Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) controls the ball during the first quarter against Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser (24) at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

If you love defensive struggles, the second quarter of the Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia was much like the first. The only difference points actually were scored. Fortunately for the Irish, they scored far more and hold a 13-3 halftime lead.

Big offensive plays by both teams resulted in nothing more than field goals on their first full possessions of the quarter. For a while after that, nothing else of consequence happened.

The Irish then had a nice drive near the end of the first half that allowed Mitch Jeter to kick the go-ahead 48-yard field goal.

Just when it seemed the Irish would take a 6-3 lead into the locker room, RJ Oben sacked Gunner Stockton, who coughed the ball up to Junior Tuihalamaka. On the very next play, Riley Leonard hit Beaux Collins for the game’s first touchdown from 13 yards out.

Either team can win, at least at this stage in the contest. All that matters for these teams is surviving this game and moving onto the Orange Bowl against Penn State. Both sides have 30 minutes to prove they deserve that privilege, but the question is whether the winner deserves to play beyond that.

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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame vs. Georgia: Second-Quarter Analysis