Kirby Smart complains about Notre Dame’s 4th quarter trick play

Freeman knew the rules…

It very much seemed like Notre Dame head coach [autotag]Marcus Freeman[/autotag] was playing 3-D chess against Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who may have been playing checkers against the Irish after his team lost in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

During the Bulldog’s head coach’s post-game interview, he was asked about the 4th quarter play where Notre Dame virtually squashed their comeback chances. He didn’t believe what Freeman did with a full-change of personnel, was some that you could legally do in a game (you can see the play here.)

He said that the head officials in the SEC told him “you can’t do that… you can’t run 11-on and 11-off.” Community notes checked him however, as it claims that “replays shows the long snapper had not gotten set or touched the ball before the mass substitution, making it a dead ball and a legal play.”

So there you have it Kirby, Marcus Freeman out-coached the two-time national championship winning opposing head coach in a crucial moment.

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen