Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CFP denies request to flip dates of semifinal games

The College Football Playoff semifinal games will be played as scheduled, despite a request for an alteration.

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey said on “The Paul Finebaum Show” on Thursday that he wanted the CFP committee to flip the dates of the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl.

His request came after the Sugar Bowl, in which Notre Dame defeated Georgia 23-10, was delayed one day after the truck attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people and injured dozens more.

Notre Dame moves on to meet Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Ohio State and Texas will play in the Cotton Bowl the following day for a berth in the national championship.

Per ESPN, Sankey was worried the winner of the Sugar Bowl could be at a disadvantage having two fewer days of rest and preparation time than Penn State, which played on New Year’s Eve.

But CFP executive director Rick Clark told ESPN on Friday the schedule will not change.

“We’re not going to flip the games,” Clark said. “The concession we made with the athletic directors was to start the Sugar Bowl earlier — an 18-hour or so delay. We slipped the game 18 hours to ensure we could provide safety and security for teams, coaches, staffs, fans and others involved. (New Orleans) and Sugar Bowl officials were amazing.”

Sankey told Finebaum that the “incredible horrible tragedy” in New Orleans warranted consideration of a change of dates.

“Sometimes just like within a game you have to adapt you have to adjust,” Sankey said.

Clark said such a change would have a wide-ranging impact.

“Logistics are very complicated, disruptive to the other teams involved that have schedules in place, especially Texas and Ohio State,” he said. “Fans have made arrangements already and this creates issues for them. There’s more, but these are some of the major points.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins (5) celebrates after scoring a touch down during the second quarter against Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Notre Dame stymies Georgia at Sugar Bowl, moves on to CFP semis

NEW ORLEANS — Jayden Harrison had a record kickoff return for a touchdown, Notre Dame’s defense dominated and the No. 7 seed Fighting Irish defeated No. 2 seed Georgia 23-10 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Thursday.

The Irish’s Riley Leonard passed for just 90 yards but threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins and rushed for a game-high 80 yards in a game that was postponed from Wednesday night because of the terrorist attack that took place in the French Quarter earlier that day.

Notre Dame, 13-1 after winning its 12th consecutive game, will face No. 6 seed Penn State in a semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9 in Miami.

Sophomore Gunner Stockton made his first start at quarterback for the Bulldogs (11-3) in place of Carson Beck, who suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the SEC championship game. Stockton completed 20 of 32 for 234 yards with one touchdown.

Notre Dame scored the game’s first touchdown with 27 seconds left in the first half and extended its lead to 20-3 when Harrison returned the second-half kickoff a CFP-record 98 yards for a touchdown.

Stockton threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Cash Jones to trim the lead to 10 points at the end of the third quarter.

On the third play of the fourth quarter Mitch Jeter kicked a 47-yard field goal to push the lead to 23-10. The Bulldogs had a chance to make it a one-score game, but Stockton threw an incompletion on fourth-and-5 from the Irish 9.

The game was scoreless through one quarter. Peyton Woodring kicked a 41-yard field goal for Georgia and Jeter kicked a 44-yarder to tie the score.

Jeter added a 48-yarder to give Notre Dame a 6-3 lead with 39 seconds left in the half. On the next play, RJ Oben forced Stockton to fumble while being sacked, Junior Tuihalamaka recovered for the Irish and Leonard and Collins teamed on their touchdown to give them a 13-3 halftime lead.

–Les East, Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; A general view of the 2024 Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal game logo before the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Washington Huskies at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Sugar Bowl to be held amid heightened security

The Sugar Bowl will take place as scheduled Wednesday night amid heightened security following the deadly truck attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Police Commissioner Anne Kirkpatrick confirmed that there will be increased police awareness at the Superdome for the College Football Playoff game between Georgia and Notre Dame.

Early Wednesday morning, a driver “hell-bent on creating the carnage and damage that he did” drove his pickup at high speeds through the crowds on Bourbon Street, killing 10 people and injuring at least 35, Kirkpatrick said.

“It was very intentional behavior,” Kirkpatrick said. “This man was trying to run over as many people as he could.”

Explosive devices were found on the scene, according to multiple reports, and New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a “terrorist attack.” The FBI said it was investigating it as an act of terror.

Authorities said the male suspect exited his truck with an assault rifle and opened fire on police officers before he was killed by return fire. At least two officers were shot and wounded, officials said. The suspect has not yet been identified.

Wednesday night’s CFP quarterfinal between the No. 2 seed Bulldogs (11-2) and No. 7 Fighting Irish (12-1) is set to kick off at 8:45 p.m. ET.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) looks to throw a pass during overtime of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

No. 2 Georgia, with new starter at QB, faces No. 7 Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl

Georgia has had more time than Notre Dame to prepare for their College Football Playoff quarterfinal game in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday night in New Orleans.

And that will come in handy for a team turning to an inexperienced quarterback with the season on the line.

Sophomore Gunner Stockton will start for the No. 2-seeded Bulldogs (11-2) against the No. 7-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) after Carson Beck underwent season-ending surgery to repair an elbow injury suffered in the second quarter of the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7.

Stockton replaced Beck and completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with an interception in Georgia’s 22-19 overtime win against Texas. The victory solidified a playoff bye and extra preparation time for the Bulldogs, though they didn’t know their opponent until almost two weeks later when Notre Dame advanced with a 27-17 first-round playoff victory against Indiana on Dec. 20 in South Bend, Ind.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the extra time helped Stockton by giving him added reps with the first team, though the Bulldogs’ game preparation was limited until they knew their opponent.

“I think the biggest thing (for Stockton) is just competition and practice, the situations we put him in,” Smart said. “All those things allow him to get better as a quarterback.”

Stockton has completed 25 of 32 passes for 206 yards and no touchdowns this season, with one interception. Freshman Nate Frazier leads the running game with 634 yards and eight TDs on 129 carries.

Irish coach Marcus Freeman said he and his staff have “80-something plays” of Stockton to study.

“He can run their offense,” Freeman said. “He does things a little bit differently. He can extend plays with his legs; he’s a good athlete. The thing I probably noticed most about him, he’s an ultra-competitive individual.”

Smart downplayed the possibility that Stockton’s running ability will lead to much difference in the Bulldogs’ game plan.

“We are who we are,” Smart said.

The flip side to the break between games is that Georgia will have had the equivalent of 3 1/2 byes while Notre Dame stayed sharp by winning its 11th consecutive game.

“It’s really just hard to manage how you keep your players in football shape and game shape,” Smart said. “Do you lose some rhythm? You watch it most times in bowl games, people that have those long breaks, it can affect how you play.”

Notre Dame, like fellow first-round winners Penn State, Ohio State and Texas, is adjusting to playing back-to-back postseason games as part of the 12-team CFP.

“Obviously, this is a first for me,” Freeman said. “You almost prepared for this first round like it was maybe even a bowl game-ish-type opportunity. But then you realize once the game was over, you get back to preparation. …

“In the playoffs, you’ve got to prepare in a way that gives your program the best opportunity to win. Put everything on the table and then, if you’re able to get the outcome you want, you’ve got to go right back to preparation.”

The Irish will go through the rest of the season without defensive tackle Rylie Mills because of a knee injury he suffered against Indiana.

“The value (Mills) provided this team is tremendous,” Freeman said. “And he’s done an excellent job as a football player and a leader.

“You’ve got to replace what he did for our defense in different ways. We have capable guys that will step up, that have stepped up all year that we’re very confident in.”

Mills had 7 1/2 sacks this season, and he and preseason All-American Howard Cross III helped the defense overcome the loss of another preseason All-American, cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who sustained a season-ending hip injury in October.

Cross missed the final three regular-season games because of a high ankle sprain but returned against Indiana.

On offense, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard has thrown for 2,293 yards and 17 touchdowns against six interceptions, and Jeremiyah Love averages 7.4 yards per carry, posting 1,057 rushing yards and 16 TDs on 142 attempts.

–Field Level Media

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) goes down after a hit on this trowing shoulder during the first half of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

Georgia QB Carson Beck has shoulder surgery, out for CFP

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck underwent elbow surgery Monday and will not play in the College Football Playoff, the school announced.

Beck had successful surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right (throwing) elbow. He saw Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles for the procedure.

That leaves Gunner Stockton in line to guide No. 2 seed Georgia into the CFP, starting with the Bulldogs’ quarterfinal game against No. 7 seed Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl Jan. 1 in New Orleans.

“(Stockton) got lots of reps prior to these practices, but he’s getting much more now,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said earlier in the day. “I do think … when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time, and we have time.”

It also means Beck may have played his final game of college football, as before the injury he was expected to be a high pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Beck, the Bulldogs’ starter all year, missed most of the second half of the Southeastern Conference title game with the injury. Stockton helped guide the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win over Texas and clinch a first-round bye in the first 12-team playoff.

Beck threw for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season, his second as Georgia’s starting quarterback.

Stockton has amassed 206 passing yards, no touchdowns and one interception in three appearances this season.

–Field Level Media

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) remains on the ground at the Washington Huskies defense, including cornerback Dominique Hampton (7) celebrate stopping a play in the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semi-finals at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 1, 2024. The Texas Longhorns take on the Washington Huskies for a spot in the College Football Playoff Finals.

No. 2 Washington hangs on to defeat No. 3 Texas in Sugar Bowl

NEW ORLEANS — Second-ranked Washington rode the precision passing of record-breaking quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to the lead and then held on in the final seconds for a 37-31 win over No. 3 Texas on Monday in the Sugar Bowl to earn a berth in the College Football Playoff final.

The Huskies (14-0) will face No. 1 Michigan in the national championship game on Jan. 8 in Houston. Michigan defeated No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in overtime in the day’s first national semifinal.

Penix, a Heisman Trophy finalist, passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns, and Dillon Johnson scored twice on short runs for Washington, which won its 21st straight game. Rome Odunze had 125 yards on six catches, and Ja’Lynn Polk added 122 receiving yards and a touchdown on five receptions.

“He (Penix) set the tone pretty quickly and just made all the throws,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. “Obviously there’s other people that have to make the plays as well, but he just was so, so good with his feet in the pocket, resetting and making throws. Doing the things that we know he’s capable of doing. And with a good defense like we were facing in Texas today, he had kind of resorted to all the tools that he has and all the skill sets that make him special.”

Washington broke away from a 21-21 tie at halftime by dominating the third quarter, keeping possession for 12:39 while outgaining Texas 157-34. The Longhorns ran just five offensive plays in the quarter.

“When we fell behind, it kind of stressed what we wanted the do,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We made uncharacteristic errors and they hurt us throughout the game. The resiliency this team showed in the fourth quarter to have an opportunity to win the game is indicative of their character.

“This doesn’t just happen. We worked hard to be in this position, but someone wins and someone has to lose.”

Quinn Ewers passed for 318 yards and a touchdown, and Texas (12-2) ran for 180 yards but could never take the lead.

The Longhorns had a final possession that began at their own 31 with 45 seconds left and no timeouts, but they drove to the Washington 12 with 15 seconds left. They lost 1 yard on a first-down pass, and then threw three straight incompletions as Washington prevailed.

“We believe in the defense and that they were going to get that stop because they’ve done it all year. We’ve seen it so many times each and every week throughout the season,” Penix said. “You know they would come up with big-time stops — we never lost faith.”

The Huskies scored on their opening possession, using a 77-yard pass from Penix to Polk to set the table for a 2-yard touchdown run by Johnson four minutes into the game. Texas responded on its ensuing possession with a 5-yard scoring run by Jaydon Blue that tied the game at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter.

Washington retook the lead on a 1-yard run by Johnson with 13:08 to play in the second quarter.

The Longhorns answered three minutes later with a 1-yard run by defensive tackle Byron Murphy II after a muffed punt by Washington’s Germie Bernard was recovered by Texas’ Morice Blackwell Jr. at the Washington 22.

Penix found Polk for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 1:27 to play in the half to give the Huskies a 21-14 lead. That gave the Longhorns enough time to drive the field, with Ewers scrambling 21 yards and absorbing a late hit to set the table for a 3-yard touchdown run by CJ Baxter with 17 seconds left before halftime.

Washington added a 19-yard Penix-to-Jalen McMillan scoring pass to make it 28-21 on the opening possession of the third quarter. Grady Gross added a 26-yard field goal midway through the quarter to expand the Washington lead to 10 points.

“The defense did a nice job getting off the field, whether it be with takeaways or, you know, get stops,” said DeBoer. “I think we started feeling that there in the second quarter, and in the beginning of the third, getting a chance to have the ball to come out. Marching right down the field and then go to get in that 10-point lead — that was a big time of the game for us to be able to be a little bit more control.”

Gross added a 40-yarder on the second snap of the fourth quarter to make it 34-21.

The Longhorns pulled to within six points on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Adonai Mitchell with 7:23 to play, but Washington drove to a 27-yard field goal with 2:40 left.

Texas’ Bert Auburn made it 37-31 with a 25-yard field goal with 1:09 on the clock.

“If you look back at the entire season, you understand how hard we worked,” Ewers said. “We will continue to work on ways to get better and continue to build.”

–By Steve Habel, Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas State Wildcats running back DJ Giddens (31) runs the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Jordan Battle (9) during the first half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Young throws five TDs, No. 5 Alabama trounces No. 9 Kansas State

Bryce Young threw five touchdown passes and No. 5 Alabama overcame a slow start to rout No. 9 Kansas State 45-20 in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Saturday in New Orleans.

Young completed 15 of 21 passes for 321 yards and the Crimson Tide (11-2) scored 35 consecutive points to take command after falling behind 10-0.

Deuce Vaughn rushed for 133 yards and a touchdown and Will Howard passed for 210 yards, but was intercepted twice for the Big 12 champion Wildcats (10-4).

Kansas State tried to regain the momentum by starting the second half with an onside kick, but Alabama recovered. Three plays later Young threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Corey Brooks for a 28-10 lead.

On the ensuing possession Brian Branch intercepted Howard, giving the Tide the ball at the Wildcats’ 17-yard line. On the next play Jase McClellan produced Alabama’s only rushing touchdown from 17 yards out for a 35-10 lead.

Kansas State’s Ty Zentner kicked a 28-yard field goal and Young threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Prentice for a 42-13 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Alabama’s Will Reichard kicked a 49-yard field goal and the Wildcats’ Jordan Schippers ran 1 yard for a touchdown to complete the scoring.

Zentner’s 41-yard field goal and Vaughn’s 88-yard touchdown run, the second-longest in Sugar Bowl history, gave Kansas State its early lead.

Young connected with Jahmyr Gibbs for 60 yards to the Wildcats’ 9, setting up his 6-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Bond. That left Kansas State with a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

A 47-yard pass from Young to Jermaine Burton set up Young’s 1-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Latu for a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter.

On the ensuing possession the Wildcats converted two third downs and two fourth downs to reach the Tide 2 late in the second quarter, but on fourth-and-goal Howard threw an incompletion.

Alabama drove 98 yards in seven plays, the last of which was Young’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Burton with 10 seconds left, giving the Tide a 21-10 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA;  Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) waves to fans as he leaves the field after defeating the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

No. 5 Alabama, No. 9 K-State have plenty to prove in Sugar Bowl

Alabama fell short of its annual expectation of being in the College Football Playoff.

Kansas State exceeded all expectations by winning the Big 12 championship.

The No. 5 Crimson Tide (10-2) and the No. 9 Wildcats (10-3) enter the Sugar Bowl on Saturday afternoon from different perspectives, but both teams say that being a warm-up for the CFP doesn’t diminish the importance of their game in New Orleans.

“This is not something that is not important to us,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “We have a lot that we can prove in this game.”

The Tide and the Wildcats kick off ahead of the CFP semifinal clashes as No. 3 TCU plays No. 2 Michigan and No. 4 Ohio State challenges No. 1 Georgia.

Alabama, which was ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll, can show that perhaps it should have been included in the playoff on Saturday. The Tide’s losses both came on the final play of the game against Tennessee and LSU, both of which were highly ranked at the time.

“It hasn’t gone as we wanted to this season,” running back Jahmyr Gibbs said. “So, we’re trying to finish the season off right.”

Quarterback Bryce Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, and star defender Will Anderson have said they will play in the Sugar Bowl, but 15 Alabama players have entered the transfer portal, per 247Sports.

Five of the departing players are offensive linemen and five more are wide receivers, leaving the Tide thin at those spots.

“We’re going to play a really good team that plays sort of old-fashioned, tough, very disciplined, well-coached,” Saban said. “So there’s not any way to make it easy to prepare for a team like that.”

Kansas State was unranked to start the season and didn’t enter the rankings until after it improved to 3-1 with a 41-34 victory at Oklahoma on Sept. 24. But it has remained ranked ever since and secured the Sugar Bowl berth with a 31-28 overtime victory against previously unbeaten TCU in the Big 12 title game Dec. 3.

“It didn’t even feel real for the first few days,” offensive lineman Hayden Gillum said. “It’s a surreal feeling and it’s special but we’ve got a great opportunity coming up and we’re gonna make the most of it, too.”

The Wildcats have not had any opt-outs and star running back Deuce Vaughn said he won’t decide about whether to leave early for the NFL until after the Sugar Bowl.

“The Sugar Bowl has been a game that I’ve wanted to play in since I was a little kid,” Vaughn said. “Everybody wants to finish the thing the right way.”

Alabama is favored by nearly a touchdown, but Kansas State has exceeded expectations all season.

“People are saying (the Tide) are having a down year for them and the fact that it’s a down year and they’re still ranked No. 5 tells you enough about Alabama,” Wildcats quarterback Will Howard said. “We get to measure ourselves against the best and we feel like we’re one of the best too.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) drops back to pass as offensive lineman Tyler Steen (54) blocls against the Auburn Tigers at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 49-27. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Alabama QB Bryce Young, LB Will Anderson to play in Sugar Bowl

Alabama coach Nick Saban confirmed to reporters Friday night that quarterback Bryce Young and linebacker Will Anderson will play in the Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 rather than opt out to prepare for the NFL draft.

The Crimson Tide had no players opt out of the bowl game, according to Saban.

Young is projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, and Anderson, considered among the best defensive prospects available, is expected to be a high selection as well.

More players in recent years have chosen to sit out bowl games to protect their bodies and, in turn, their draft stock. Saban framed Young’s and Anderson’s decisions as team-first moves.

“I think it sets a great example for guys that respect their teammates,” Saban said, “want to be a part of their team, know the impact that they can make, the value that they can make, that they can create for themselves by playing well against good competition. I’m extremely proud of these guys. We’re gonna support them in every way that we can.”

Alabama (10-2) missed the SEC championship game and finished No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the first team out of the playoff field. The Crimson Tide will face Big 12 champion Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl.

Young, the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner, has followed up a breakout season by completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,007 yards, 27 touchdowns and five interceptions thus far. Anderson, at one point considered the likely No. 1 draft pick in 2023, has tallied 51 tackles, 10 sacks and a pick-6 this season.

–Field Level Media