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Takeaways: Notre Dame outclasses Georgia in milestone win
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Takeaways: Notre Dame outclasses Georgia in milestone win

It was Marcus Freeman, not two-time national title coach Kirby Smart, who pushed all the right buttons Thursday at the Sugar Bowl.

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Matt Fortuna
Jan 03, 2025
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Takeaways: Notre Dame outclasses Georgia in milestone win
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Photo: Getty Images.

Marcus Freeman was fired up. He stepped on to the field, fist-pumped twice, mouthed “C’mon,” then high-fived Jordan Clark as he came off the field.

Did you miss it? It happened after the second-half opening kickoff return touchdown that gave his Notre Dame team a commanding lead. It happened before his defense came up with another third down stop.

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It was a simple timeout call by Georgia before that stop, but it prompted a reaction from Freeman not unlike the one he had one round earlier when Indiana had to waste a second-half timeout.

Notre Dame is going to the College Football Playoff semifinal, courtesy of a 23-10 win over Georgia. Penn State awaits these Irish in the Orange Bowl in one week. Notre Dame is going in large part because this Irish staff, led by Freeman, out-coached Kirby Smart, owner of two national title rings.

Here are some early takeaways from the Irish’s first major bowl win in 31 years:

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