Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish found the right balance of family and football to produce a memorable performance under unprecedented, emotionally trying circumstances.
Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame's defence made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday that sent the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
The triumph came in wake of a deadly terror attack in the host city of New Orleans early Wednesday —- the day the game was supposed to have been played. The first postponement of a Sugar Bowl in the event's 91-year history followed hours later.
"We spent some time together, and I think that's what you do in tough moments," Freeman said in recounting how the Irish handled their unexpected down time on Wednesday. "You want to spend time with family, and that's what we are."
Notre Dame (13-1, CFP No. 5) came through with enough big plays, avoided major mistakes and all but sealed it with a clever move by Freeman.
"Our coaches called the game aggressive. Our players executed, put everything on the line," Freeman said. "I'm really proud of them. Proud of the way they handled the events of the last 24 hours."
Georgia (11-3, CFP No. 2) was in position to close within one score when Notre Dame stopped the Bulldogs on fourth-and-5 from the Irish 9-yard line with 9:29 to go.
Minutes later, Notre Dame had a fourth-and-short deep in his own territory when Freeman sent the punt team out before running all 11 players off the field and sending the offence back out. Georgia raced to match up and then jumped offside as the play clock ticked down, giving
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