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Kirby Smart had something to say to Sugar Bowl officials. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Georgia’s season is over after a 23-10 loss to Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, but the single moment that really ended them came with a little less than eight minutes in the fourth quarter.
Facing 4th-and-1 with a 23-10 lead, the Fighting Irish pulled their entire punt team and sent out their offense in a mad rush. Rules dictated that the Bulldogs must also be given the chance to respond with their own substitutions, which they did.
However, the ensuing confusion — with an official holding the ball until the defense was ready — led to two Georgia defenders jumping offsides. A long pass from Riley Leonard proceeded to fall incomplete, but the damage was already done in the form of a five-yard penalty.
It’s unclear if Notre Dame would have even snapped the ball had Georgia not jumped, but they happily took the first down and proceeded to burn so much clock that there were only two minutes remaining when they finally gave the ball back to Georgia. Smart was visibly angry on the sideline as it all played out.
Even though the Irish didn’t score on the drive, trimming more than five minutes of time with a two-score lead in the fourth quarter is about as good. Georgia had only one more drive for the rest of the game.
In his postgame news conference, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart complained that he had been told by officials in the SEC that an 11-man substitution, such as the one Notre Dame performed, was illegal.
“It’s really unfortunate because I’ve been told by our head officials in the SEC you can’t do that… you can’t run 11 on and 11 off.”
Kirby Smart addresses the substitutions made that caused the offside penalty against Georgia late in the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gGivrKbPTM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 3,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kirby-smart-complains-about-officials-allowing-notre-dames-11-man-substitution-on-critical-sugar-bowl-play-031323798.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2025-01-03 03:13:00
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