Georgia beats Oklahoma at the Rose Bowl in California

The Georgia Bulldogs scored a surprise victory against the Oklahoma Sooners at the 2018 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day.

Sony Michel’s 27-yard touchdown run in double overtime gave Georgia a 54-48 win over Oklahoma.

It was the first overtime game in the 104-year history of the Rose Bowl, the highest-scoring Rose Bowl ever and the first College Football Playoff game to go into overtime. 

Georgia will now go on to play Alabama at the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 8. 

The Crimson Tide beat the Clemson Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, which was also held on Monday.

After ending the historic first overtime Rose Bowl, Michel was swarmed by his teammates as he broke down in tears.

Oklhaoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (9) catches a pass against Bulldogs defensive back Tyrique McGhee 926) during the second half of the game which went into double overtime

Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs the ball for a touchdown during the second half of the game. Georgia will now go on to play Alabama at the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 8

Head Coach Kirby Smart of the Georgia Bulldogs is presented with the Rose Bowl trophy after the team’s surprise victory. Georgia was ranked third in NCAA football rankings before the game. Oklahoma was ranked second

The senior tailback raced 27 yards for a touchdown in the second overtime to give Number 3 Georgia a 54-48 victory against Number 2 Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Before the game, Clemson was ranked Number 1 and Alabama was ranked Number 4.

Michel, who had a fumble in the fourth quarter returned for a go-ahead Oklahoma touchdown, ran for 181 yards and three scores for the Bulldogs, but none bigger than the last one.

‘I made plays. I gave up plays. My team just had faith in me,’ said Michel, who did all that damage on just 11 carries and got a hug from former Bulldogs great tailback Garrison Hearst after scoring the winning touchdown. 

‘That’s what this team is all about. They showed true character today.’

In the final game of his great career, Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns, and caught a touchdown pass that gave the Sooners a 17-point lead with 6 seconds left in the first half.

But the Heisman Trophy winner could not get the Sooners into the end zone in the first overtime when a touchdown would have ended the game.

‘It’s tough to describe right now,’ Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said of the loss. ‘It’s a hell of a college football game. You know, an epic Rose Bowl game.’

The Bulldogs will now go on to play Alabama on January 8 in an all-Southeastern Conference national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, about 70 miles from their campus.

Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims (6) tries to catch a pass while being interfered with by Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood (13)

Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) celebrates after blocking a field goal against Oklahoma during the overtime portion of the game

Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) celebrates with offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn (77) and tight end Jeb Blazevich (83) after scoring his touchdown during the second half of the game

Georgia tailback Sony Michel is pictured running the ball during his winning touchdown despite the best efforts of Oklahoma players to thwart him

After Georgia made its first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1943 a heart-stopping success, the Bulldogs will play for their first national title since 1980.

‘We got to get back to work. It’s not done,’ Michel said. ‘Now we got to finish. Let’s just finish this season off right.’

The 104th Rose Bowl was also the highest-scoring, surpassing last year’s 52-49 USC victory against Penn State. 

There was a lot more on the line in this one, the first College Football Playoff game to go to overtime as well.

After an offside penalty on Georgia gave Oklahoma a first down on third-and-five in the second OT possession, the Sooners stalled again and Austin Seibert came out for a 27-yard field goal. 

Leaping through the line, Lorenzo Carter got his outstretched hand on the kick and the ball fluttered down short of the uprights.

Any score would have ended it for the Bulldogs, and on the second play Michel slipped one tackle and was home free. 

The Bulldogs sprinted off the sideline and toward the corner of the end zone to mob Michel. Confetti rained down. 

Meanwhile, Mayfield stood motionless on the sideline for several seconds, bent over with his hands on his knees and head down. 

Mayfield battled flu-like symptoms the week leading into the game, but he played just fine.

‘I can’t believe it’s over. It’s been a wild ride,’ said Mayfield with a hoarse voice before he started to cry.

Pictured is another view of Michel running his winning 27-yard touchdown that has vaulted Georgia to the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship against Alabama, which won the Sugar Bowl. ‘That’s what this team is all about. [My team] showed true character today,’ Michel said

Georgia Bulldogs players celebrate their victory by holding up Atlanta Journal Constitution newspapers emblazoned with the headline: ‘Later, [Oklahoma] Sooners!’

Georgia player Mecole Hardman celebrates by holding up the trophy his team earned for their victory against Oklahoma

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart comforts Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield with a hug. ‘I can’t believe it’s over. It’s been a wild ride,’ said Mayfield with a hoarse voice before he started to cry after the game

Michel is pictured running the ball during the second half of the 2018 Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California

Michel and his roommate and running mate Nick Chubb were awesome for Georgia. 

Chubb ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a 2-yarder on a direct snap with 55 seconds left in regulation to tie it. 

The Sooners had taken a 45-38 lead when Steven Parker returned Michel’s fumble for a TD with 6:52 left in the fourth.

‘I told him that he had to keep running and trying to hit the corner,’ Chubb said. ‘We had a long game and after the fumble, we went down and he made up for it with that run to win the game.’

Both teams settled for field goals in the first overtime. First, Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship hit from 38 to make it 48-45.

Then it was Mayfield’s turn. A touchdown would have sent the Sooners to Atlanta, but on a third-and-2 from the 17 Georgia All-America linebacker Roquan Smith nailed Jordan Smallwood a yard short of the first down.

Seibert kicked a 33-yarder and the Bulldogs and Sooners played on, but not for much longer. 

Aside from the game itself, there were incredible scenes at the Rose Bowl in California on New Year’s Day with a stirring National Anthem and a B2 bomber flying over the stadium leaving the crowd roaring with applause.

The US Army Chorus kicked things off with the anthem on Monday afternoon at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena ahead of the College Football Playoff semifinal game between Oklahoma and Georgia.

A B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, then flew over the cheering crowd before the game officially kicked off in the packed stadium.

The US Army Chorus kicked things off with the anthem on Monday afternoon at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena ahead of Oklahoma and Georgia playoffs

A B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, then flew over the cheering crowd before the game officially kicked off in the packed stadium

The anthem performance was widely praised on social media with many saying the rendition by US forces left them with goosebumps.

‘If you don’t get goosebumps watching the US forces sing the national anthem at the Rose Bowl and Lieutenant Dan clapping like hell, there’s something wrong,’ one person tweeted. 

Another wrote on Facebook: ‘Coolest National Anthem ever! During a time when there are few true patriots in the younger generation… I am proud of the Armed Forces and MY America!’ 

The actual Rose Bowl kicked off just after 5pm on Monday. 

The first spot in the College Football Playoff championship game will go to either the Georgia Bulldogs or second-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.

The US Army Chorus performed the National Anthem and were praised on social media

Fans cheer before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game between Oklahoma and Georgia on New Year’s Day

The anthem performance was widely praised on social media with many saying the rendition by US forces left them with goosebumps

A B-2 Stealth Bomber makes a fly-over before kickoff of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game

Oklahoma players kneel together before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Georgia

Earlier in the day, the annual Rose Parade extravaganza also drew hundreds of thousands of spectators as millions more watched on TV. 

With a nod of thanks to military veterans, marching bands and floral floats took to the streets under sunny California skies.

The theme of the 2018 parade was ‘Making a Difference’ and actor Gary Sinise was chosen as grand marshal to lead the proceedings because of his devotion to veteran’s issues.

Sinise, who played Vietnam vet Lt. Dan Taylor in the 1994 film ‘Forrest Gump,’ said when he was picked that he was happy to serve as grand marshal because of the vets he seeks to help.

‘If shining a little spotlight on me on January first can shine a spotlight on them to help me make a difference in their lives, I am very, very grateful to do that,’ he said.

Oklahoma players wait before running onto the field before the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game

Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims (left) breaks away from Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game

Oklahoma running back Rodney Anderson dives for a touchdown between Georgia defensive back J.R. Reed, left, and safety Dominick Sanders, right, during the first half

Veterans and family members of those killed in action appeared on some of the floats.

Spectators started lining the 3.5-mile route on Sunday, many of them camping on sidewalks and braving overnight temperatures in the low 40s.

Meanwhile, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon made jokes about the parade floats and Donald Trump as they posed as local TV hosts during a Funny or Die broadcast that streamed live on Amazon earlier on Monday.

The pair played fictional TV hosts Cord Hosenbeck and Tish Cattigan tasked with live-streaming the  annual event.

In the episode, they poked fun at some of the marching bands and questioned whether a high school would ever be named after Donald Trump. 

‘Do you think anyone will ever name a high school after Donald Trump? He’s so polarizing – can you imagine?’ Shannon asked. 

Ferrell responded: ‘Not a public one, but one that you could buy a high school degree from without going to class, for sure.’ 

Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon made jokes about the parade floats and Donald Trump as they posed as local TV hosts during a Funny or Die broadcast that streamed live on Amazon earlier on Monday

The Kyoto Tachibana High School band, of Japan, performs at the 129th Rose Parade in Pasadena

Grand Marshal Gary Sinise waves to the crowd at the 129th Rose Parade in Pasadena

Rose Queen Isabella Marie Marez and the princesses ride on their float during the parade

The Trader Joe’s float ‘Hats Off,’ the winner of the Showmanship Award, rolls in the 2018 Tournament of Roses Parade

The City of Riverside float makes its way down the 129th Rose Parade route

The Singpoli American BD float makes its way along the parade route

The UPS Store float is seen at the 129th Tournament of Roses Parade on Monday