Georgia – Confetti doesn’t typically fall after regular-season victories, and it had been decades since Notre Dame won a postseason game of this magnitude. But in the aftermath of their stunning 23-10 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia, Freeman wasn’t holding back.
“Let’s celebrate this,” Freeman said with a smile. “And make it Notre Dame navy, not Georgia red.”
Despite the excitement, Freeman was quick to turn his attention to the next challenge, which would be even tougher.
Penn State stands as the next formidable opponent in the Orange Bowl. Forget Georgia’s dominance of the last three seasons—Penn State had outperformed the Bulldogs this year and now stands as one of the best teams in college football. The Big Ten has solidified its status as the nation’s top conference, and Penn State is the perfect representation of that rise.
Notre Dame’s win over Georgia was no fluke. The Irish didn’t just defeat the Bulldogs—they overpowered them. Freeman’s team displayed unmatched physicality, taking Georgia to task in a way few could have predicted.
“It was a heavyweight fight,” Freeman remarked, and his team delivered a knockout blow. After a fierce opening half, the Irish came out swinging in the second, with Jayden Harrison’s 98-yard kickoff return propelling them to a 23-10 lead, marking three touchdowns in under a minute of game time.
As impressive as their victory was, the road ahead only gets more difficult.
Notre Dame’s triumph over Georgia wasn’t just a historic win; it was a statement. It signaled that the Irish are a force to be reckoned with under Freeman’s leadership. And now, they face a true test in Penn State.
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“Notre Dame is elevating,” linebacker Jack Kiser said. “We’re ascending.”
Freeman’s postseason record is a perfect 4-0, but prior to Georgia, the Irish had only beaten smaller teams like South Carolina, Oregon State, and Indiana. Beating Georgia elevated the program to the big leagues.
Despite Georgia’s struggles this season, their reputation and dominance in the SEC made this victory feel like a historic one for Notre Dame, especially since it was their first “Big Six” bowl win since the 1994 Cotton Bowl under Lou Holtz.
But while the celebration is justified, the challenge against Penn State looms large.
Playing Penn State will be like looking in a mirror for Notre Dame. Both teams excel in defense, run the ball effectively, and avoid turnovers. However, Penn State boasts quarterback Drew Allar, whose passing game could present a challenge that the Irish’s offense doesn’t replicate. Notre Dame has relied on their ground game and defense, and in the win over Georgia, they only had 90 passing yards. But the Irish used their defense and ball control to dominate.
“Notre Dame just out-physicaled us,” said Georgia defensive back Dan Jackson. “They took the ball away twice and never turned it over themselves.”
The Irish have been disciplined with ball control, improving significantly after their early-season struggles. They’re now +18 in turnover margin for the season, and Penn State isn’t far behind at +5 in the playoff alone.
“We know it’s going to be a great challenge, but I’m excited for it,” Freeman said, eager to face Penn State and earn a spot in the national championship.
If they manage to defeat the Nittany Lions, Freeman will likely see another round of confetti—but this time, it could lead to even bigger celebrations.
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