ATLANTA — It was quite the year for the sports landscape in the state of Georgia.
As the year comes to a close, 11Alive is taking a look back on the successful year it was in sports for both the city of Atlanta and the state as a whole. Whether it be adding a national championship, breaking franchise records, or overcoming the odds to accomplish something never done before, it sure was a memorable year.
Here's a list of the top sports moments in 2023 that are sure to have a lasting impact in the hearts of sports fans for years to come.
After conquering the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, Kirby Smart, Stetson Bennett and company were on a mission to end up right back on the mountaintop the following year.
In what turned out to be a dominant season by Georgia, capped off with an SEC title, they went into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team. After surviving a thriller against Ohio State at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, UGA came into the CFP title game as heavy favorites over the Big 12 champion TCU Horned Frogs, the No. 3 team.
When the game kicked off, Georgia left little doubt who the best team in the nation was. They routed TCU by a final of 65-7, making it the largest margin of victory in national championship history or in any bowl game in college football history.
Senior QB Stetson Bennett cemented himself as quite possibly the greatest player in UGA's storied history, and Kirby Smart put the nation on notice that 2022 wasn't a fluke.
Death, taxes and the Braves winning the National League East. That seems to be the one constant for the Braves since manager Brian Snitker took over at the helm.
The Braves popped the champagne bottles on the field of their division rival Philadelphia Phillies, inside Citizens Bank Park -- which made it feel even sweeter. We don't need to talk about what happened several weeks later in the same stadium during the NLDS.
It's Atlanta's 18th NL East title, which is the most in the division's history and seven more than the Phillies' 11 division championships. Overall, it's the Braves' 23rd division championship which is the most in Major League Baseball history, which is quite impressive since they moved to Atlanta in 1969.
The Braves' current impressive run of six straight crowns was last matched by the team when they won a whopping 14 consecutive titles between the NL West ('91-'93) and the NL East ('95-'05), which still stands as the longest such streak in MLB history.
Braves continue NL East dominance | Celebration photos
Just four years after the Kennesaw State Owls sputtered to a 1-28 record, head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim led his team to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Their team embraced the underdog mentality throughout the year and finished with 15 conference wins -- surpassing other high-profile teams such as Georgia and Georgia Tech on the college basketball radar.
As the No. 14 seed, KSU took on 3-seeded Xavier and hung tight with them throughout the entire game before ultimately falling 72-67. Despite that, making it was a moment that shows the success they've been able to conquer this season -- turning around a losing saga.
In what was a marathon of a tournament at Augusta National Golf Club this year, it was the Spaniard Jon Rahm who prevailed to win the illustrious green jacket at 11-under par.
In what was an eventful Masters tournament that featured tee time adjustments throughout due to inclement weather, Friday's round concluded after three towering pine trees collapsed near the 15th green and 17th tee box, causing a frightening commotion.
But no matter the interruption, Rahm would go on to surpass Koepka in the final round and never give up the lead en route to victory.
The University of Georgia bid farewell to its most-winning bulldog mascot in school history -- and at the same time, welcomed a new breed of bulldog.
During the first collaring ceremony inside Sanford Stadium since 2015, thousands of fans gathered to watch the changing of the collaring ceremony in which new mascot Boom was officially introduced to the bulldog nation.
He succeeded Uga X, also affectionately known as Q, who will go into Georgia lore as the most decorated mascot in the history of the university. With two national championships under his reign, Que ended his run with more wins than any other Georgia mascot.
The Falcons selected University of Texas running back Bijan Robinson with the 8th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, continuing their trend of skill-position guys at the top of their draft.
Since then, Robinson has made an instant impact in Atlanta, eclipsing 1,000 yards from scrimmage in his rookie year. Robinson has rushed for 801 yards and has 323 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns in the team's first 15 games of the season.
Robinson became the highest-drafted running back in five years since Saquon Barkley.
Record-breaking Braves
In a season in which the Atlanta Braves won 104 games and won the NL East by 14 games, there were many personal and team records along the way.
When you think of Braves records this season, the first that comes to mind is Ronald Acuna Jr. Atlanta's MVP-winning superstar put together the best season of his career yet, becoming the first player to reach the 40 home run 70 stolen base mark in MLB history.
Move over, Andruw Jones, there's a brand new single-season home run leader in Braves franchise history.
Just two years into his young Atlanta Braves career, first baseman Matt Olson has already etched his name into the franchise's record books with home run No. 52. Olson went on to total 54 dingers.
Spencer Strider
Spencer Strider set the Braves' all-time single-season strikeout record with No. 277 late in the season, passing John Smoltz, who set the previous record with 276 in 1996.
Team home run record
The Braves tied the 2019 Minnesota Twins with 307 home runs on the season, the most by any franchise in one season in MLB history.
Despite losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship, Georgia went on the most incredible run that any team in the Southeastern Conference has ever experienced. The Dawgs won 29 straight games, beginning with the 2022 CFP National Championship, a win over Alabama, all the way to Georgia's win over rival Georgia Tech to close out the 2023 regular season.
After failing to conquer the Crimson Tide in the 2021 SEC Championship, it would be hard for many to believe the Georgia Bulldogs would then go on to never lose a game since. But that is just what they did until they met their kryptonite in the SEC title game once again this year.
Although the postseason didn't go the Braves' way, they were still able to produce one of the most memorable moments in the team's postseason history this past season.
After looking dead to rights for most of the game, the Braves capped off an incredible comeback win that sent the Truist Park crowd into a frenzy.
It began with a Travis d'Arnaud 2-run homer before the Braves drew their first lead of the series on an Austin Riley 2-run homer in the eighth inning. To cap it all off, after getting the first out, Nick Castellanos came up and put a charge in one to center when Michael Harris and Austin Riley teamed up for one of the most memorable plays in recent Braves memory.
Riley's HR:
Harris' catch and ensuing double play:
Atlanta tennis stars take center stage
In September, Atlanta native Coco Gauff became the first American teenager to win a U.S. Open title since Serena Williams did so at age 17 in 1999.
Gauff etched her name into the record books Saturday afternoon after she defeated Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in three sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.
Chris Eubanks, the young Atlanta star who went to Georgia Tech, had one of the more remarkable Cinderella runs at Wimbledon and recent memory.
11Alive was at a watch party at Georgia Tech for Eubanks during Wimbledon. Dozens attended the watch party, including Georgia Tech students, faculty, and alumni.
Eubanks returned to the city and the Atlanta Open as a hometown hero. Eubanks gained international attention as he reached the quarterfinals and put a five-set scare into Daniil Medvedev to almost reach the semis.
Good news for Braves fans -- the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is set to return to Atlanta in 2025.
The decision to return the midsummer classic to Truist Park comes just two years after Atlanta was set to host the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, but reaction to a sweeping change in the state's voting laws passed the same year caused the game to get pushed out of Georgia.
Read the full story: MLB All-Star Game returning to Atlanta after it was moved due to state voting laws
For the first time in seven years, Georgia Tech won a bowl game. The Yellow Jackets finished off a very productive season in head coach Brent Key's first full season with the team by capping off the year with a 30-17 win over the University of Central Florida in the Gasparilla Bowl.
The Yellow Jackets had a bounce-back year in head coach Brent Key's first full year as head coach. They were 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, with ranked wins over Miami (FL) on the road and North Carolina at home on The Flats.
It was Georgia Tech's first winning season since 2018, Paul Johnson's last season as head coach. There are people starting to say -- is Georgia Tech football back? They just might be.
The U.S. Soccer Federation is building its national training center and headquarters right here in metro Atlanta.
The facility, to be located in Fayetteville, will serve as a central hub for the entire soccer community, including coaches and referees. They will have access to training technology and more. Players will all have a chance to benefit from development, recovery, and performance analysis at the facility.
Read the full story: US Soccer will call this metro Atlanta county home
The Dream knocked off the Seattle Storm back in September to clinic their first playoff berth in five years.
A few of these memorable moments were showcased during the 2023 Atlanta Sports Awards. You can watch the full show below.
