Fighting Irish They advance in the College Football Playoff, where No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 2 Georgia, 23-10, to take their place in the semifinals.
You will now face Notre Dame No. 6 Penn Statewhich beat No. 3 Boise State, on Jan. 9 to determine who will head to the national championship game.
This match was supposed to be held on Wednesday evening, but the horrific terrorist attack that occurred in New Orleans led to its postponement until Thursday afternoon. The Caesars Superdome was still packed for the game, where a moment of silence was observed for those killed or injured by the senseless violence.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard looks to pass against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Photos by Stephen Law-Imagine)
Chants of “USA!” It was also heard before the national anthem was heard being sung throughout the stadium.
Immediately after the start of play, both teams showed their stifling defence, as neither of them was able to even find points on the scoreboard Bulldog He finally kicked a 41-yard field goal to make it 3-0 early in the second quarter.
Perhaps it was more than that, as Georgia receiver Arian Smith caught a pass from Gunner Stockton and took it 67 yards to the Notre Dame 11-yard line. But one of the more bizarre penalties was called for upholding 15 yards out, as the sideline referee collided with Parker Jones, a cornerback who had not played all season and was on the sideline with his jersey without pads.
Notre Dame draws a back-to-back on penalties to open the Sugar Bowl
The 15-yard penalty ended up hurting Georgia as they settled for a field goal when it could have been four more points.
However, Notre Dame not only matched that field goal on the next drive, but took a 6-3 lead with 39 seconds to play when Mitch Jeter drilled a 48-yarder before halftime.
The Fighting Irish likely would have been fine heading into the locker room with the lead despite never finding the end zone, but that all changed on the first play of Georgia's next drive as Stockton was sacked by linebacker RJ Aubin.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman RJ Ubben, left, knocks the ball away from Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton for a fumble during the first half of the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Photos by Stephen Law-Imagine)
As the ball bounced around the turf, Notre Dame's Junior Tuihalamaka pounced on it and gave quarterback Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish offense the ball on the Georgia 13-yard line with time running out to finally reach the end zone.
That's exactly what happened when Leonard threw a hit to wide receiver Bucs Collins to make a 13-yard score go up 13-3 at halftime.
It was an energetic affair for Notre Dame, considering they were going to get the ball to start the second half. That's when the game turned completely in the Fighting Irish's favor.
Jayden Harrison fielded Notre Dame's kickoff and proceeded to take it home — 98 yards down the left sideline to open the game with a 20-3 lead for his team. Head coach Marcus Freeman was loving every second of it on the sideline as he celebrated with his staff.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (Photos by Amber Searles-Imagine)
On the other hand, Georgia coach Kirby Smart knew he needed his boys to push things through the roof, and Stockton finally got one of his teammates into the end zone in the third quarter when Cash Jones was left alone in the drive. 32-yard wheel track seats six people.
But that's all the Bulldogs would get in the second half, as Notre Dame's defense forced two consecutive turnovers after that, including an incomplete fourth-and-5 pass to Lawson Lucky to cap the victory.
Looking at the box score, it wasn't pretty for Leonard, who threw for just 88 yards, but had no interceptions and also rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries. Wide receiver Jordan Faison also provided some solid production for Notre Dame with 46 yards on four catches.
Notre Dame's Jayden Harrison celebrates after returning a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown during the second half during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
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For Georgia, Stockton was 18-for-29 for 225 yards and his own touchdown pass. The Fighting Irish were able to stymie Trevor Etienne, the Bulldogs' stubborn running back, as he had just 38 yards on 11 carries.
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