Daniels sparkles in Georgia win

USC transfer throws four touchdown passes, including the game-winning score.

The former Trojan passes for 401 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State.

ATHENS, Ga. — JT Daniels made quite a debut between the hedges, throwing for 401 yards and four touchdowns as No. 13 Georgia held on for a 31-24 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday night.

Playing for the first time since the 2019 opener with USC, Daniels became the third quarterback to start for the Bulldogs (5-2) this season.

It looks like they’ve finally found their guy.

The transfer delivered one big play after another, capped by a 40-yard touchdown pass to Kearis Jackson that broke a 24-24 tie with 9:50 remaining to finish off Mississippi State (2-5).

Daniels became the first Georgia quarterback to pass for more than 400 yards since Aaron Murray in 2013. And he had to do it all through the air because Georgia’s running game was limited to eight yards.

Freshman Jermaine Burton was Daniels’ favorite receiver, hauling in eight passes for 197 yards — including touchdown catches of 18 and 48 yards, plus another grab of 49 yards.

As Daniels took a knee to close out the game, the limited crowd of about 20,000 at Sanford Stadium chanted “JT! JT! JT!”

One of the nation’s top high school prospects in 2018, Daniels earned USC’s starting job as a freshman, but he tore up a knee in the opener of his sophomore season. Daniels transferred to Georgia and was granted immediate eligibility in the battle to replace three-year starter Jake Fromm.