Kirby Smart Breaks Down Notre Dame and Marcus Freeman Before Sugar Bowl Clash

Notre Dame has never beat Georgia in three all-time meetings

Georgia coach Kirby Smart takes the field with his team before the start of the SEC championship game against Texas in Atlanta, on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. / Joshua L. Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

When Notre Dame and Georgia meet in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day night, it'll be a battle built on physicality.

Georgia has been the short list of teams being the standard in college football in recent years, winning national championships in both 2021 and 2022. The Bulldogs are fresh off an SEC Championship and the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff.

Kirby Smart has led Georgia since 2016 took the Georgia program from being a very successful one to a downright great one. Smart spent time this week discussing Notre Dame's physicality and Marcus Freeman's fast rise in the coaching ranks.

Kirby Smart on Notre Dame vs. Georgia Matchups in 2017 and 2019

Sep 9, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and wide receiver Mecole Hardman (4) take the field for the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

“I don't remember them as a team; the games, obviously stand out,” Smart said. “Both one score, fourth quarter, really physical games. You know, (the) physicality, I see when I watch Notre Dame play is pretty incredible. On both lines of scrimmage. The way they play, the style of play they have.”

Kirby Smart Scouts Notre Dame Football Team Ahead of Sugar Bowl

Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates with head coach Marcus Freeman after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Notre Dame Stadium. / Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

"...this is a really good, solid, fundamentally‑sound, don't beat themselves, play good defense, great defense, and really physical on the lines of scrimmage, and they got a really athletic quarterback,” Smart said of Notre Dame's Riley Leonard. “There's a reason why they're at the point in the season that they're at."

Kirby Smart on Notre Dame Head Coach Marcus Freeman

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after winning the first round of the College Football Playoff 27-17 against Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

“He's an up‑and‑coming riser for a long time,” Smart said. “And to get that job, I mean, the national exposure, the national brand of Notre Dame is really incredible. And for him to take that over at that age, manage that, and have success and really go through some tough times. I mean, doesn't come without criticism to be a head coach, but to do it at that age at Notre Dame is pretty special. And he's obviously done a great job. He's got great presence and command about him.”

Notre Dame vs. Georgia Latest Betting Odds

Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Thomas (83) and quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrate a Thomas touchdown during the first round of the College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and Indiana on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Latest Sugar Bowl betting odds courtesy of FanDuel:

Point spread: Georgia -1.5
Total: 44.5
MoneyLine: Georgia -128, Notre Dame +106

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