100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays—Day 18

UGASports continues its 100-day countdown to the Bulldogs’ 2026 season opener with the “100 Days of Georgia’s Greatest Plays” series. Today, on Day 18, we revisit one of the greatest plays in Georgia football history involving the number 18. On Day 18, we look back at Kenny McIntosh’s 18-yard halfback touchdown pass that fooled Michigan in the 2021 Orange Bowl. The Game: No. 3 Georgia (12-1 record coming off an SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama four weeks prior) vs. No. 2 Michigan (12-1 record coming off a Big Ten Championship Game win over Iowa four weeks prior) for the CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on December 31, 2021. The teams were meeting for only the third time ever and for the first time since the 1965 regular season. The winner would advance to the CFP National Championship Game to face Alabama, which had defeated Cincinnati earlier that day in the Cotton Bowl. The Bulldogs entered the game as 7½-point favorites over the Wolverines. “Get the Picture”: After scoring a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, Georgia forced Michigan to turn the ball over on downs at the Bulldogs’ 41-yard line. The Bulldogs quickly moved 42 yards in five plays, highlighted by a 21-yard run by James Cook. With Georgia already leading 7-0, the drive reached the Michigan 18 with just under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The Play On first down from the 18, quarterback Stetson Bennett took the shotgun snap and handed off to junior running back Kenny McIntosh, who crossed the formation from left to right. Georgia’s third-leading rusher for the season, McIntosh was a Fort Lauderdale native making a homecoming of sorts in the Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens. McIntosh sold a stretch run toward the right sideline before pulling up and lofting a pass to a wide-open AD Mitchell in the end zone. The freshman wideout hauled it in for an 18-yard touchdown, giving Georgia a 14-0 lead with 4:41 remaining in the opening quarter. After jumping out to the two-touchdown first-quarter lead, the Bulldogs never let up, eventually building a 34-3 advantage in the fourth quarter before defeating the Wolverines, 34-11. For McIntosh, the 18-yard touchdown pass marked the first—and only—pass attempt of his high school and college careers. According to UGASports’ research, the score was the 11th time in UGA history the Bulldogs had scored a touchdown on a trick pass thrown by a non-quarterback. In four seasons at Georgia (2019-22), McIntosh was responsible for 21 touchdowns: 16 rushing, four receiving, and one passing. #18DaysEarly in the 2021 @OrangeBowl vs. Michigan, #UGA widens its lead to two scores on a Kenny McIntosh-to-Adonai Mitchell 18-yard halfback pass for a TD. The play marks the 10th time in UGA history the Bulldogs scored a TD via a trick pass thrown by a non-quarterback. pic.twitter.com/CFmcAYN2yu— Patrick Garbin (@patrickgarbin) August 16, 2022