During the Sugar Bowl, Georgia’s redshirt sophomore cornerback Parker Jones inadvertently collided with side judge JB Garza while celebrating a significant offensive play. This incident triggered a penalty for interference, negating a substantial 67-yard gain and pushing Georgia’s offense back 15 yards.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart labeled the costly sideline interference penalty as “unfortunate.” He noted that the white area on the sideline is reserved for officials, and any intrusion is a safety concern. Smart acknowledged that while the penalty hurt, the team still didn’t execute properly.
Despite the setback, Georgia’s defense held Notre Dame to just 296 yards and forced them to go 2-of-12 on third down and 0-of-3 on fourth down. However, the Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on these defensive efforts, leading to their 23-10 loss.
The loss ended Georgia’s season with a final record of 10-3. Smart emphasized the need for discipline and efficiency in the upcoming season.