Georgia's Kirby Smart Catches Heat for Decision That Led to Notre Dame TD in Loss

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (L) walks onto the field during Bulldogs team arrival prior to their game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Points were at a premium in Thursday's Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame, with two impressive defenses holding the opposing offenses to just nine points on three total field goals in the first half ... until disaster struck for the Bulldogs right before halftime.

The Fighting Irish took a 6–3 lead with less than a minute left in the first half on Mitch Jeter's second field goal of the game. Rather than run out the final 40 seconds to take things to halftime, Georgia coach Kirby Smart tried to be aggressive with his backup quarterback in for the injured Carson Beck, and it backfired in a significant way.