Georgia’s Carson Beck Says He’ll Play in Orange Bowl Amid Rumors of Leaving

The Bulldogs’ quarterback will play in the team’s bowl game at the end of this month.

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck made it clear on Sunday that he will play when the Bulldogs (12–1) face Florida State (13–0) in the 2023 Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, despite recent uncertainty of his long-term future at UGA.

Beck informed reporters of his decision during a fan event at an Academy Sports and Outdoors in Atlanta, saying that he assumed people knew he would play in the Bulldogs’ postseason bowl game.

“Yeah, I’m playing in the game,” Beck said, per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I mean, I think people know that, unless they don’t. But, yes, officially, I am playing in the game.”

Georgia coach Kirby Smart will have his starting quarterback for the team’s ’23 swan song. But when contemplating what ’24 will look like, Beck described it as the “hardest decision of [his] entire life.” Rumors have persisted that the senior could declare for the NFL draft or enter the transfer portal.

Quarterback Carson Beck has been considering whether to return or leave Georgia for his senior season :: Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK

Beck, who recently finished his fourth season at UGA, threw for 3,728 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions in the ’23 campaign and his first as a starter in replacing two-time CFP national championship signal-caller Stetson Bennett. He has one more year of college eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Georgia appeared to be headed for one of the four coveted CFP spots until Alabama (12–1) knocked off UGA in this year’s SEC championship game, dropping the Bulldogs to No. 6 and lifting the Crimson Tide to No. 4 in the final rankings released on Dec. 3.