NEW ORLEANS — Coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish struck the perfect balance between family support and athletic performance, leading to a remarkable outcome during a challenging period. Riley Leonard completed a touchdown pass, Jayden Harrison electrified the crowd with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, and the Irish defense held firm in a 23-10 victory over the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, propelling the third-seeded Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
This significant win came just after a tragic terror attack in New Orleans early Wednesday—on the very day the game was initially scheduled to be played. This led to the unprecedented postponement of the Sugar Bowl, a first in its 91 years of history.
Freeman reflected on how the team navigated their unexpected downtime in the wake of the attack, saying, “We spent some time together, and I think that’s what you do in tough moments. You want to spend time with family, and that’s what we are.” Notre Dame (13-1, CFP No. 5) capitalized on key moments, steering clear of major errors, and used an innovative play call from Freeman to solidify their lead.
Georgia (11-3, CFP No. 2) was aiming to reduce the gap when Notre Dame halted them on fourth-and-5 from the Irish 9-yard line with 9:29 remaining. Shortly thereafter, on a fourth-and-short situation deep in their territory, Freeman confused the defense by pulling the punt team and then sending the offensive unit back out. This tactic caused Georgia to jump offsides, allowing Notre Dame to secure a crucial first down and drain the clock with 7:17 left.
“They were going to hard-count us. We prepare for that. We do it every week,” commented Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. “We jumped offsides.” By the time Georgia regained possession, merely 1:49 remained on the clock, sealing Notre Dame’s path to a twelfth consecutive victory and a semifinal matchup against No. 5 Penn State (13-2, CFP No. 6 seed) next Thursday at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Freeman added, “That’s the aggressiveness in terms of our preparation that I want our program to have. We are going to be an aggressive group and not fear making mistakes.” Unfortunately for Georgia, they played without their starting quarterback Carson Beck, who had suffered an elbow injury during the Southeastern Conference championship game. His replacement, Gunner Stockton, went 20 of 32 for 234 yards and one touchdown.
Despite outgaining Notre Dame by a margin of 296 yards to 244, Georgia was thwarted on all three of their attempts on fourth down and lost two crucial fumbles—one deep in Notre Dame territory and another inside their own 20-yard line. Smart lamented, “The turnovers are the difference in the game, guys. You won’t find success turning the ball over twice and conceding a kickoff return for a touchdown.”
Leonard not only passed for 90 yards but also led the team in rushing with 80 yards, executing a critical first-down run late in the game, even flipping over a defender in the process. “We’re in the playoffs,” Leonard affirmed. “If everyone else can put their body on the line, I’m going to do it right there with them.”
The game was originally planned for the previous night as part of a playoff triple-header on New Year’s Day but was postponed following an attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 individuals. Security was heightened at the Superdome, which will host the upcoming Super Bowl next month, and reports indicated that attending fans generally felt safe. The attendance was announced at 68,400, despite patches of empty seats in the upper levels, as enthusiastic fans rallied to support their teams in college football’s inaugural 12-team playoff.
With the score tied at 3-3, Notre Dame quickly surged ahead by scoring 17 points in just 54 seconds. This burst began with Mitch Jeter’s 48-yard field goal with 39 seconds left in the first half. Shortly after, Georgia made a costly choice to go for a pass from their own 25-yard line. A blindside sack by RJ Oben led to a fumble that Irish defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka recovered at the 13-yard line. Leonard promptly found Beaux Collins for a touchdown, boosting the score to 13-3 as they headed into halftime.
Just 15 seconds into the third quarter, Notre Dame extended their lead to 20-3 when Harrison returned Georgia’s second-half kickoff for a touchdown, outrunning defenders after shaking off a tackle. Georgia narrowed the deficit to 20-10 when Stockton connected with Cash Jones for a 32-yard touchdown, but Jeter’s third field goal provided the Irish with their final winning margin.
“Holding a team like that to just 10 points is a significant achievement, and I’m really proud of our performance,” stated safety Xavier Watts.
Takeaways: Notre Dame showcased a formidable defense paired with Leonard’s dual-threat capabilities, making them a formidable contender heading into the semifinals. Conversely, Georgia’s chances of winning key games were compromised due to the absence of their starting quarterback, and critical mistakes ultimately led to their downfall. Coach Smart will now have to wait another year for the opportunity to pursue his third national title.
Looking Ahead: Notre Dame will re-engage with a series against the Nittany Lions, which currently stands at 9-9-1. Meanwhile, Georgia is set to host Marshall in their 2025 season opener on August 30.
