Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) looks to throw a pass during overtime of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Sugar Bowl rescheduled for Thursday

The Sugar Bowl will be played today (4 p.m. ET, ESPN), postponed because of the tragic events in New Orleans early Wednesday.

 

So let’s take another look at the Notre Dame-Georgia matchup now that we have three CFP quarterfinals behind us,

 

Is it a coincidence or a handicapping factor that the three underdogs with byes came out of the gate slowly?

 

>Arizona State (+13.5) fell behind 14-3 in the first quarter, rallied late but lost to Texas in OT 39-31. The Sun Devils at least covered.

 

>No. 1 seed Oregon (+2.5) was down 14-0 after 15 minutes and was routed by Ohio State 41-21.

 

>On New Year’s Eve, Boise State (+11.5) dug a 14-0 first-quarter hole and lost to Penn State 31-14.

 

Unless there is more line movement today, a well-rested Georgia team will be the underdog vs. the Irish, who flipped to a 1-point favorite on Wednesday.

 

 

The Notre Dame-Georgia winner will play Penn State, which is a 1-point underdog vs. both teams in the DraftKings lookahead lines.

 

Ohio State opened as a 5.5-point favorite vs. Texas at Circa and moved to 6 while DK was at 6.5.

 

Who’s in and out for Week 18

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley won’t play Sunday vs. the Giants. . . . Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes won’t play vs. the Broncos, replaced by Carson Wentz. . . . The Dolphins are prepping QB Tyler Huntley to play vs. the Jets because of Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury. . . . Rams QB Matthew Stafford will rest vs. Seattle with Jimmy Garoppolo starting instead. . . . With QB Brock Purdy (elbow) injured, the 49ers will start Joshua Dobbs.

 

Steve Makinen has been tracking these late “rest” games for years and offers his counsel:

 

My best advice is not to assume that resting starters equals tanking the game. You’ll also want to avoid automatically downgrading the offenses because backup quarterbacks are in place. Remember, there are also a lot of second-string defenders in as well.

 

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Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) passes in the pocket against Texas during the second half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Atlanta.

 

If Georgia playing Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl has a classic ring to it, it should.

 

Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser and Bulldogs tight end Oscar Delp know all about the first time their storied programs met in the Superdome at the end of the 1980 season — some two decades before they were born.

 

A national championship hung in the balance, and a freshman running back named Herschel Walker (150 yards, two touchdowns rushing) helped the Bulldogs capture it, 17-10.

 

The stakes won’t be quite as high on Wednesday night when No. 2 Georgia (11-2, CFP No. 2 seed) and No. 3 Notre Dame (11-1, CFP No. 5 seed) meet in the same storied bowl, but it’s still pretty big.

 

The Sugar Bowl was designated a College Football Playoff quarterfinal in this first year of the CFP’s expansion to 12 teams. The winner moves on to a semifinal game at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

 

“When you get two big brands together in a stage like the Sugar Bowl, and to know it’s happened before, with some big names that played in the game, and to understand it has so much on the line this time, too, it’s exciting,” said Kiser, a 24-year-old defensive captain who has spent six years — or as he likes to say, “a quarter of my life,” at Notre Dame.

 

“As a player who gets to live it, and as a guy who’s obsessed with the history of the game and the tradition of the game, it’s certainly just amazing to be a part of,” he said.

 

Delp said Georgia players have spent part of the past week watching old video of the 1980 Bulldogs’ title clincher in the Superdome on Jan. 1, 1981.

 

“To have a guy like (Walker) who got to play in this game and now we’re getting to do it, and to get to play in a stadium that all the greats have played in, it’s super special,” Delp said. “It’s stuff you dream about.”

 

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said he was “thankful that we don’t have to play Herschel Walker.”

 

“But we’ve got some other challenging running backs that we’ve got to try to defend,” he added, referring to Nate Frasier and Louisiana native Trevor Etienne.

 

 

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard is from Fair Hope, Alabama, an upscale coastal community across the Mobile Bay from Mobile. He spent three years playing for Duke before transferring to Notre Dame, where he has started every game this season, passing for 2,293 yards and 17 TDs to go with 751 yards rushing and 15 TDs.

 

Gunner Stockton is from rural Georgia, grew up tending to farm animals — he especially loves his black angus cows — and drives a 1984 Ford pickup truck that belonged to his grandfather.

 

Stockton also is a career backup who was thrust into Georgia’s SEC title game triumph against Texas — memorably holding on to the ball when his helmet was knocked off by a heavy hit. Now comes his first start for the Bulldogs in place of the injured Carson Beck, a prolific passer whose Italian sports car made him an NIL poster child.

 

“We got one quarterback that’s got a Lamborghini and one quarterback that drives a two-door, F-150,” Delp said. “It’s crazy times.”

 

To Etienne, Stockton’s lifestyle choices are emblematic of his approach to playing quarterback.

 

“He’s not really the one that’s into the flashy stuff,” Etienne said. “He’s willing to put the work in — the dirty, hard work. He’s not scared.”

 

Stockton didn’t sound unnerved by the high stakes attached to his maiden start.

 

Unlike the SEC title game, when he came in cold and helped steer Georgia to a comeback win, he’s had three weeks to prepare as QB1.

 

“It’s a big burden, but I enjoy it,” Stockton said. “And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.”

 

 

 

Outside expectations plummeted for Notre Dame after a stunning loss to Northern Illinois in September.

 

Inside the locker room, resolve stiffened, Leonard said.

 

“Once you lose a game like that, you can’t say any worse things and people can’t think many worse things about you, so you’ve got nothing to do but respond,” Leonard said. “We’ve had our back against the wall. … Every game has been like a playoff game for us ever since that NIU loss.”

 

They’ve won 11 straight since, the latest victory coming against Indiana in the CFP’s opening round.

 

Leonard said the key has been not caring what anyone else thinks and “having fun with this thing.”

 

“I’ve only got one chance at it,” he continued. “I would hate to look back and live with any regret.”

 

 

Notre Dame had an opportunity to make a strong statement in their opening-round win, but instead, they gave Georgia all the confidence they need for their upcoming quarterfinal game.

The Irish defeated Indiana comfortably, but their lack of a reliable ground game against a weaker opponent will likely play into Georgia’s hands, making Notre Dame one-dimensional. If this happens, the Bulldogs should come out on top, even without starting quarterback Carson Beck.

Although Notre Dame rushed for 193 yards against Indiana, 98 of those yards came on a single, lucky play in the first quarter. Jeremiyah Love broke off a long touchdown run to give Notre Dame a 7-0 lead. However, the Hoosiers limited the Irish to just 95 yards on 34 carries for the remainder of the game, a poor average of 2.8 yards per attempt.

Bulldogs defense could be the key Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson Oct 28, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson (10) against the Florida Gators during the first quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports With a quarterback change, Georgia won’t likely be running up and down the field for quick touchdowns. However, if the Bulldogs are able to stop Notre Dame’s ground attack, the low-scoring game will favor them.

Gunner Stockton, who steps in for Beck, has the respect of Notre Dame, according to espn.com.

“He may not be the veteran, but he’s at Georgia,” said Kiser. “He’s their starting quarterback. He was a highly-rated recruit, and you can’t underestimate him.”

Stockton seems excited for

 

 

Notre Damelinebacker Jack Kiser said the Fighting Irish aren’t underestimating Georgiaquarterback Gunner Stockton because of his inexperience heading into Wednesday’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

 

Stockton, a third-year sophomore, had played sparingly for the No. 2 Bulldogs until he was forced into action after starter Carson Beck injured the elbow on his throwing arm on the final play of the first half in the Dec. 7 SEC championship game.

 

Stockton rallied the Bulldogs back in the second half of a 22-19 overtime victory against Texas.

 

“He’s not the veteran guy, but at the same time, he’s playing at Georgia,” Kiser said. “He’s their starting quarterback. He was a big-time recruit. I don’t think you can underestimate this dude at all.”

 

Stockton is expected to make his first career start against the No. 7 Fighting Irish at Caesars Superdome on New Year’s Day (8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+). Beck had season-ending elbow surgery on Dec. 23 and declared his intent to enter the NFL draft on Saturday.

 

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said Beck was expected to join the team in New Orleans this week.

 

Stockton met with the media for the first time at Monday’s Sugar Bowl media day. He didn’t say much, other than he was excited to finally get a chance to start at quarterback, even if the stage will be one of the biggest in the sport.

 

“It’s awesome,” Stockton said. “I mean, it’s a dream come true. I’m excited and excited for the opportunity. It’s a special opportunity, and I’m enjoying it.”

 

Stockton has completed 25 of 32 passes for 206 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in four games this season. Most of his action came in the second half against the Longhorns, in which he completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception.

 

Fighting Irish defensive tackle Howard Cross III said Stockton’s lack of playing time this season has made their preparations more difficult.

 

“I mean, we have limited film,” Cross said. “It’s kind of like having every piece of the puzzle except for one. We don’t really know if he’s a passing quarterback or a running quarterback. We know he’s good, but we don’t know what his tendencies are.”

 

Stockton was one of the most productive quarterbacks in Georgia high school history during his four years at Rabun County High School, accumulating 13,652 passing yards with 177 touchdowns and 4,372 rushing yards with 77 scores. As a senior, he completed 71.3% of his attempts for 4,134 yards with 55 touchdowns and one interception.

 

Stockton spent the past three seasons at Georgia sitting behind starter Stetson Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, and then behind Beck the past two seasons.

 

Smart said he has confidence in Stockton to perform because of his decision-making, accuracy and athleticism as a dual-threat quarterback.

 

“He’s been raised around football,” Smart said. “He’s a coach’s son. All the players play harder for him. Do you make the players around you better is what you look for in a quarterback. I think he raises the skill level of everybody around him because of who he is. So that’s my reason for believing he’s a good quarterback.”

 

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said his staff has utilized the 86 plays in which Stockton was on the field this season to come up with a defensive game plan. He doesn’t expect the Bulldogs to change their identity or game plan because Stockton is under center.

 

“I don’t think they’re going to change their offense completely because of who’s at quarterback,” Freeman said. “He does a lot of things well that Carson Beck did well. He can throw it. Carson Beck is more athletic than I thought, until I started watching the film.

 

“I don’t assume it’s going to be that much different, but it’s also a game of adjustments. We have to be able to see what they’re trying to do and their plan of attack versus our defense.”

 

Kiser expects Georgia to rely on its running game and veteran offensive line to take pressure off of Stockton, but he isn’t going to underestimate the quarterback, either.

 

“You know, Georgia is Georgia,” Kiser said. “They are not going to change their offense because of one guy. They will add in different things, the read series, maybe a couple more QB draws. He’s a little bit more dynamic as an athlete. We just have to be ready for that and understand that there are more wrinkles than what you might see out of any other Georgia game.”br/]

 

After Georgia quarterback Carson Beck declared for the 2025 NFL Draft Saturday, analyst Todd McShay started reaching out to his NFL contacts, trying to get a read on the situation.

 

What he found might not bode well for Beck.

 

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Beck, 23, started for the Bulldogs the past two seasons but had this season cut short by an elbow injury he suffered in the SEC Championship against Texas. He underwent surgery last week to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm and is expected to make a full recovery.

 

Although college stars always do their homework before declaring for the draft, to determine whether they should make the leap, McShay said everyone he talked to thinks Beck made a mistake.

 

“Carson Beck made a bad decision to leave early,” McShay said Monday on The Ringer’s The McShay Show podcast. “I texted a bunch of guys in the league, GMs former GMs, scouts. One scout wrote back to me, a one-word answer: Foolish. I thought he got better late in the season as I said. But I don’t think he’s there yet. Played great in certain moments, I thought he played better late in the season.

 

“But he never this year played to the level that many of us expected him to play to. I just don’t know that he’s ready. Why wouldn’t you take this time, rehab in the offseason, come back with a better supporting cast. They’ve got a lot of young wide receivers … their offensive line will be better. They’ll be more balanced.”

 

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As for Beck’s NFL Draft prospects, he’s widely expected to go in the second or third round. McShay feels he might have improved his value with another season at Georgia.

 

“Is he as ready as he would be had he gone back for one more year at Georgia, and everyone I talked to, and my personal opinion is, he’s not going to be,” McShay said.

After Georgia quarterback Carson Beck declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday, analyst Todd McShay reached out to his NFL contacts to gauge opinions on the situation. His findings might not be favorable for Beck.

Beck, 23, served as Georgia’s starting quarterback for the past two seasons, though his current season was cut short due to an elbow injury sustained in the SEC Championship against Texas. He underwent surgery last week to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm and is expected to fully recover.

While college stars typically evaluate their draft potential before making the leap, McShay mentioned that everyone he contacted believes Beck made al mistake.

“Carson Beck made a bad decision to leave early,” McShay said Monday on The Ringer’s The McShay Show podcast. “I texted a bunch of people in the league—GMs, former GMs, scouts. One scout replied with a one-word answer: Foolish. I thought he improved late in the season, as I said, but he wasn’t quite there yet. He had great moments, and I thought he played better toward the end of the season, but he never reached the level we expected. I’m not sure he’s ready. Why not take the time to rehab in the offseason, return with a stronger supporting cast? They’ve got young wide receivers, and their offensive line will improve. They’ll be more balanced.”

Regarding Beck’s NFL Draft prospects, he is expected to be selected in the second or third round. McShay believes another season at Georgia could have boosted his draft stock.

“Would he be as ready as he could be if he returned for another year at Georgia? From everyone I spoke to, and in my own opinion, he wouldn’t be.”

 

 

The Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up for a College Football Playoff matchup against Notre Dame. The offense will be without starting quarterback Carson Beck in that contest, who was injured in the SEC Championship Game.

 

Gunner Stockton will instead take the snaps under center. Thus far, he’s performed admirably in Beck’s absence. Head coach Kirby Smart expects that to continue.

 

Smart previewed the upcoming matchup with the Fighting Irish this week. He says the team will “play harder” for Stockton when it takes the field on New Year’s Day.

 

Smart believes the passer has all the intangibles to be a successful QB in the SEC. Those traits include physical abilities and leadership.

 

Gunner Stockton provides a stark contrast to Carson Beck both under center and off the field. The dual threat signal caller is much more dangerous using his feet while Beck is a prototypical drop back passer.

 

Stockton has also managed largely to stay out of the headlines while Beck has gone viral due to his relationship with Miami basketball player Hanna Cavinder. They also have much different tastes in automobiles. Stockton drives an F150. Beck has a Lambo. They are not the same!

 

While that may be the case, each checks the box of uplifting teammates when they’re on the football field. Carson Beck’s showed that over the last two seasons. Stockton certainly earned the respect of his offense after taking a vicious shot in the SEC title game.

 

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Kirby Smart’s comments weren’t meant to be a jab at Beck, but rather a tip of the cap to Gunner Stockton. He doesn’t expect to see a drop off from the Georgia Bulldogs with his reserve quarterback in the game.

 

 

 

Georgia coach Kirby Smart takes the field with his team before the start of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

When Notre Dame and Georgia meet in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day night, it’ll be a battle built on physicality.

 

Georgia has been the short list of teams being the standard in college football in recent years, winning national championships in both 2021 and 2022. The Bulldogs are fresh off an SEC Championship and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.

 

Kirby Smart has led Georgia since 2016 took the Georgia program from being a very successful one to a downright great one. Smart spent time this week discussing Notre Dame’s physicality and Marcus Freeman’s fast rise in the coaching ranks.

 

Kirby Smart on Notre Dame vs. Georgia Matchups in 2017 and 2019

Kirby Smart leads the Georgia football team out at Notre Dame in 2017

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and wide receiver Mecole Hardman (4) take the field for the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium.

“I don’t remember them as a team; the games, obviously stand out,” Smart said. “Both one score, fourth quarter, really physical games. You know, (the) physicality, I see when I watch Notre Dame play is pretty incredible. On both lines of scrimmage. The way they play, the style of play they have.”

 

Kirby Smart Scouts Notre Dame Football Team Ahead of Sugar Bowl

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and head coach Marcus Freeman during a College Football Playoff win over Indian

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“…this is a really good, solid, fundamentally‑sound, don’t beat themselves, play good defense, great defense, and really physical on the lines of scrimmage, and they got a really athletic quarterback,” Smart said of Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard. “There’s a reason why they’re at the point in the season that they’re at.”

 

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Marcus Freeman celebrates after coaching Notre Dame to a College Football Playoff victory over Indian

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after winning the first round of the College Football Playoff 27-17 against Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

“He’s an up‑and‑coming riser for a long time,” Smart said. “And to get that job, I mean, the national exposure, the national brand of Notre Dame is really incredible. And for him to take that over at that age, manage that, and have success and really go through some tough times. I mean, doesn’t come without criticism to be a head coach, but to do it at that age at Notre Dame is pretty special. And he’s obviously done a great job. He’s got great presence and command about him.”

 

Notre Dame vs. Georgia Latest Betting Odds

Notre Dame celebrates a touchdown against Indiana in the College Football Playof

Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Thomas (83) and quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrate a Thomas touchdown during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend.

Latest Sugar Bowl betting odds courtesy of FanDuel:

 

 

Bulldogs to Watch: Georgia vs. Notre Dame 2025

Mike Bobo (Offensive Coordinator) – Georgia’s offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, faces an intriguing challenge as the Bulldogs enter their first playoff game with the expanded 12-team format. With the likely loss of their starting quarterback from the past two seasons, Bobo must now adjust to coaching an offense led by Rabun County native Gunner Stockton. Bobo has the chance to develop a unique offensive identity with Stockton’s dual-threat ability. Although slightly smaller than Georgia Tech’s Haynes King, fans might see Bobo incorporate elements from Georgia Tech’s former offensive coordinator, Buster Faulkner.

Trevor Etienne (RB #1) – The former Florida transfer is now an SEC Champion, which was the main reason he chose Georgia in the first place—to compete for championships. Trevor Etienne recently had a standout performance, scoring the only touchdown for the Bulldogs in a game where they triumphed over the Longhorns. Etienne rushed for 94 yards on 16 carries, including two touchdowns, one of which came in overtime to seal the victory. Despite not playing since early November, Etienne pushed through to perform in the SEC title game and will need to deliver another key performance against the Irish on New Year’s Day.

Oscar Delp (TE #4) – Tight ends came into the spotlight in the second half of the SEC Championship when Gunner Stockton took over. While Delp didn’t show up heavily on the stat sheet, he made one of the game’s most crucial plays by earning a tough first down in overtime. This allowed the Bulldogs to win in just one overtime, not the expected eight. Delp and fellow tight end Lawson Luckie’s performances will be key in helping Stockton succeed in his first start.

Jared Wilson (C #55) – Redshirt junior center Jared Wilson entered Georgia as a three-star recruit but has quickly risen to being a projected day-two NFL draft pick. Coach Kirby Smart and the rest of the offensive line have praised his athleticism. Wilson has developed a strong connection with his teammates, and following the tense game against Georgia Tech, I saw him embrace linebacker Jalon Walker.

CJ Allen (LB #3) – Georgia’s linebacker corps has excelled when it counted most. The entire defensive front has been dominant. Allen and the defense held Texas to just 32 rushing yards on 28 attempts, a remarkable feat considering Texas had rushed for 292 yards against Clemson earlier in the playoffs. Allen was second in tackles during the SEC Championship and also recorded an impactful pass breakup. The sophomore linebacker is primed for a strong showing in his first playoff game.

Daylen Everette (CB #6) – Texas seems to be a team Daylen Everette enjoys facing. He had two interceptions against the Longhorns, forcing multiple turnovers. Now, against Riley Leonard, Everette will look to repeat his strong performance. Having played his best football this season, he has earned spots on the Reese’s Senior Bowl and Jim Thorpe Award watch lists.

Malaki Starks (Safety #24) – The standout safeties from Georgia, including Dan Jackson, KJ Bolden, and Malaki Starks, have been key figures in the Bulldogs’ secondary. Starks leads the team in total tackles and is an experienced junior with aspirations of competing in the college football playoffs again, with the goal of winning his second national championship.

Charley Trippi led the Bulldogs to a 20-10 victory over North Carolina in New Orleans on 1/1/47, capping an undefeated 11-0 season, highlighted by a Sugar Bowl-record 67-yard touchdown to Dan Edwards.

In Georgia’s 17-10 win over Notre Dame on 1/1/81, senior linebacker Frank Ros recorded 17 tackles and forced a fumble, which was recovered by senior rover Chris Welton, who also had seven tackles.

The Bulldogs cruised to a 41-10 victory over undefeated Hawaii in New Orleans on 1/1/08, with Knowshon Moreno running for two touchdowns and the defense sacking QB Colt Brennan eight times.