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What Have We Learned About the College Football Playoff in Year 1 of the 12-Team Format?
The trends are undeniable: all four home teams won and advanced last week. However, this week, every team with a coveted bye fell short, leaving us with a wild set of schools vying for the national title. The standout closer of this round was the Allstate Sugar Bowl champion Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Under the leadership of Marcus Freeman and quarterback Riley Leonard, the Irish showcased great defense, poise, and sheer determination to secure their path forward. After what began as a challenging situation following the New Year's Day attack, Notre Dame’s triumph became one of the most compelling stories for one of college football’s most storied programs.
A Challenging Start
Fans wondered how events from 48 hours prior would impact the on-field performance, and early in the game, both offenses struggled to find the end zone. Geeorgia Bulldogs suffered from self-inflicted errors that repeatedly negated their significant plays. True freshman Gunner Stockton managed to orchestrate one scoring drive early in the third quarter, capped by a Woodring 41-yard field goal. However, Notre Dame’s resilience shone through as Riley Leonard and the Irish responded with two Mitch Jeeter field goals (44 and 48 yards, respectively). A pivotal moment came just before halftime when Stockton was sacked and stripped, allowing Leonard to throw his sole touchdown pass of the night: a 13-yarder to Collins, extending Notre Dame’s lead to 10 points at the half.
The Defining Play
Conventional wisdom suggested that Georgia, under Kirby Smart’s leadership, would mount a response as they have done consistently over the past decade. Instead, Jayden Harrison, Notre Dame’s kick returner, delivered a game-defining moment. Harrison returned the third-quarter kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, quickly turning a 10-point lead into a 17-point advantage and effectively sealing the game for the Irish.
Georgia’s offense made one last push, with Stockton finding Cash Jones out of the backfield for a 32-yard touchdown. However, points remained scarce for the remainder of the game as both defenses held strong. Crucial moments included pairs of fourth-down conversion attempts: Georgia extended one drive due to an encroachment penalty, while Notre Dame’s late substitution drew the Bulldogs offsides for a free play. The game’s defining image was a mixture of Notre Dame’s defensive line harassing Stockton and Riley Leonard’s spectacular cartwheel dive for a critical first down on the Irish’s final scoring drive. Mitch Jeeter’s 47-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter secured Notre Dame’s 27-17 victory and sent them to Florida for a showdown with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
Questions for Georgia
Georgia’s defensive game plan and execution raised significant questions. Throughout the season, including struggles against Alabama, Georgia Tech, and now Notre Dame, the Bulldogs consistently allowed big plays through C-gap and outside runs. Opposing ball carriers routinely gained four yards before contact, and Georgia’s tackling performance left much to be desired. As the Bulldogs face an unexpectedly long offseason, the focus will turn to whether they’ll address their shortcomings through the transfer portal or commit to developing Stockton as their starting quarterback.
A Triumph for Notre Dame
Full credit goes to the city of New Orleans for hosting an outstanding event and to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a well-deserved victory. Their defensive tenacity, strategic execution, and fearless play embodied the spirit of a championship contender. Next week, the Irish will face the Penn State Nittany Lions in what promises to be another thrilling matchup as the 12-team playoff continues to redefine college football’s postseason landscape.
