Georgia has officially secured a spot in the College Football Playoffs, earning the No. 2 seed. The Bulldogs are set to face the winner of the matchup between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 10 Indiana. The College Football Playoff quarterfinal game will be broadcast on ABC at 8:45 p.m. ET on January 1 in New Orleans.
The Notre Dame vs. Indiana game is scheduled for December 20 at 8 p.m. ET, with Notre Dame playing at home as the higher seed. The first-round hosts for the playoffs also include Texas, Penn State, and Ohio State.
Having recently triumphed in the SEC Championship game against Texas with a score of 22-19 in overtime, Georgia will participate in the Sugar Bowl. The victory has granted the Bulldogs a crucial bye week which will provide additional rest and healing time, especially beneficial as they face injuries to key players like quarterback Carson Beck and punter Brett Thorson.
Outside linebacker Jalon Walker emphasized the importance of this rest, noting that it will allow the team to recuperate from a long season and prepare effectively for their upcoming game.
Georgia last battled Notre Dame back in 2019, while they achieved a historic victory in the 1981 Sugar Bowl against them, which contributed to their 1980 National Championship. Interestingly, this upcoming game against Indiana will mark Georgia’s first encounter with that team.
If the Bulldogs emerge victorious in the Sugar Bowl, they could potentially face off against one of SMU, Penn State, or Boise State in the Orange Bowl scheduled for January 9.
This playoff opportunity not only exemplifies Georgia’s hard work throughout the season but also sets the stage for exciting matchups ahead. With the team’s resilience and strategic preparation time, fans can remain hopeful for a thrilling postseason run.