Georgia Bulldogs supporters were aware that a much-maligned politician would cause them to lose to Notre Dame.
Some people think the writing was on the wall hours before kickoff, and it was a day that Georgia Bulldogs supporters would prefer to forget. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp shared a hype video including him narrating scenes of Georgia football triumph and Muhammad Ali igniting the Olympic flame in 1996 as the Bulldogs got ready to play Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. Fans were immediately filled with fear when he wrote, “In the wake of tragedy, it is the strength of community that bonds us together,” in his following note.
“Yeah Kemp on the hype video????” tweeted one fan who was very foresighted. Predicting the Bulldogs’ demise before the first whistle blew, “Irish by 60.” Even though Notre Dame won 23–10, the defeat devastated Georgia supporters, and many of them took their anger out on the poorly planned political appearance.
Notre Dame’s triumph was more than just a show; it extended the Irish’s incredible 12-game winning streak and guaranteed them a spot in the Orange Bowl versus Penn State. Notre Dame and Penn State will play on January 9 and Texas and Ohio State on January 10, respectively, in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Early in the game, it was a defensive contest, but Notre Dame opened it up with a commanding 17-point run that lasted from the conclusion of the first half to the start of the second. Late in the second quarter, Notre Dame got the ball in the red zone after a crucial strip-sack of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. The Irish led 13-3 at the half after Riley Leonard’s touchdown pass to Beaux Collins.
Georgia struggles in crucial situations as Notre Dame’s defense dominates.
Jayden Harrison’s 98-yard return of the second-half kickoff for a touchdown, which increased Notre Dame’s advantage to 20-3, permanently changed the momentum. Georgia’s offense had a hard time getting back on track, missing two key fourth-down tries and producing little on the ground.
Notre Dame’s defense, which is ranked as the fifth-best takeaway team in the country, restricted Georgia to just 62 rushing yards while forcing two crucial fumbles. With timely plays and a dominant defense, the Irish retained control of the game even though they only managed 244 total yards, the fewest ever in a College Football Playoff triumph.
Although Stockton’s 234 passing yards gave the Bulldogs a 52-yard advantage over the Irish and they had some encouraging moments, the contest was characterized by costly errors and lost opportunities. Georgia supporters felt the pain of losing not only because of the score but also because of what some perceived to be the curse of misguided political hoopla.
