Notre Dame stifles Georgia: Stout defense, mid-game surge vault Irish to College Football Playoff semifinals

The key sequences that propelled Irish to the semifinals

Notre Dame controlled two sequences of the game, and Georgia couldn't retaliate Thursday afternoon in the Superdome.

The 17-point onslaught in a span of only 54 seconds and eight combined plays did the damage, with Riley Leonard's touchdown pass after a Georgia fumble late in the first half and Jayden Harrison's 98-yard touchdown return.

Then, with the game on the line, Marcus Freeman dug deep into his bag of tricks and frustrated the heck out of Georgia's coaching staff. With fewer than eight minutes remaining, Freeman sent his punting unit on the field, but then subbed them for the offense on fourth down. The decision resulted in Georgia jumping offsides after it replaced its special teams with the defense. That first down extended Notre Dame's drive, and the Irish nearly never relinquished the ball, controlling it for an incredible 7:36. They burned the clock, driving to midfield before punting the ball away with 1:49 remaining in the game.

That's all it took for the Irish to win. Their offensive line, shorthanded all season, simply leaned on Georgia's stout defensive front and won the battle.

This isn't the same Notre Dame team you've seen in previous years. They're stout up front and they have the speed to match.

Where does Georgia go from here?

Georgia had an identity problem in 2024, and for the first time in six years, the season ended with a loss. 

The Bulldogs don't have a quarterback problem. Gunner Stockton was an absolute gamer in the face of intense pressure — both because of the venue, circumstances and because of Notre Dame's furious pass rush. The offensive line, as it has this season, struggled to open holes for running backs and were leaky against another defensive front.

Meanwhile, the defense was pushed around up front and gave up too many chunk plays in big situations. That's not necessarily a killer, especially in a game in which the defense only gave up 16 points.

No, the biggest issue for Georgia is at receiver. The Bulldogs' receiving corps has dropped at least 36 passes during the 2024 season, including a massive drop on a would-be touchdown by Dillon Bell in the third quarter, according to ESPN's research. That is unacceptable for any championship-chasing team, and it's a big reason why the Bulldogs trailed at halftime in seven games this season — and lost three.

Help is on the way with the 2025 recruiting class. Five signees rank in the top 75 at their position, including top-10 receiver Talyn Taylor. 

Notre Dame has the speed and power to match

This isn't the Notre Dame you've grown to love — or love to hate. The Fighting Irish have built a program that can beat you with speed and lean on your with power. Its defense is relentless and the offense has enough explosiveness and physicality to put games to bed. 

This is nothing new this season. Notre Dame has done this to practically every opponent on the schedule. The Irish may not put up big yardage, but they are opportunistic. They entered the Sugar Bowl ranked third nationally in turnover margin, and two key fumbles led to points and frustrated Georgia, which seemed poise to score early in the first quarter before running back Trevor Etienne lost the first fumble of his career. 

Freeman calls this team a bunch of "misfits," players who are obsessed with football and doing everything they can to push themselves — and opponents — to the limit. The stat sheet wasn't full of quarterback sacks, but the Irish were in Gunner Stockton's face all afternoon. Credit the Georgia quarterback for firing passes in just enough time to avoid the sack, but he couldn't do it all day, and that led to a trio of sacks and a fumble in the first half.

Irish race past Bulldogs

FINAL: (7) Notre Dame 23, (2) Georgia 10

7-seed Notre Dame shocked 2-seed Georgia with a 23-10 victory in the Sugar Bowl to send the Fighting Irish to the national semifinals at the Orange Bowl against Penn State. The Fighting Irish used a furious rally of 17 points in 54 seconds around the halftime break to take control of the game and never looked back. 

The Irish and Bulldogs were held scoreless in the first quarter, marking the first CFP game without first-quarter points since 2018. After Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter nailed a field goal to push the score to 6-3 Irish with 39 seconds remaining in the first half, the fireworks started. RJ Oben strip-sacked Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton, setting up a 13-yard touchdown pass by Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard to Beaux Collins the next play. 

Then on the opening kickoff of the third quarter, Jayden Harrison took the kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 20-3. Notre Dame only put together ield goal drives outside the stretch, but the defense held long enough to escape the Superdome with a historic victory. 

In relief of injured Carson Beck, Stockton was strong. The sophomore from Rabun County, Georgia, threw for 234 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. However, the Bulldogs' offensive line struggled mightily, giving up nine tackles for loss and four sacks as the Fighting Irish defense feasted. Notre Dame mustered only 213 yards of offense, but it didn't matter. Leonard rushed for 80 yards to lead the Irish. 

Marcus Freeman outsmarts Kirby Smart

Late 4Q: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10

Georgia was set to get the ball back with under 8 minutes remaining but then Marcus Freeman pulled out a trick from a sleeve: he subbed the entire punting unit for the offense, and after the Bulldogs made their substitutions, quarterback Riley Leonard's snap count managed to draw an offsides penalty. 

The play resulted in a first down and may have put the game away for the Irish as the clock now ticks below 5 minutes remaining in regulation. 

Notre Dame holds after tough pass interference call

Mid 4Q: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10

Notre Dame survived a scare in the red zone thanks to its tremendous defense coming up big again.

Jack Kiser was flagged for pass interference on an incomplete pass that would have been a turnover on downs, but the 15-yard penalty on fourth-and-13 kept the Georgia drive alive — and it sent Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman into a tizzy on the sideline as he ripped into the officials. Later, on fourth-and-5 at the 9, the Irish got pressure again and Gunner Stockton fired a pass over the head of his receiver in the end zone to turn the ball over on downs with 9:25 remaining.

Irish add a field goal after finding success on edges of Georgia defense

Early 4Q: Notre Dame 23, Georgia 10

Georgia attacked the edges in the run game and had plenty of success before stalling in Georgia territory, where Mitch Jeter hit his third long field goal of the afternoon to push the Irish ahead 23-10 with 13:47 remaining. 

Jeter's field goal was good from 47 yards. He hit a 48-yarder earlier today. 

Another big defensive stop

Late 3Q: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 10

Georgia's defense stepped up with a stop on fourth down and Notre Dame followed suit. Al Golden called a blitz on fourth-and-2, leading to a chase for Gunner Stockton, who fired a pass short of the first-down markers to give the Irish the ball again with under four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Both defenses have been remarkable this afternoon, for the most part, but it's those two turnovers by the Irish D that has been the difference. 

Momentum swings to Georgia

Late 3Q: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 10

Georgia's defense held strong in the trenches, stopping Riley Leonard short of a first down on fourth-and-1 near midfield. The turnover on downs with under 6 minutes remaining in the third quarter fives Georgia an opportunity to make this a one-score game again.

Georgia appears to have the momentum here in the Superdome, where Bulldog fans have come to life again.

Georgia back in it with quick scoring strike 

Early 3Q: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 10

Gunner Stockton is on a heater, and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is dialing up some fantastic play calls. Georgia receivers ran free on three plays on this scoring drive, which ended with Cash Jones stumbling into the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown catch down the left sideline.

The Bulldogs' receiving corps needed that play after a terrible drop by Dillon Bell, who was wide open coming across the middle of the field but dropped a perfectly-placed ball near the 20-yard line. It would have easily been a walk-in touchdown. It didn't matter in the end thanks to Bobo and Stockton hitting on all cylinders, from the coaches' box to the field at the Superdome. 

That drive chewed up 63 yards on only five plays.

If you were wondering, Georgia receivers have dropped 36 passes this season.

'Dawgs reeling as Irish score 17 in 54 seconds

Early 3Q: Notre Dame 20, Georgia 3

Notre Dame needed only 11 seconds to score 10 points in the final minute of the first half. They needed only 15 seconds to score another touchdown on a 98-yard kick return by Jayden Harrison at the start of the second half.

Harrison pierced the middle, then leaked to the right sideline, dodging a would-be tackler before sprinting home for the 98-yard score to open the third quarter. Georgia fans might outnumber the Notre Dame faithful, but the Superdome is electric with Irish fans raising the decibel levels here in New Orleans.

Halftime: Notre Dame 13, Georgia 3

Defense rules, but Georgia also suffering self-inflicted mistakes

We expected a defensive battle and we've got it, but the big difference here is Notre Dame's tenacious defense forcing two turnovers. Notre Dame zoomed to a 10-0 run in the final minute of the first half thanks to a field goal and a strip-sack of Gunner Stockton, which led to Riley Leonard hitting Beaux Collins for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

This game has been defined by taking advantage of opportunities. Georgia blew what could have been two touchdown drives with a fumble by Trevor Etienne deep in Notre Dame's territory (his first lost fumble ever (425 touches, per CBS Sports Research), and a sideline interference on a 67-yard catch at the 11-yard line. That penalty on walk-on Parker Jones pushed Georgia back to the 26-yard line, where the Bulldogs stalled and settled for a field goal. 

Notre Dame entered today ranked third nationally in turnover margin, and the Irish are again winning the turnover battle in their biggest game of the season.

The quarterback run game has also frustrated Georgia. Leonard has rushed for 50 yards on six carries, picking up four first downs on those totes. He's also 10 of 15 passing for 60 yards and one touchdown.

Stockton is 9 of 14 passing for 142 yards with the lost fumble.

Georgia is averaging only 0.5 yards per carry thanks to three sacks for minus-32 yards by the Notre Dame defense.

Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman react to crazy end to first half

Notre Dame kicked a field goal and then forced a fumble on Gunner Stockton in the final minute to score 10 points in 11 seconds to grab a 13-3 at halftime. Here's how the coaches responded on the ESPN broadcast as they headed to the locker room at halftime:

Kirby Smart, Georgia coach: "We tried to be aggressive in 2-minute and probably regret it, right? Go to the half 6-3, we want to show confidence in our quarterback, let him go play, we didn't get the block we needed to get and they made a good play."

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman: "It's a great way to end the half. We gotta win the turnover margin and we capitalized off it on offense but this is going to be a 60-plus minute game. You watch this Georgia team all year and you know they're not going to quit. So we've got to be in attack mode and not feel comfortable. We've got to be in attack mode as soon as we come out of the locker room."

Notre Dame with a game-changing end to first half

Late 2Q: Notre Dame 13, Georgia 3

Georgia opted to pass in the final 33 seconds of the first half, and that proved to be a terrible decision by coach Kirby Smart. Gunner Stockton was strip-sacked by RJ Oben on the Bulldogs' first play of the drive and, Junior Tuihalamaka recovered the loose ball at the 13-yard line. Riley Leonard hit receiver Beaux Collins in the middle of the end zone on the ensuing play to give Notre Dame a 13-3 lead going into halftime. It scored 10 points in 11 seconds.

Georgia has had three costly mistakes — two turnovers — and a sideline interference penalty on walk-on Parker Jones. All three cost the Bulldogs points.

Late 2Q: Notre Dame 6, Georgia 3

Notre Dame takes lead on long field goal

Mitch Jeter drilled a 48-yard field goal to give Notre Dame its first lead of the game with 38 seconds remaining in the first half.

Riley Leonard was the captain of that drive, which spanned 32 yards. He scrambled a couple of times, and managed to make up some ground on a 10-yard keeper after what could have been a momentum-changing sack by the Georgia defense.

Georgia linebacker CJ Allen blew up running back Aneyas Williams, allowing Small Mondon, Jr. a clear path through the backfield on a twist to sack Riley Leonard for a huge 11-yard sack that pushed the Irish back to the 40-yard line. 

Notre Dame's big play leads to points

Mid 2Q: Notre Dame 3, Georgia 3

Notre Dame didn't need long to fire back at Georgia. Riley Leonard picked up 32 yards on a keeper to push the Irish into Georgia territory, but the offense stalled on a three-yard rush and back-to-back passes that went nowhere. 

Mitch Jeter converted a 44-yard field kick to tie the game and cap an eight-play, 49-yard drive with 8:20 remaining in the second quarter.

Sideline interference hurts Bulldogs

Early 2Q: Georgia 3, Notre Dame 0

Boy, Georgia walk-on Parker Jones hopes he won't be a name to remember. An official streaking down the sideline on a 67-yard catch by Arian Smith bumped into Jones and was flagged for sideline interference, a 15-yarder. The Bulldogs went from the 11-yard line to the 27, where the offense stalled and settled for a 41-yard field goal. There have been several haymakers already, and success seems as if it'll be found in the margins. 

To wit, that pass to Smith was a beauty down the right sideline from Stockton, and Smith blew past All-American safety Xavier Watts by at least a step. 

Plenty of moments, but no points yet

End 1Q: Notre Dame 0, Georgia 0

It hasn't been a clean game, but each team's had its moments. The Irish forced a fumble inside their own red zone, but not before Georgia's offense found some footing to pick up 71 yards on a 13-play drive. 

Meanwhile, Notre Dame's offense has mostly sputtered with a pair of penalties, including an illegal forward pass by Riley Leonard. The Irish enter the second quarter with a third-and-11 and only 16 yards of offense. Both teams had a combined -21 yards after their first possession.

Georgia attacked the middle of the field on back-to-back pass plays on its second possession, picking up nine yards each time on throws to tight end Dillon Bell and receiver Dominic Lovett, who ran a drag route across the field. The plays helped push Georgia into Notre Dame territory. 

The Bulldogs were helped once again by undisciplined play by the Irish with an offsides on second-and-8, which should have been a minimal game on a keeper by quarterback Gunner Stockton. Trevor Etienne later picked up a first down on a 7-yard gainer over the left side, and Lovett picked up eight more yards to set up third-and-1 at the 16-yard line.

The Bulldogs and Irish combined for six penalties totaling 43 yards.

Late 1Q: Notre Dame's opportunistic defense steps up

Notre Dame's has been one of the nation's most opportunistic teams, and it continues today early. Safety Adon Shuler cracked Georgia running back Trevor Etienne with a low hit, popping the ball out to the 10-yard line, where it was recovered by the Irish. 

Georgia was threatening to score with a nice 13-play drive, but it ended after chewing up 71 yards. Notre Dame entered today ranked No. 3 in turnover margin.

We're still scoreless here at the Caesars Superdome.

Ugly start for both teams

Neither team looked, well, good on their first possession. The first two drives included four penalties and a combined -21 yards. Notre Dame was charged with running into the kicker on back-to-back Georgia punts; quarterback Riley Leonard was then flagged for an illegal forward pass on a scramble.

Georgia finally picked up positive yardage on Its second possession with a 12-yard pass by Gunner Stockton. 

It's clear both defenses have the advantage early, particularly on the edges. The Bulldogs attempted to run wide several times on their first possession, but Notre Dame was quick and ready for the stops.

Kirby Smart: 'Things are bigger than football'

Georgia coach Kirby Smart spoke with ESPN before kickoff. He was asked about the last two days in New Orleans — and the game being postponed due to the terrorist attack.

"Things are bigger than football out there and sometimes we get caught up in our own selves, our own moment and you lose sight of how blessed we are every day to have the opportunity we have to play football and play in a CFP quarterfinal game against a historic program," Smart told ESPN's Marty Smith. "A lot of times when you have gratitude, it takes away a lot of anxiety."

Smart was also asked about Gunner Stockton making his first start in place of injured quarterback Carson Beck.

Sugar Bowl predictions

Georgia is the slight favorite (-1.5), according to the SportsLine consensus, which gives me pause. The Bulldogs enter the playoffs 1-9 against the spread as the favorite this season. There's no doubt Georgia played a more difficult schedule than Notre Dame, and the grind was noticeable with two overtime wins to end the season, but one does wonder if the Bulldogs are allowing opponents to better dictate the tempo of those games, resulting in closer-than-expected results. Gunner Stockton appears to be a gamer at quarterback, even if he's not the most talented passer, but that plays into Notre Dame's hands with one of the nation's best pass defenses. Everything points to a Notre Dame win, even with Kirby Smart's knack in preparing his teams for playoff runs.  Pick: Notre Dame SU

The CBS Sports' staff's complete picks are available in the article below.

Georgia vs. Notre Dame where to watch: TV channel, live stream, Sugar Bowl odds, spread, prediction, pick

Brandon Marcello

Big 12 officials will officiate Sugar Bowl

A crew from the Big 12 conference will officiate the Sugar Bowl playoff quarterfinal today between Georgia and Notre Dame.

• Referee – Michael Vandervelde
• Umpire – Sheldon Davis
• Head Line Judge – John Braun
• Line Judge – Keith Garmond
• Field Judge – Joseph Martinez
• Side Judge – JB Garza
• Back Judge – Daniel Young
• Center Judge – Marvel July
• Alternate – Luke Richmond
• Replay Official – Brad Van Vark
• Communicator – Jeffrey Yock
• Supervisor of Officials – Greg Burks

Security heightened at Sugar Bowl in wake of Bourbon Street terrorist attack

Security at the Sugar Bowl inside and outside the Caesars Superdome is tight ahead of the 3 p.m. CT kickoff between Georgia and Notre Dame. Police K9 officers patrolled the perimeter of the massive facility, sniffing the undercarriage of incoming busses and shuttles, searching for explosive devices. The nearby parking garage attached the the Superdome had multiple security checkpoints, including a police K9.

Inside, New Orleans police, hired private security and the FBI were spotted in the bowels of the stadium, patrolling the facility inside and out.

On Wednesday, police scoured the Superdome searching for explosive devices and found none. The heightened security and safety sweeps come on the heels of the vehicular terrorist attack on Bourbon Street early on New Year's Day. Fourteen people were killed and dozens more were injured. The killer was shot and killed by police officers, who exchanged fire with the suspect when he exited his truck. Two makeshift explosive devices were found inside the vehicle and two more were discovered — and safely disposed by police — elsewhere near Bourbon Street.

The Sugar Bowl was postponed from New Year's Day at 7:45 p.m. CT until today (Jan. 2), with a kickoff time of 3 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Teams mostly stayed put in team hotels after terrorist attack

The Georgia and Notre Dame football teams mostly remained at their respective hotels on Canal Street on New Year's Day as police swept nearby Bourbon Street following the vehicular terrorist attack earlier in the day.

Georgia was able to secure practice space at the Superdome and scheduled and impromptu walkthrough practice Thursday evening, sources told CBS Sports. Georgia players and staffers were spotted leaving in team buses just before 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, Notre Dame did not leave its team hotel. The Irish conducted a team-wide meeting at 3 p.m. before braking out into separate meetings for the offense, defense and special teams. Later, the team held a "team run" inside their hotel, the Hilton Riverside, near the French Quarter.

New Orleans attack postpones Sugar Bowl: How Notre Dame, Georgia, fans sought normalcy amid New Year's tragedy

Brandon Marcello