed by a 2-point conversion pass to Golden to put the Longhorns up eight. Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba's interception then clinched a 39-31 victory for the Longhorns as they would then advance to the CFP Semifinals. Texas captured its first-ever Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory to become the first program in college football history to win all six of the prestigious New Year's Six bowl games. Cam Skattebo (Arizona State) was named Offensive MVP and Jahdae Barron (Texas) was selected as the Defensive MVP. Skattebo finished with 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground, along with 99 receiving yards and a 42-yard touchdown pass to become the first player from the losing team to be named Offensive MVP since 2007. Barron led the Longhorns with 11 total tackles, including seven solo tackles.
As part of the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl hosted a College Football Playoff Semifinal as undefeated No. 1 Indiana squared off against No. 5 Oregon. Making its first-ever appearance in the CFP Semifinals, Indiana delivered a dominant all-around performance to overwhelm the Ducks, 56-22, and punch its ticket to the national championship game. The Hoosiers wasted no time setting the tone, as cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted a pass from Dante Moore on Oregon’s first offensive snap and returned it for a touchdown just 11 seconds into the game. Oregon briefly responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Moore to Jamari Johnson to tie the game at 7-7, but Indiana quickly regained control behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza capped an 11-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr., then found Charlie Becker on a 36-yard scoring strike and Elijah Sarratt on a short touchdown late in the second quarter as the Hoosiers built a commanding 35-7 halftime lead. Indiana’s defense fueled the surge by forcing three first-half turnovers and limiting Oregon to just nine rushing yards in the opening half. The Hoosiers continued to pour it on in the second half, opening the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mendoza to E.J. Williams Jr. to extend the lead to 42-7. Oregon found the end zone again midway through the third quarter, but Indiana answered in the fourth with another Mendoza touchdown to Sarratt, set up by a blocked punt, and a 23-yard rushing touchdown by Kaelon Black to put the game out of reach. Indiana closed out the 56-22 victory to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, as Mendoza was named Offensive MVP and Ponds earned Defensive MVP honors.
