The Georgia Bulldogs lost to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl. The Sugar Bowl started out as a low-scoring affair.
Georgia appeared primed to score after quarterback Gunner Stockton, who was making his first start, connected on a deep pass to wide receiver Arian Smith. However, Georgia walk-on Parker Jones got a 15-yard penalty for contacting an official on the sideline during the play to push the Bulldogs out of the red zone.
Several plays later, running back Trevor Etienne fumbled while the Bulldogs were in field goal position. Georgia and Notre Dame traded field goals in the second quarter.
Trailing 6-3, Georgia regained possession with under a minute left in the first half. The Bulldogs elected to stay aggressive, but it backfired. Notre Dame went around Georgia left tackle Monroe Freeling and recorded a strip sack, which set up the Fighting Irish’s only offensive touchdown of the game.
Notre Dame held a 13-3 halftime lead. The Fighting Irish wide receiver Jayden Harrison promptly returned opening second half kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.
Trailing 20-3, Georgia showed some life. Gunner Stockton found running back Cash Jones for a 32-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 10. Georgia never got any closer.
Georgia held up well defensively throughout the game. UGA held Notre Dame to just 244 total yards, which is the fewest of any winning team in the College Football Playoff era. However, Georgia’s defense did not force any turnovers or a ton of negative plays.
Georgia finishes the season 11-3 and as SEC champions. Bulldog fans will always wonder “what if Carson Beck was healthy”, but the same mistakes (turnovers and drops) that plagued the Georgia offense all year resurfaced in the Sugar Bowl.
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Georgia could not put together another magical comeback and now faces one of its more unpredictable offseasons in recent memory.