Carson Beck throws three picks, but also throws the go-ahead touchdown pass in Georgia's 34-20 win over Florida

QB Carson Beck had a tough game but threw a go-ahead touchdown pass with 4:01 left as No. 2 Georgia beat Florida 34-20.

Beck threw three interceptions Saturday as the Bulldogs trailed for most of the first half and were even tied midway through the fourth quarter. But after Florida tied the game at 20-20 with 7:29 left, Georgia responded with a 75-yard drive that lasted just seven plays and ended when Beck found Dominic Lovett for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Florida still had plenty of time to engineer another game-winning drive, but an undermanned offense finally ran out of steam. Aidan Warner was picked off by CJ Allen on the first play of the drive and Georgia won the game with a Dwight Phillips Jr. touchdown with just over three minutes left.

Warner filled in for the injured DJ Lagway. According to coach Billy Napier, the five-star freshman suffered a “pretty serious” hamstring injury. Lagway went down in the first half and immediately grabbed the back of his left thigh. He was even carried to a waiting car after trainers attended to him on the ground.

Florida also played without starting RB Montrell Johnson and WR Eugene Wilson III. But the Gators kept pace with the Bulldogs thanks to a strong defensive performance.

However, the chances of an upset went haywire in the third quarter. The Gators prepared for a 51-yard field goal with the game tied at 13, but a low snap missed the kicker and holder. Georgia finally recovered at the Florida 36-yard line and needed just three plays to take a 20-13 lead after a pass from Beck to Cash Jones.

Carson Beck's recent struggles

This wasn't Beck's first three-interception game of the season. It was his third. And all three have happened in Georgia's last five games.

Beck has thrown 11 interceptions as he has not thrown a pick in any of Georgia's first three games of the season. He threw three interceptions in the Bulldogs' loss to Alabama, but recovered in the second half before throwing an interception in the end zone that essentially ended the game.

He threw two interceptions three weeks ago against Mississippi State and was picked off three times in Georgia's 30-15 win over Texas on Oct. 19. Beck completed just 23 of 41 passes for 175 yards and three interceptions.

Beck, a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, decided to go back to school after the Bulldogs missed the College Football Playoff a season ago. He's had a bigger burden on offense in 2024 and hasn't been as good so far as he was a season ago.

Beck completed over 72% of his passes last season and threw for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns with just six interceptions. After going 25 of 40 for 309 yards on Saturday, Beck is now completing nearly 66% of his passes this season and is averaging fewer yards per attempt while throwing five more interceptions than he did all of last season.

The recent trend of turnovers means that Beck's Heisman chances are virtually nil at this point. And he'll have to play better if Georgia wants to get past Ole Miss and Tennessee in the next two games. The Bulldogs can't rely on the defense to evade these ranked teams.