From Georgia's very first offensive possession against Notre Dame in Thursday's Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, it was clear that the Bulldogs were in trouble. The Irish defense was all over Gunner Stockton, who was making his first career start replacing an injured Carson Beck. Still, Georgia's defense kept them in the game for almost 30 minutes until Kirby Smart's team got the ball at their own 25-yard line down 6–3 with 39 ticks left until halftime.
The choice was to run the clock out and regroup at intermission or try to push the ball down the field for a game-tying field goal. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo dialed up a pass, which ended in disaster as Stockton was strip-sacked and Notre Dame recovered the ball 13 yards away from paydirt. One play later Riley Leonard found Beaux Collins in the end zone for a 13–3 lead, which Georgia was never able to overcome.
