The Georgia Bulldogs received the football with less than 40 seconds remaining in the first half of the Sugar Bowl after Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter hit a field goal to give the Fighting Irish a 6–3 lead. Though the Bulldogs had limited time before the end of the half, head coach Kirby Smart opted to be aggressive to see if his team could sneak a score in before the half. Instead, a nightmare unfolded for Georgia.
On their first play of the drive, quarterback Gunner Stockton was strip-sacked by Notre Dame defensive lineman RJ Oben. Junior Tuihalamaka recovered the fumble, and the Notre Dame offense capitalized with a touchdown before the half.
