The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are set to face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2025, as part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Despite a stellar 12–1 season under head coach Marcus Freeman, who recently received the Dodd Trophy for Coach of the Year , Notre Dame enters the matchup as slight underdogs, with Georgia favored by 1.5 points .
Notre Dame’s offense, led by quarterback Riley Leonard, is expected to challenge Georgia’s defense by aiming for explosive plays in the passing game. This strategy could exploit potential weaknesses in Georgia’s secondary and open up opportunities for the running game . Defensively, the Irish plan to apply pressure on Georgia’s backup quarterback, Gunner Stockton, who is stepping in due to an injury to starter Carson Beck . Utilizing exotic blitz schemes may force turnovers and disrupt Georgia’s offensive rhythm .
Special teams could also play a pivotal role. Notre Dame aims to avoid mistakes in the field goal unit and capitalize on their ability to block punts, potentially shifting momentum in their favor .
The winner of this Sugar Bowl matchup will advance to the Orange Bowl semifinals, bringing both teams closer to the national championship. Given the narrow point spread and the high stakes, fans can anticipate a closely contested and thrilling game.