There’s a narrative line making the rounds that Notre Dame hasn’t received a serious bowl recreation in over 30 years. One of many so-called “New 12 months’s Six” video games, to be extra exact — Fiesta, Orange, Rose, Sugar, Cotton or Peach.
What a detrimental, nasty story line, particularly as a result of it’s, properly, all too true.
Notre Dame hasn’t received one in every of college football’s marquee bowl games since its 1993 staff edged Texas A&M 24-21 in a Cotton Bowl matchup of 10-1 groups. Lou Holtz and R.C. Slocum have been the coaches. Irish working again Lee Becton was the sport’s MVP. If there was a halftime act, there’s a reasonably good likelihood it was carried out in parachute pants. So way back, it’s all a haze now.
After all, this season’s Irish simply beat Indiana 27-17 within the first on-campus recreation of the brand new, 12-team School Soccer Playoff. However except No. 2 Georgia (-1½) vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (7:45 p.m. Wednesday, ESPN) ends in Sugar Bowl victory for the Irish in New Orleans, the nationwide takeaway would be the similar — Notre Dame nonetheless doesn’t fairly belong within the high tier of powerhouse packages.
There have been playoff losses, BCS losses earlier than that and different big-bowl losses alongside the way in which, and a matchup towards mighty Georgia — 53-4 during the last 4 years — affords an opportunity to successfully bury all of them prior to now.
So: Can the Irish (12-1) beat the Bulldogs (11-2)? There are a bunch of causes the reply is sure.
The largest of these is that Georgia’s NFL-bound quarterback, Carson Beck, received’t play after injuring his throwing elbow in an SEC championship win towards Texas. Redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton has an ideal title for a QB, however his throwing capability is suspect. He led three lengthy scoring drives and a game-winning landing drive in additional time to beat Texas, however his bodily abilities are nowhere close to Beck’s.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Good talked up Stockton in New Orleans.’
“The No. 1 factor a quarterback has to have is decision-making ability, [and] he makes actually good choices,” Good stated. “No. 2 factor for a quarterback is accuracy. Not essentially arm expertise, however accuracy. He has accuracy.”
The Irish, who lead the nation in turnovers compelled (29), defensive touchdowns (six) and move effectivity protection, want to feast on an inexperienced quarterback. Be careful for security Xavier Watts, who has 13 interceptions during the last two seasons, 4 greater than anybody else within the FBS ranks.
The Irish are plus-16 in turnovers this season, to Georgia’s plus-one. They’ve quarterback Riley Leonard — a college record-holder at his place with 15 dashing touchdowns this season — going towards a protection that has struggled towards cellular QBs. They’ve a working again in Jeremiyah Love who has hit paydirt in each recreation.
Georgia ranks No. 1 in schedule power, in line with ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index — 42 spots larger than Notre Dame — and reaching this level regardless of that’s to be admired. However what does a tricky schedule must do with, say, the Bulldogs’ season-long behavior of dropping passes? Nothing. It isn’t coach Kirby Good’s greatest staff and even near it, no less than not but.
Notre Dame has “stored the ache” ever since an astonishing September loss to Northern Illinois and remained on an incline.
“We’ve obtained to recollect it,” coach Marcus Freeman stated. “We’ve obtained to be these determined people that we have been after that loss.”
Good acknowledges a legit opponent when he sees one.
“You see how they play,” he stated. “You see the toughness they play with. The linebackers are downhill, thumping. The backs are elite. They’re constructed like an SEC staff — and I say that as an enormous praise.”
Nonetheless, is Notre Dame actually prepared for this? One other win would break the varsity file — and undoubtedly be the toughest one but. Irish break via, 24-23.
OTHER WEDNESDAY QUARTERFINALS
Peach: No. 4 Arizona State (+12½) vs. No. 5 Texas (midday, ESPN): No one gave the Solar Devils (11-2) an opportunity heading into their first Massive 12 season, so what did they do? They received the league. No one provides them an opportunity towards Texas (12-2), so what is going to they do? They’ll win this rattling recreation, too. Wait, no they received’t. Not even shut. What was I considering? Longhorns, 34-17.
Rose: No. 1 Oregon (+2½) vs. No. 8 Ohio State (4 p.m., ESPN): Firstly of the season, the Buckeyes (11-2) have been my decide to win the nationwide championship. After they misplaced by a degree to the Geese (13-0) on the highway in October, I assumed: These groups will meet once more within the Massive Ten title recreation, and the Buckeyes will get their revenge in a giant approach. That rematch didn’t occur, however right here it’s now — so why am I crammed with doubt? As a result of, frankly, the Geese have been the higher staff since that first assembly. Quack Assault, once more by only a feather — 35-34.
