Notre Dame Beats Georgia in Sugar Bowl with Beck Out as Fans Praise Irish's CFP Run

Notre Dame is one step closer to appearing in a national championship game for the first time since 1988.

The Fighting Irish claimed a 23-10 win over Georgia in Thursday night's Sugar Bowl to earn a spot in the national semifinal.

Notre Dame improves to 6-0 against ranked teams in Marcus Freeman's third full season with the team.

Only Penn State now stands between the Fighting Irish and a spot in the national championship game.

Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton helped Georgia open scoring in his first start following Carson Beck's season-ending elbow surgery.

The game turned when the Fighting Irish answered with 10 points on consecutive plays late in the first half.

Notre Dame followed up a field goal with a strip-sack of Stockton at Georgia's 13-yard line to put the ball in the hands of Riley Leonard.

Leonard finished off the drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Beaux Collins.

Georgia then put the second-half kickoff in the hands of Notre Dame wideout Jayden Harrison, who returned the ball 98 yards for a touchdown.

College football fans were impressed by the Fighting Irish's depth as the roster prevailed despite losing players including Howard Cross III and Jeremiyah Love to apparent mid-game injuries.

Georgia's quarterfinal exit means that conference champions who earned a first-round bye will finish the first 12-team CFP with an overall 0-4 record.

Oregon, ASU and Boise State were already bounced from their respective matchups before the Sugar Bowl took place on Thursday night.

The Sugar Bowl was originally scheduled for Wednesday. The game was postponed after at least 15 people were killed in New Orleans early on New Year's Day in what is being investigated by the FBI as a terrorist attack.

Notre Dame will take on Penn State in the Orange Bowl next Thursday with a trip to the national championship game on the line.