The Fighting Irish faced an uphill battle from the kickoff in their College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup against Georgia at the Sugar Bowl. Early penalties hampered Notre Dame's initial efforts, putting them on the back foot.
Freshman defensive lineman Bryce Young was flagged twice for running into the kicker, Georgia's Drew Miller, though the second penalty was declined. The penalties disrupted the flow of the game for Notre Dame and gave Georgia an early advantage.
The Fighting Irish offense also struggled. Quarterback Riley Leonard's opening drive was marred by an illegal forward pass call after a deflected pass attempt and a subsequent incompletion.
Georgia's defense proved formidable, holding Notre Dame to a mere 24 yards in the first quarter, with Leonard completing only one pass for 14 yards. The teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter, leaving the game tightly contested.
The Sugar Bowl, held in New Orleans' Superdome, was postponed by a day following a devastating terror attack on Bourbon Street that tragically resulted in at least 15 fatalities and numerous injuries.
