Notre Dame vs Georgia - Everything You Need to Know

Round 1 of the 12-team College Football Playoff is in the books, and the pool has narrowed to 8 schools.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

After receiving 1st-round BYEs, the top-4 teams in the bracket are about to see their first playoff action. Penn State and Boise State kick things off in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve (7:30 pm EST), followed by a jam-packed New Year’s Day with the remaining three matchups. 

Texas and Arizona State will battle it out in the Peach Bowl (1:00 p.m. EST), followed by a Rose Bowl showdown between Ohio State and Oregon (5:00 p.m. EST). In the first primetime broadcast of 2025, the SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs will face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl (8:45 p.m. EST).

This is only the 4th game between Notre Dame and Georgia, but it’s not their first postseason meeting. Fittingly, their very first encounter came in the 1981 Sugar Bowl. Heisman winner Herschel Walker led the Bulldogs to a narrow 17-10 win over Dan Devine’s Irish en route to their first National Title in program history. 

In 2014, it was announced that Notre Dame and Georgia had formally agreed to their first scheduling agreement, a home-and-home series split between the 2017 and 2019 seasons.

The first matchup sent second-year head coach Kirby Smart and the No. 15 Bulldogs to South Bend to face  Brian Kelly and the No. 24 Irish. Underdog Notre Dame surprised everyone with a 13-10 lead at halftime, even going up 16-10 before Georgia answered with a touchdown to take their first lead of the day, 17-16. The Bulldogs forced Notre Dame to settle for a field goal before kicking one of their own to steal the game 20-19.

Two years later, No. 3 Georgia hosted No. 7 Notre Dame in Athens, with significantly higher stakes at play. In a near replica of the 2017 game, the Irish held a surprising lead going into halftime before going scoreless in the 3rd quarter, while Georgia kicked two field goals to take a 13-10 lead. The 4th quarter was more of the same, as Georgia extended their lead to 23-10 with another touchdown and field goal. The Irish responded with a touchdown to narrow the deficit to 23-17 before stopping the Bulldog's offense to get one last shot. Like the game two years before, the Irish had a chance to win with under two minutes left but couldn’t come up with the points.

Georgia’s perfect 3-0-0 series record is impressive but doesn't tell the whole story. All three games were competitive, decided by a single score, and in two instances, the Irish had a chance to win at the end of the game.

Will Notre Dame score their first-ever win over the Bulldogs and continue their march to a shot at the Title? Or will Georgia continue their Championship pedigree and move one step closer to their 3rd Title in 4 years?

We won't get any answers until 2025 is officially here, but until then - here’s everything you need to know ahead of Wednesday's game.

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Georgia

Kirby Smart needs no introduction. He’s arguably the best active coach in the sport and has completely transformed Georgia from a middling SEC program to the national powerhouse they are today. In his 9 seasons with the Bulldogs, Smart has posted a ridiculous 105-18 record, along with two National Titles. 

They began 2024 as Title favorites and quickly dispatched No. 14 Clemson and Tennessee Tech before their first close call. The Dawgs nearly fell at unranked Kentucky, trading field goals most of the way until a late-quarter touchdown gave them the lead. Georgia held on to win 13-12.

After narrowly escaping Kentucky, UGA had two weeks off before heading to Tuscaloosa to face No. 4 Alabama. The Tide were up 30-7 at halftime, but a heroic Georgia comeback saw them narrow the score to 4 in the 4th quarter. Ultimately, it was in vain as Bama kicked one last field goal to hand UGA their 1st loss of the year, 41-34. It dropped them back to No. 5 in the polls, but they responded with four straight wins over Auburn, Florida, a close call against Mississippi State, and a 30-15 thriller at No. 1 Texas.

Then, things changed. No. 2 Georgia hit the road to face No. 16 Ole Miss, and the Rebels dominated them on both sides of the ball, primarily behind their pressure on Carson Beck and dual-threat Jaxson Dart’s 200 through the air and 50 on the ground. Ole Miss won handily, 28-10, to hand Georgia their second loss. It was their first season with more than one loss since 2020.

The Bulldogs then beat No. 7 Tennessee 31-17 before a strangely high-scoring win over UMass, 59-21. In their final game of the regular season, Georgia battled Georgia Tech through 8OT periods before emerging victorious 44-42. Once again, the Bulldogs battled back from a 17-0 halftime deficit and scored 21 points in the 4th quarter to send the game to extra time. Georgia earned a rematch with Texas in the SEC Title game and went to overtime for the second week in a row. This time, UGA was able to close things out in the first OT period with a touchdown, winning 22-19. The win made the Bulldogs SEC Champions and secured a 1st-round BYE in the playoff. 

Georgia Injury Report

• RB - Trevor Etienne - Ribs - Available

• RB - Branson Robinson - Leg - Questionable

• DL Christian Miller - Shoulder Questionable

• QB - Carson Beck - Elbow - Out

• RB - Roderick Robinson - Leg - Out

• DL - Joseph Jonah-Ajonye - Leg - Out

• P - Brett Thorson - Knee - Out

Georgia’s season may not have been as pretty as they like it, but this team has been tested more than any other in the country. Although they’ve started slow a few times, they have consistently proven themselves to be one of the best second-half teams this year.

They’re sure to be well-rested and well-studied for the Sugar Bowl after more than 3 weeks of time off. Will that extra time help the Bulldogs recover and prepare, or will there be signs of rust from such a long break?

Notre Dame

The Irish are coming off their most significant win of the season with a 27-17 victory over Indiana in the first round of the CFP.  While it wasn’t Notre Dame’s largest or most statistically impressive outing this year, the win brought with it a level of confidence this team hadn’t experienced yet. You could tell by the way they played that something was different. 

Notre Dame outclassed and outworked the Hoosiers from the jump. The Irish defense smothered Indiana’s highly lauded offense, holding them to 215 yards passing and only 61 yards on the ground. Indiana’s defense was considered the stronger part of their team, but even they failed to contain any part of the Irish offense. Jeremiyah Love finished with 108 yards and a touchdown, while Leonard tossed 201 yards and a touchdown through the air, along with a score on the ground.

Notre Dame Injury Report

• OL - Charles Jagusah - Available

• RG - Rocco Spindler - Ankle - Questionable

• WR - KK Smith - Collarbone - Questionable

• LB - Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa - Knee - Questionable

• LB - Bodie Kahoun - Leg -  Questionable

• DT - Rylie Mills - Knee - Out

Much like the end of the USC game, the final score was closer than the actual game was. The Irish led 27-3 with only a few minutes left in the game before they took their starters out to cycle in some second and third-stringers. Indiana kept their first stringers in and scored two garbage-time touchdowns that narrowed the margin of victory from 24 to 10. Nearly all the Hoosier’s production came from those final two drives.

Notre Dame managed to dominate the Hoosiers while not even playing their best ball. If they can learn from this performance and clean up those little things, they should be in an even better spot to succeed against Georgia. With that said, the Irish can't afford to bring anything less than their very best to the table against the Bulldogs. They don’t have to play a perfect game to win this one, but it will likely require the most complete performance we’ve seen from this team so far. 

The Matchup

While the first round of the playoff was criticized for a perceived lack of competitiveness, round two looks to have more parity, with two of the four games projected to be a toss-up.

Ohio State holds a slim (-2.5) advantage over undefeated Oregon, while Georgia is favored by a razor-thin (-1.5) over Notre Dame. That’s despite the game’s line initially opening with the Irish favored (-1.0) before the money moved Georgia ahead. 

With things that close, the 2024 Sugar Bowl may be the most evenly matched game of the postseason. It's entirely reasonable to take either team to cover the spread.

Although favored, Georgia has only managed to cover the spread 4/13 times this season, one of the worst ratios in the country, while Notre Dame has covered 10/13 times, one of the best.

As for the points total - oddsmakers have set a low 45.5 total due to both sides possessing an elite defense and a run-first offense. There’s a good chance neither offense manages to score much, but field goals and defensive scores could easily swell the total just over the implied 23-22 score prediction.

Notre Dame’s Defense vs Georgia’s Offense

This head-to-head holds the most unknowns.

Due to Carson Beck’s injury in the SEC championship game, Gunner Stockton will make his very first collegiate start. Before becoming QB1, Stockton had only appeared in eight games, three of which came this season. There’s only about 80 snaps worth of tape on Stockton, but he is confirmed to be a better runner than Beck, although he lacks the same kind of arm.

If the Dawgs are forced into throwing, they won’t get much help from their wide receivers, who lead the nation in dropped balls even when Beck was healthy. Thus, Georgia’s offense will likely skew their play calling to better utilize Stockton’s legs and reduce their pass reliance.

Georgia’s Offense - Players to Watch

Gunner is undoubtedly talented, but the idea that he’s just as good as Beck is absurd. There’s a reason he’s been a backup until now, and he almost assuredly won’t be able to replicate Beck’s production.  This is a massive advantage for the Irish, as they’ll be able to focus on the run while trusting their DBs can handle man coverage down the field.

If Notre Dame can put enough pressure on Stockton, they can shut down his ground attack and force him to throw on one of the best pass defenses in the country. Either way, making Stockton uncomfortable is the key to forcing punts or winning the turnover battle.

Notre Dame’s biggest challenge will be stopping Georgia’s ground game. It's the only major area where Notre Dame’s elite defense is outside the top 10, and the injury to Rylie Mills leaves them noticeably depleted. This will likely be where Georgia tests the Irish first, behind their backfield of Nate Frazier and Trevor Etienne. The tandem has combined for over 1,200 yards on the ground and 17 touchdowns. Georgia’s success on the ground is contingent on their offensive line, which may have their hands full with Notre Dame’s pressure.

Georgia’s primary offensive goal will be to run the ball effectively, including through Stockton. At the same time, Notre Dame’s defense will attempt to overwhelm Gunner enough to force bad throws or turn the Bulldogs into a one-dimensional run-only offense.

Notre Dame would match up well with Georgia even if Beck were playing, but with Stockton so new to running the show, it’s hard to put your money against Al Golden’s defense. 

• Advantage: Soft Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s Offense vs Georgia’s Defense

This head-to-head may be the most competitive showdown of the game.

Like Georgia’s quarterback situation, much of Notre Dame’s success depends on Riley Leonard's performance. Both defenses will aim to pressure the quarterback into ill-advised throws by blitzing and stifling the running game. 

Georgia’s Defense - Players to Watch

Georgia’s only problem is that Notre Dame’s biggest offensive advantage is their elite ground game. Jeremiyah Love is the star of the show, but OC Mike Denbrock balances his load with Jadarian Price and adds a safety outlet with Leonard’s mobility. The three combined for 2,500 yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground alone, showing why they don’t pass very often - they don’t need to.

Georgia ranks 35th in rush yards allowed, while Indiana ranked first, yet the Irish nearly tripled their 70.8 yards allowed average. If Notre Dame can replicate a similar production level, it would likely be enough to strike the right balance with the passing game, similar to the Indiana performance. 

The passing game is where things get most interesting. There’s a decent chance Notre Dame doesn’t need to force many balls through the air, but if they do, Riley Leonard’s recent upswing may make things easier than previously believed. In his last 6 games, Leonard has thrown 11 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions, compared to 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in his first 7 games. If the Irish struggle on the ground, it’ll be because Smart will load the box to stop the run, leaving Irish receivers in man on the outside. Leonard would then have to throw a few more of those 44-yard bombs to Jordan Faison to pull extra guys off the line and out of the box.

This one is a true toss-up. Both groups have a real shot at winning, but neither is dominant or complete enough to hold a firm edge. 

• Advantage: Even

Notre Dame’s Special Teams vs Georgia’s Special Teams

Notre Dame’s special teams unit has been relatively solid across the board this season, the only exception being field goal kicking. The Irish kicking staff is collectively dead last in the country in field goal percentage, making only 10/21 across 3 kickers. Mitch Jeter started the season strong before an injury sidelined him for several games and greatly affected his accuracy and ability, even after he was cleared to return. It wasn’t until the first round of the playoff that Jeter finally looked like himself again. He went 3/3 on extra points and 2/3 on field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder that was his longest of the season. It was his best performance since week 1 against TAMU. 

The question going forward isn’t CAN Jeter make these kinds of kicks, but how consistently can he? 

On the other hand, Georgia’s kicker, Peyton Woodring, has been truly elite this year. He ranks top-10 in field goal percentage, hitting on 20/22 while remaining perfect from under 50 yards. His longest kick of the season is 55 yards, making him a legitimate threat to score from anywhere past midfield. Woodring is experienced and won’t shrink in the moment, and that’s why the Dawgs get the leg up in the kicker battle.

Special Teams - Players to Watch

As for the receiving game, it’s essentially a wash. The Irish hold the edge in kick returns, ranking 87th with an average of 19.0 yards per return, while the Bulldogs sit near the bottom at 125th with only 15.2 yards per return. Conversely, Georgia has a slight advantage in punt returns with 8.1 yards per return, good for the 67th spot, while Notre Dame places 88th with 6.5 yards per return. Neither group has a clear advantage in the return game.

Lastly, the punt game. Notre Dame’s average yards per punt are nothing special at 88th, but they’re saved by their coverage unit, which ranks significantly higher at 40th in net punt yards. For Georgia, it's nearly the reverse. Their average yards per punt are elite at 5th overall, but their punt coverage drops their net punt yards down to 88th. 

Georgia would clearly get the nod off numbers alone, but there’s a problem: All those numbers came from junior punter Brett Thorson, who was injured in the SEC Championship game and is out for the season. Coach Smart told reporters that the job is open but confirmed that freshman punter Drew Miller has been taking the majority of practice reps. Without Thorson, Georgia’s punt game will rely on a freshman with no career punts to his name behind a weak punt coverage unit. With so many unknowns, Notre Dame gets the edge in the punt game.

These units match up incredibly closely across the board, but each has its own unique weakness.

For Notre Dame, it's their inconsistency at kicker, specifically Mitch Jeter’s struggles with accuracy and health. For Georgia, it’s Brett Thorson’s injury and their scramble to replace one of the nation’s best punters.

The bottom line in comparison is - which team’s liability could hurt them the most? 

In a game where points will be at a premium, and neither team can afford missed opportunities, Notre Dame’s weakness at kicker has a greater potential impact on the game’s outcome than Georgia’s compromised punt game. Up to this point, Notre Dame hasn’t needed to rely on Jeter’s leg to win them games, but this may be the first time all year that the Irish are left at the mercy of its field goal unit. 

For that reason alone, Georgia gets the overall edge on special teams.

• Advantage: Soft Georgia

Prediction:

Once again, we find Notre Dame staring down the barrel of its greatest test of the season, with everything on the line.

Georgia has been a powerhouse under Kirby Smart for almost a decade now, but this may be his most vulnerable team. With two losses and several close calls on their resume, there are proven methods to beat this team, and they can be replicated.

Notre Dame’s game plan comes down to this:

• Dominate UGA’s defense on the ground

• Use Leonard’s mobility to establish a balanced passing attack.

• Pressure Gunner Stockton into risky passes/sacks

This game plan combines goals that Notre Dame has already executed this season with approaches that Bama and Ole Miss used to beat UGA. If the Irish can achieve these three objectives, there’s no reason they can’t win.

For the first time in recent memory, Notre Dame has the opportunity to take that next step, but this time feels different.

A Sugar Bowl win over Georgia would instantly become one of the greatest wins in modern program history and dispel the narrative that Notre Dame is no longer a powerhouse.

Call it stupidity or call it blind faith, but look for Notre Dame to win this in a close one.

Look for:

• Notre Dame’s defense -  2+ sacks

• Xavier Watts - 1 interception

• Riley Leonard - 50+ rushing yards 

• Riley Leonard - 1 touchdown  

• Jeremiyah Love - 100+ rushing yards

• Jeremiyah Love - 1 rushing touchdown

• Jordan Faison - 1 receiving touchdown

Win: (13-1)

ND: 27 - 23 :UGA

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