8:45 p.m. | ESPN
Caesars Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notes
GAME AT A GLANCE
• The University of Notre Dame football team (12-1) won their first CFP game with a First Round 27-17 victory over Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium, the inaugural campus matchup of the CFP. The No. 7-seed Irish move on to face No. 2 Georgia in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. • The First Round game was the first matchup between teams from the same state in a BCS Championship Game or College Football Playoff game. The last time two 11+ win FBS teams from the same state faced off was on January 2, 1997, when 11-1 Florida defeated 11-0 Florida State in the Sugar Bowl. • Notre Dame and Georgia are meeting for the fourth time, with Georgia owning a 3-0 record over the Irish. Notre Dame and Georgia have met once in the postseason previously, also in the Sugar Bowl. • Notre Dame has a 2-2 record in the Sugar Bowl. • Both teams have been ranked each time the two programs have faced one another, but this season’s installment will be the collective highest ranking from both teams (No. 2 vs. No. 3 in the AP Poll). • Head coach Marcus Freeman has earned 12 wins over teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 over his three seasons at Notre Dame, which is the most of any Notre Dame coach in his first three seasons. • QB Riley Leonard and RB Jeremiyah Love have each had a rushing TD in the same game 10 times this season, tied for the most by any FBS duo in any season in the last 25 years with Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and Vai Taua in 2010 (10). • Several program records have been broken, tied or approached in the 2024 season.
IRISH ITEMS – BY THE NUMBERS
1 Notre Dame’s 2024 defense is dominant and one of the most complete defenses in the country, ranking among the FBS’ top teams. Through the season and the first round of the CFP, Notre Dame is first in team passing efficiency defense (96.94), first in turnovers gained (29), first in defensive touchdowns (6), third in scoring defense (13.8), fourth in passing yards allowed (162.3), fourth in interceptions (18), seventh in third down defense (0.308), seventh in fourth down defense (0.361), eighth in total defense (295.3), ninth in fumbles recovered (11) and ninth in red zone defense (0.727).
2 Senior quarterback Riley Leonard owns 34 rushing touchdowns for his career, including three in the first half at Purdue, and two vs. Miami (OH) and Georgia Tech. He ranks second among all active FBS quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns.
13 Xavier Watts has made a statement as the best defensive player in college football. Watts has totaled 13 interceptions on his career. His 13 interceptions over the last two seasons are the most by any FBS player during that span; the next closest players have nine. He has averaged 0.5 interceptions per game over that span. He has the most career interceptions by an Irish player since 1996. He is the 19th Notre Dame player to intercept 10 or more passes in a career and is tied for third on the all-time list for career interceptions in program history. Watts is responsible for seven of Notre Dame’s 29 turnovers gained this season (six interceptions, one fumble recovery).
3-24 Notre Dame held two-straight opponents to 3-24 on third down (Miami 2-12, Purdue 1-12), the best back-to-back two-game total since 2021 (Cincinnati 2-12, Wisconsin 1-14). Those are the two best back-to-back two-game stretches since data is available starting in 1996.
4 Notre Dame is one of just four programs in the Power 4 with eight or more wins over each of the last five seasons (2020-24), joined by Alabama, Clemson and Georgia.
5 Riley Leonard is one of 10 FBS quarterbacks (and five Power 4 quarterbacks) this season to have passed for 1,900 yards and rushed for 700 yards.
12 Notre Dame is now 12-1, tying the most wins in a season in program history. Playing in its 14th game this season in the Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame will play the most games it has played in a season ever.
12 The victory over Indiana was the 12th ranked win of the Marcus Freeman era at Notre Dame, more than any other Irish head coach in the first three years of his tenure. In 2023, the 40-8 Sun Bowl victory over No. 21 Oregon State not only earned Freeman his first campaign with 10 victories, it also was his team’s seventh victory over an Associated Press-ranked team in his first two years leading the program – breaking Terry Brennan’s previous program record of six in 1954 and 55.
10 Leonard and Love have each had a rushing TD in the same game 10 times this season, tied for the most by any FBS duo in any season in the last 25 years with Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and Vai Taua in 2010 (10).
13 Jeremiyah Love has scored a rushing touchdown in each game this season, making 13-straight games with a rushing touchdown. This extends his Notre Dame record for most consecutive game with a rushing TD and extends his record for most consecutive games with a rushing TD to start a season. He is the only FBS running back to have scored a rushing touchdown in each game this season.
130 Jeremiyah Love’s performance vs. Army was noteworthy, rushing seven times for 130 yards. He is one of just three Power 4 running backs this season to achieve 130 rushing yards on fewer than 10 carries, and one of just seven Irish running backs to achieve 100 or more yards on fewer than 10 carries since 1950.
99 + 100 The 49-35 victory at USC was sealed for the Irish on two pick-sixes on back-to-back drives to close the game, as CB Christian Gray took a 99-yard interception for a score, and S Xavier Watts followed it up with a 100-yard pick-six on the very next USC drive. Not only was it the first time this season that a team had two interception returns for 99 or more yards in a single game, but it marked the first time since at least 1996 that such a feat has occurred. Gray tied the Notre Dame record for longest interception return in program history (Luther Bradley, 1975 against Purdue), and Watts broke the record with his 100-yard return.
15 QB Riley Leonard broke the Notre Dame record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season by a quarterback with 15 (14, Brandon Wimbush, 2015).
1000 RB Jeremiyah Love has 1,057 rushing yards so far in 2024, the 21st time an Irish player has broken the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season. He is averaging 7.4 yards per carry, which would rank second among all single-season 1,000-yard rushers in ND records (Reggie Brooks, 1992, 8.0 – 1,343).
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – OFFENSE
• Jayden Thomas entered 2023 season as Notre Dame’s leading returning receiver and served in that role in the first four games of the 2023 season, catching 12 passes for over 180 yards and a touchdown. • Beaux Collins is Notre Dame’s leading receiver in 2024, with 36 receptions for 445 yards. He recorded 91 receptions for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1,578 offensive snaps over 32 games (27 starts) at Clemson from 2021-23. He broke out late in his true freshman season with 31 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns. • Jaden Greathouse was the first Irish true freshman wideout to catch two touchdown passes in his first-career game (against Navy in 2023). His five touchdown catches during a rookie campaign are the most for a Notre Dame true freshman since 2016. • Jayden Harrison was a first-team All-American as a kick returner at Marshall last season, tying for the FBS lead with two kick return touchdowns in 2023. He recorded his first touchdown catch for the Irish in the 35-14 win over Virginia. In 2023, Harrison played in all 13 games for Marshall (started four), totaling 28 receptions for 410 yards (14.6 yards per reception) and a touchdown. • Kris Mitchell, a transfer from FIU, led CUSA and ranked in the Top 20 nationally in receiving yards in 2023 (1,118 – 18th nationally) and receiving yads per game (93.2 – 13th nationally). Mitchell owns 118 career receptions for 1,853 yards and 13 touchdowns. • Jordan Faison joined the Notre Dame football team as a walk on and made his collegiate athletics debut at No. 25 Louisville in 2023 and was put on football scholarship. He would end the season with 19 catches for 322 yards and four touchdowns, capping the year by earning Sun Bowl MVP honors with five catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. • Notre Dame’s offensive line presents some new faces in 2024 with the departures of NFL Draftees Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Pat Coogan, Ashton Craig, Billy Schrauth, Tosh Baker, Rocco Spindler and Charles Jagusah own starting experience. Irish linemen Aamil Wagner, Sam Pendleton and Anthonie Knapp all made their first career starts at No. 20 Texas A&M. Even with injuries and young talent, the line was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award. • Mitchell Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury. A 2024 semifinalist for the Mackey Award, he played in eight games as a junior in 2023, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Throughout those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown during the season, averaging 14.6 yards per catch. • With Evans’ injury in 2023, Cooper Flanagan and Eli Raridon saw action in 2023, each scoring a touchdown, and will look to have an increased role in 2024. • Riley Leonard owns 34 rushing touchdowns for his career, ranking second among all active FBS quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns. He entered his senior season and first with Notre Dame coming off a Duke career as one of the ACC’s premier quarterbacks. • Steve Angeli made the most of his first career start in the 2023 Sun Bowl completing 15 of 19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns. Prior to that game, he went 19-for-25 passing with four touchdowns in seven relief appearances. • With the departure of NFL Draft pick Audric Estimé, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price are poised to lead the Irish running backs in 2024. Love has posted 11-straight games with a rushing touchdown.
TWO-DEEP TIDBITS – DEFENSE
• Joshua Burnham finished the 2023 season with 18 tackles, four tackles-fo-rloss and a sack. Junior Tuihalamaka appeared in all 13 games in 2023 while posting 10 tackles. • Howard Cross III established himself as one of the top playmaking interior defensive lineman in the country during the 2023 season, and continued his dominance in 2024. Donovan Hinish stepped up in relief of Cross when injured and put together an impressive showing through three starts. He appeared in nine games in 2023 and posted a career-best four stops in the win over Central Michigan. • RJ Oben transferred from Duke in the offseason with 34 career starts and 50 games played. Entering Notre Dame, he had posted 67 tackles on his career, with 14.5 sacks (loss of 91 yards), five forced fumbles, two passes defended and an interception. Bryce Young is now seeing time in the regular defensive line rotation and has made a significant mark on special teams, ranking second in the nation in individual blocked kicks (3). He is four-star true freshman and was an Adidas All-American as a high school senior. • Jack Kiser leads a linebacker room with young talent. A team captain and finalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy and the 2024 Wuerffel Trophy, Kiser holds the Notre Dame record for career games played. Jaiden Ausberry appeared in four regular-season games in 2023, preserving his eligibility. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is a highly-touted five-star linebacker who was a finalist for the high school Butkus Award in 2023. He posted a career-high seven tackles vs. Northern Illinois. Drayk Bowen has posted 54 tackles this season, second behind Kiser’s 64. He appeared in 12 games in 2023 (missing one contest with an injury) and recorded 14 stops and a forced fumble. See page 22 for more on Bowen. Jaylen Sneed appeared in all 13 games in 2023, totaling 14 tackles, five QB hurries and two PBU. • Jordan Clark joined the Irish from Arizona State with 22 career starts and 39 games played entering 2024. Throughout his college career, he has snagged four interceptions (one for a touchdown) and 164 tackles (118 solo) with 7.5 TFL and 24 passes defended. • Adon Shuler has posted three interceptions this season, one each against Texas A&M, Georgia Tech and Virginia. Starting each game in 2024, he showed his playmaking ability late in the 2023 season, posting all six career tackles in the final three games of the year. Luke Talich quickly established himself as a special team’s mainstay during his freshman season in 2023 and posted his first-career pick six vs. Florida State. • True freshmen Karson Hobbs, Leonard Moore and Kennedy Urlacher have impressed in preseason camp. Moore and Urlacher both garnered one four-star ranking through recruitment. Moore made his college football debut at No. 20 Texas A&M, and his first career start vs. No. 15 Louisville, leading the team with seven tackles. He also posted seven tackles in his second start, at Georgia Tech. Tae Johnson made his debut on the depth chart for Florida State week and saw his first game action after coming back from injury. • Christian Gray started his first-career game in the 23-13 win at No. 20 Texas A&M. He saw action in 12 games and made 11 tackles in 2023. He intercepted his first career pass against Pittsburgh and finished the year with a career-best three tackles in the Sun Bowl victory over Oregon State. • Xavier Watts is a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, Bednarik Award, Lott Trophy and Thorpe Award. Watts won the Nagurski Trophy in 2023 and was a unanimous All-American. Rod Heard II spent his prior career at Northwestern, where he amassed 31 starts and 46 games played with 182 tackles, 11 for loss, two sacks and two interceptions, as well as 10 passes defended, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Georgia Bulldogs Notes
Bulldogs Return To The CFP, Face Either Notre Dame or Indiana
After playing the nation’s toughest schedule per ESPN’s Football Power Index, second-ranked Georgia is battle-tested entering the College Football Playoffs (CFP) on a four-game winning streak. Georgia is 4-0 against the CFP field with wins over Texas (two), Tennessee and Clemson. After claiming its 15th SEC title in school history with a win over then No. 2 Texas for the second time this season, Georgia secured a bye to the CFP quarterfinals. The Bulldogs face either No. 5 Notre Dame or No. 8 Indiana in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025. In the CFP first round, the Irish played host to Indiana on Dec. 20. The Sugar Bowl winner advances to the semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 against the winner of No. 9 Boise State versus the No. 4 Penn State/No. 10 SMU first round winner. The CFP National Championship Game will be Jan. 20 in Atlanta. In school history, the Bulldogs are 3-0 against Notre Dame including a memorable 17-10 win over the Irish in the 1981 Sugar Bowl for the national championship. Then in 2017, Georgia edged Notre Dame 20-19 in South Bend and posted a 23-17 victory in Athens in 2019. The Bulldogs have never faced Indiana. Bulldog head coach Kirby Smart and IU head coach Curt Cignetti were part of Nick Saban’s Alabama staff from 2007-10. Georgia is 5-6 in the Sugar Bowl, the most recent appearance coming after the 2019 season when it defeated Baylor 26-14. That victory started a bowl/CFP winning streak that stands at seven.
Resilient Bulldogs Respond
Six times this season Georgia has not scored in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs are 5-1 in those games. In six games this season, Georgia has trailed at the half, and it is 4-2 in those contests. The biggest comeback in a win so far featured a 17-0 halftime deficit and then later a 14-point deficit with less than six minutes left in the 4th quarter, both against Ga. Tech. The Bulldogs stormed back for a 44-42 win in a school record eight overtimes. In the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs trailed #2 Texas 6-3 at halftime and 19-16 in overtime and rallied for a 22-19 win. Earlier this year, Georgia fell behind 28-0 in the first half at No. 4 Alabama, trailed 30-7 at halftime and then took a 34-33 lead with 2:31 left in the contest before falling 41-34. Georgia was the only SEC team to face Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and Ole Miss, the CFP’s highest-rated SEC teams after the Bulldogs. Georgia played six games against teams ranked in the committee’s final top 16, and it went 4-2 with only one of those game at home. Georgia has bounced back twice this season after tough road losses. With their 31-17 home win over No. 7 Tennessee on Nov. 16, the Bulldogs improved to 15-3 after a loss in the Kirby Smart era, and they haven’t lost back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016, his first year at the helm. In fact, the last nine times Georgia has lost a game, it has won its next contest. This year, then No. 2 Georgia lost at No. 4 Alabama and then beat Auburn the next week in Athens. The No. 3 Bulldogs lost at No. 16 Ole Miss on Nov. 9 and then responded against No. 7 Tennessee.
We’re In and We Know the Way
Georgia is making its fourth appearance in the CFP with a 4-1 mark. The Bulldogs have advanced to the National Championship Game thrice with two titles (2021-22). *Georgia is 4-0 against the CFP field this season with a pair of wins over Texas (in Austin and Atlanta) and one over Tennessee (in Athens) and Clemson (in Atlanta). *In the 2021 CFP, Georgia beat Michigan (Orange Bowl) and Alabama. In the 2022 CFP, the Bulldogs beat Ohio State (Peach Bowl) and TCU. *In 2017 and 2021, Georgia was the No. 3 seed. In 2022, the Bulldogs were the top seed. This year, Georgia is the No. 2 seed.
Etienne & Frazier Lead Backfield
Georgia’s top running backs are junior Trevor Etienne and freshman Nate Frazier. This tandem has combined for 1,205 yards and 17 touchdowns. *Etienne missed three games down the stretch due to injury and returned to start in the SEC Championship Game victory. Against #2 Texas, he ran for 94 yards on 16 carries with two TDs including the game-winner in overtime. Overall, he has made nine starts and has 571 yards (5.1 avg.) and nine TDs. *At #1 Texas in the regular season, Etienne had a team-best 87 yards and 3 TDs including one on 4th-and-goal from the 1. He tallied 55 rushing yards and one TD on 12 carries plus two catches for 11 yards at #4 UA. He had 124 all-purpose yards in the win over AU (88-rushing and 2 TDs, 36-rec. on six catches). *Frazier, who has appeared 12 games with three starts, leads the team with 634 yards and eight TDs. He made his first start in the win over #7 Tennessee and provided 68 yards on 19 carries (tied career high) and one TD. Frazier became the first Bulldog freshman tailback to start since 2014 when Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both did it. That year, Chubb started eight games while Michel’s first career start came in the Belk Bowl win over #20 Louisville. Frazier ran for a career-high 136 yards and three scores against UMass. He provided the game-winning conversion to beat Ga. Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes. *Frazier had a a career-high 19 carries for 82 yards and a TD in the win over UF and then had 12 carries for 47 yards at #16 Ole Miss. In the season-opening win over #14 CU, he registered 83 yards on 11 carries including a 40-yard scamper and his first TD. Redshirt junior Cash Jones has 12 carries for 31 yards on the year plus 22 catches for 238 yards including a 22-yard TD against UF. He posted career-high 53 yards receiving on four catches including a 25-yard TD in OT against Ga. Tech that made it 40-all. Also, he has four KOR for 58 yards. The longest Bulldog rush belongs to wideout Anthony Evans III (52 vs. MSU). Branson Robinson has missed the past six games with an injury while Roderick Robinson II made his 2024 debut versus Ga. Tech. *Then there’s freshman Dwight Phillips Jr., who had a memorable first carry. It resulted in a four-yard TD versus UF to make it 34-20. Against #7 UT, freshman Chauncey Bowens had five rushes for 7 yards plus had five carries for 31 yards against UMass.
Are We Punting? Nope.
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 64% success rate on 4th Down (81-for-126) with 14 TDs. This year, the Bulldogs rank 7th nationally in 4th Down Conversions with an SEC best 75% (18-for-24 with 4 TDs). *Faced with a 30-7 halftime deficit at No. 4 Alabama, Georgia attacked every drive in the second half with a four-down mentality. After going 1-for-1 on 4th down in the first half, Georgia went 4-for-4 in the second half to finish 5-for-5, the best under Smart. The Bulldogs came into the game 1-for-2. *Georgia was 2-for-2 on 4th Downs against AU and MSU. *Georgia was 1-2 with a TD at #1 Texas, and the score by Trevor Etienne capped an 11 play, 89-yard drive in the 4th quarter to make it 30-15. *The Bulldogs were 1-for-3 with a TD at #16 OM; 3-for-4 with a TD versus UMass, 1-for-2 versus Ga. Tech and 2-for-2 versus #2 Texas in the SECCG.
