Georgia's Kirby Smart Catches Heat for Decision That Led to Notre Dame TD in Loss

Points were at a premium in Thursday's Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame, with two impressive defenses holding the opposing offenses to just nine points on three total field goals in the first half ... until disaster struck for the Bulldogs right before halftime.

The Fighting Irish took a 6–3 lead with less than a minute left in the first half on Mitch Jeter's second field goal of the game. Rather than run out the final 40 seconds to take things to halftime, Georgia coach Kirby Smart tried to be aggressive with his backup quarterback in for the injured Carson Beck, and it backfired in a significant way.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton fumbled on a sack by Notre Dame's RJ Oben, with Junior Tuihalamaka recovering the ball at Georgia's 13-yard-line. Riley Leonard found Beaux Collins for a 13-yard touchdown on the next play, pushing ND's lead to 13–3. The Fighting Irish eventually won, 23–10.

Notre Dame forces another Georgia fumble and finds the end zone on the next play! #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/95Vy8yS1Wj
— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2025

Smart explained his decision to ESPN's Laura Rutledge as he headed to the locker room for halftime.

"Well, I would say that we tried to be aggressive in [our] two-minute [offense], and probably regret it," Smart said. "... We want to show confidence in our quarterback and let him go play. We didn't get the block we needed to get, and they made a good play."

Smart, one of college football's best coaches, and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo are catching some serious heat for the call.

Kirby Not-too-Smart with some brilliant game management in this final minute. #SugarBowl
— Zach Ewing (@zewing) January 2, 2025

If I was Georgia, I would have taken it to the half there. Chance of something bad happening was far higher than something good.
— Curt Weiler (@CurtMWeiler) January 2, 2025

So many bad coaching decisions by Mike Bobo led to the Notre Dame TD:

1. Why are you throwing there with a backup QB vs the best secondary in America?

2. Your LT has been smoked all half. Why aren’t you leaving help to pick up Oben?

3. If you throw, why not something quick?
— Neil W. Blackmon (@nwblackmon) January 2, 2025

Bobo got greedy.

Georgia will have to overcome a halftime deficit in the third consecutive game.
— Connor O'Gara (@cjogara) January 2, 2025

Not sure if Kirby Smart has his presentation ready for his Nike COY clinic talk yet, but… he could just show the last three minutes of this to show how to not manage end of a half with an inept QB against an offense you’re dominating
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) January 2, 2025

Stockton, who got the start in place of the injured Carson Beck, has played fairly well, completing 9-of-14 throws for 146 yards, though 67 came on a deep ball to Arian Smith. Georgia's offense hasn't found any success on the ground, with just 10 yards on 19 carries. while Leonard has exploited the Bulldogs' defense's susceptibility to mobile quarterbacks with 50 of his team's 75 rushing yards.

The winner of Thursday's game will face Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9.