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The College Football Playoff quarterfinals on New Year’s Day feature a showdown between #3 Notre Dame and #2 Georgia—two storied programs whose paths have rarely crossed. In fact, they’ve met on the field only three times. One of those meetings, however, is etched in college football history and was also in the Sugar Bowl.
On January 1, 1981, Vince Dooley’s Georgia Bulldogs entered the game undefeated at 11-0 and ranked #1. Opposing them were Dan Devine’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 9-1-1 and ranked #7. It was Devine’s final game as head coach, with Gerry Faust already announced as his successor.
Notre Dame’s offense was led by running back Phil Carter and quarterback Blair Kiel, while the defense, allowing just 10.1 points per game, was anchored by linebacker Bob Crable, the program’s all-time career tackles leader.
Georgia’s offense revolved around one name: Herschel Walker. The freshman sensation carried the Bulldogs on his shoulders, even as the Irish dominated the game statistically, outgaining Georgia 328 yards to just 127. Irish defenders relentlessly pressured Georgia quarterback Buck Belue, who finished 1-of-12 passing.
Despite Notre Dame’s control of the stat sheet, Walker proved unstoppable. Capitalizing on short fields created by Irish turnovers, he carried the ball 36 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns, accounting for virtually all of Georgia’s offense. His heroics secured a 17-10 victory for the Bulldogs, clinching the national championship.
This week, the two programs return to the Sugar Bowl stage, with both teams vying for another shot at championship glory.