Notre Dame pulled back and ran into a kicker penalty to open the Sugar Bowl.

It was a difficult start for me. Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Georgia on Thursday.

The Fighting Irish begins Sugar Bowl With back-to-back penalties on defense and another on quarterback Riley Leonard on Notre’s Dame’s opening drive.

Notre Dame defensive lineman Bryce Young, 30, tried to block a punt by Georgia punter Drew Miller, 90, during the first half of the College quarterfinals. Football Playoff on Thursday, January 1, Oct. 2, 2025 at New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Bryce Young, a true freshman defensive lineman, was called upon to run into a kicker penalty after colliding with Drew Miller, Georgia gambler The first resulted in a 5-yard penalty, but the second penalty was denied.

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Things aren’t looking much better in Notre Dame’s drive.

Leonard was called for an illegal pass after he attempted two passes. His first pass was deflected by Georgia junior Mikel Williams after he caught a pass that ricocheted out of Williams’ hands. Leonard then attempted another incomplete pass.

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame quarterback Passes a pass as he is pressured by Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, 11, during the first half of a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on Thursday, Jan. 1, Oct. 2. 2025 in New Orleans (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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The game was tied 0-0 after the first quarter. Georgia’s defense limited Notre Dame to 24 yards in the first quarter. Leonard completed just one pass for 14 yards. The two teams traded field goals in the second quarter.

Notre Dame players will take the field before the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Georgia on Thursday, Jan. 1, Oct. 2, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

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The Sugar Bowl is being played in the Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday. It was postponed a day after the Bourbon Street attack that left at least 15 people dead and dozens more injured.

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