In the final quarterfinal game of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff, SEC Champion (2) Georgia State faces Notre Dame (7) in the Sugar Bowl, one of the most iconic two-way games in college football history. Two programs will be held.
Notre Dame advanced to the second round thanks to a 27-17 victory over Indiana that was far more lopsided than the final score indicated. The Fighting Irish led 27-3 with less than five minutes left, and a flurry of Hoosier scores late in the game made it look like the game was much closer than it actually was. Quarterback Riley Leonard was effective and the defense was stifled, but the victory came at a cost as the team lost starting defensive lineman Riley Mills to injury for the rest of the season.
Georgia earns a bye as SEC champion and begins its College Football Playoff campaign in the quarterfinals. However, there are also injury concerns, as it has been confirmed that starting quarterback Carson Beck injured his elbow in the SEC Championship Game against Texas and will be out for the rest of the year. Stockton, a gunner, will make his first career start against Notre Dame’s fierce defense in the Sugar Bowl.
The University of Georgia and Notre Dame are synonymous with the highest level of college football, but this is only the fourth meeting between these two programs. The Bulldogs have won all three of their previous meetings, including a 17-10 win in the Sugar Bowl that clinched the national championship and wins on both ends of home-and-home series in 2017 (South Bend) and 2019 (Athens). has achieved victory. .
The Sugar Bowl matchup was originally scheduled to take place on New Year’s Day, but was postponed in the wake of the tragic truck attack in New Orleans. The game was ultimately postponed to Thursday.
How to watch Georgia vs. Notre Dame live
Date: Wednesday, January 1 | Time: 8:45 PM ET
Location: Caesars Superdome — New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN |Live Stream: Fubo (Try Free)
Georgia vs. Notre Dame: Players to watch
Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame: The struggling Irish quarterback has lived up to expectations since transferring from Duke, reaching the quarterfinals as one of the nation’s top dual-threat signal callers. Leonard has passed for 1,900 yards and rushed for 700 yards this season, making him one of only five QBs at the power conference level. His 15 rushing touchdowns rank 15th among all FBS players and fifth among quarterbacks.
Xavier Watts, DB, Notre Dame: The two-time All-American had his 13th career interception in the CFP first round and had a career-high 10 total tackles in the win. Not only is Watts one of the top defensive backs, he has been considered one of the top defensive players in the nation over the past two seasons, and as one of the team’s captains, he will be a major contributor to Notre Dame’s preparations. Probably. They got their first win against Georgia.
Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame: With his 98-yard touchdown run against Indiana in the CFP First Round, Love extended his record for rushing touchdowns in every game this season. He amassed 1,057 rushing yards on the season, is the only FBS player to rush for a touchdown in every game this season, and continues to extend his record for most consecutive games with rushing touchdowns.
Jaylon Walker, LB, Georgia: Walker, who won the Butkus Award in 2024 as the nation’s best linebacker, is Georgia’s co-leader in tackles for loss with 10.5 and sacks with 6.5. Walker has made big plays all year long when the team needed them the most. He had a strip sack in the regular season against Texas and totaled three tackles for loss in the SEC Championship Game win over the Longhorns.
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia: Although he missed the second half of the season with injury, Etienne’s performance in the SEC title game highlighted his value to the Bulldogs. Etienne gained 94 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime, in the victory. Etienne started nine games this year, totaling 571 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns.
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia State: Stockton, who was pushed to play when Carson Beck was eliminated in the SEC Championship Game, will be making his first career start on the big stage. Stockton led Georgia’s offense with drives of 75, 61 and 72 yards on three of the first four possessions against Texas. Prior to the SEC Championship Game, Stockton had been active in just three games this season, completing 13 of 16 passes for 135 yards.
Sugar Bowl predictions, picks
These teams are led by their defense, and given the athleticism in the trenches, expect a tough battle. Georgia will also likely take a conservative stance to keep Stockton out of pressure situations. The Fighting Irish are more productive and consistent offensively, so Notre Dame probably won’t mind a shootout, but even low-scoring games are good enough to win. Pick: Under 45.5
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