Georgia's Smart defends 'aggressive' play calls that backfired in CFP loss - ESPN

NEW ORLEANS — Locked in a defensive struggle in which neither team gained 300 yards, Georgia coach Kirby Smart made an aggressive but ill-fated decision late in the first half of the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Right after Notre Dame took a 6-3 lead on a 48-yard field goal, Smart had untested sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton drop back to pass from his 25-yard line with 38 seconds left instead of running out the clock. Defensive end RJ Oben broke through for a strip-sack, and the Fighting Irish's Junior Tuihalamaka fell on the ball at the Bulldogs 13.

One play later, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard hit Beaux Collins for a 13-yard touchdown.

Just like that, No. 2 Georgia trailed 13-3 in a game in which every point was precious. The No. 7 Fighting Irish went on to win the College Football Playoff quarterfinal 23-10, ending Smart's bid for his third national title with the Bulldogs.

«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, and that's what everything says you should do,» Smart said. «You can't give up possessions when you're trailing. We felt like we had a little quick-game pass. Certainly not counting on getting beat that quick at left tackle, and got a sack-fumble, which gave them some momentum.»

Actually, the Bulldogs already had lost momentum. Their previous possession lasted all of 31 seconds — counting the punt.

Taking over at his 14 with 3:40 left in the half, Stockton threw three consecutive incomplete passes — the last two while scrambling away from pressure — giving Notre Dame time to move into field goal range.

But Smart continued to trust his struggling offense, even though Stockton had thrown