Notre Dame Beats Georgia in Sugar Bowl with Beck Out as Fans Praise Irish's CFP Run

Julia StumbaughJanuary 3, 2025

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 02: Riley Leonard #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish throws a pass during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 02, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Notre Dame is one step closer to appearing in a national championship game for the first time since 1988.

The Fighting Irish claimed a 23-10 win over Georgia in Thursday night's Sugar Bowl to earn a spot in the national semifinal.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
NOTRE DAME HOLDS OFF GEORGIA IN THE SUGAR BOWL ☘️🏆 <a href="https://t.co/Z646PFgsCQ">pic.twitter.com/Z646PFgsCQ</a>

Notre Dame improves to 6-0 against ranked teams in Marcus Freeman's third full season with the team.

Only Penn State now stands between the Fighting Irish and a spot in the national championship game.

Ferb. @sheluv_Ferb
Marcus freeman has flipped the script. This Notre Dame team is legit.

🎙iTalk SEC @italksec
Marcus Freeman has made Notre Dame elite. This is the biggest win for Notre Dame in about thirty years. I think the Irish will beat Penn State and play for a National championship.

Stephen B. Kerr @Dizz_A_Door
Marcus Freeman coached Notre Dame to their biggest win since the 1988 Fiesta Bowl. He took over the program at what was supposed to represent its lowest moment, a top coach leaving them, and now has them on the doorstep of a national championship. Unbelievable coaching job.

Edmond Dantés @SpoodyQue1
This is a different Notre Dame team. They have speed on both sides of the ball AND legit front 7 that can stop the run

Bill Speros @billsperos
Ohio State and Notre Dame flat-out dominated on both sides Their National Championship Game is gonna be a heavyweight classic

Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton helped Georgia open scoring in his first start following Carson Beck's season-ending elbow surgery.

The game turned when the Fighting Irish answered with 10 points on consecutive plays late in the first half.

Notre Dame followed up a field goal with a strip-sack of Stockton at Georgia's 13-yard line to put the ball in the hands of Riley Leonard.

Leonard finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins.

ESPN College Football @ESPNCFB
Fumble ➡️ TD Two big plays for Notre Dame‼️ <a href="https://t.co/COekKZ0VPt">pic.twitter.com/COekKZ0VPt</a>

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Georgia then put the second-half kickoff in the hands of Notre Dame wideout Jayden Harrison, who returned the ball 98 yards for a touchdown.

Notre Dame Football @NDFootball
JAYDEN HARRISON 9️⃣8️⃣ YARDS<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/j_harrison5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@j_harrison5</a> <a href="https://t.co/58i6kwbw3H">pic.twitter.com/58i6kwbw3H</a>

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
NOTRE DAME CANNOT BE STOPPED ☘️🔥 <a href="https://t.co/yb8YdsMcHn">pic.twitter.com/yb8YdsMcHn</a>

College football fans were impressed by the Fighting Irish's depth as the roster prevailed despite losing players including Howard Cross III and Jeremiyah Love to apparent mid-game injuries.

Neil W. Blackmon @nwblackmon
Notre Dame is missing Riley Mills and a First Team All-American corner. They look awesome anyway. A testament to the depth Freeman has built in South Bend. Never had that type of depth under Kelly.

Geoffrey Clark @gfclark89
Always next man up on this Notre Dame defensive line, or so it seems. Such depth.

Austin Hough @AustinRHough
It's been unsung players for Notre Dame making the big plays. Junior Tuihalamaka, RJ Oben, Jayden Harrison. A true team effort so far.

BFriedACC @BFriedACC
You knew a former Duke player would be a difference maker for Notre Dame today. But I bet you didn't have RJ Oben on your bingo card.

Georgia's quarterfinal exit means that conference champions who earned a first-round bye will finish the first 12-team CFP with an overall 0-4 record.

Oregon, ASU and Boise State were already bounced from their respective matchups before the Sugar Bowl took place on Thursday night.

Carrie @WhoDeyBucks
Yeah. Teams aren't gonna want that first round bye next year.

P T G @_p_t_g_22
So all four teams that had the bye will lose this week. Think the CFP will need to review the seeding/auto-byes.

The Sugar Bowl was originally scheduled for Wednesday. The game was postponed after at least 15 people were killed in New Orleans early on New Year's Day in what is being investigated by the FBI as a terrorist attack.

Notre Dame will take on Penn State in the Orange Bowl next Thursday with a trip to the national championship game on the line.

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