In the wake of Georgia’s 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, head coach Kirby Smart has faced scrutiny for his aggressive play-calling, particularly during a pivotal moment late in the first half.
With just 38 seconds remaining before halftime and Georgia trailing 6-3, Smart chose to have sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton attempt a pass from their own 25-yard line, rather than opting to run out the clock. This decision led to a strip-sack by Notre Dame’s defensive end RJ Oben, with the Fighting Irish recovering the fumble at Georgia’s 13-yard line. On the subsequent play, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard connected with Beaux Collins for a touchdown, extending their lead to 13-3.
Despite the unfavorable outcome, Smart stood by his decision, emphasizing the importance of seizing every scoring opportunity, especially when trailing. He stated, “Typically, when you’re down, you need every possession you can have, and we made a decision that we were going to be aggressive and we were going to try to go two-minute… You can’t give up possessions when you’re trailing.”
Stockton, who was making his first start of the season in place of the injured Carson Beck, completed 20 of 32 passes for 234 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Cash Jones in the third quarter. However, the Bulldogs struggled to establish a consistent offensive rhythm, managing only 62 rushing yards and converting just 2 of 12 third-down attempts.
The aggressive strategy, while intended to capitalize on limited opportunities, ultimately backfired, contributing to Georgia’s elimination from the College Football Playoff. As the Bulldogs reflect on