With Rylie Mills out, Notre Dame faces a tough test against Georgia. Explore strategies, key players, and adjustments for the big game.

The No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs (11-2) face the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-1) in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana in the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. Opening

Now, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame have the chance for a program-validating win on New Year’s Day in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have been the standard of excellence in college football recently.

With the Fighting Irish being the "away" team at the neutral site in New Orleans, the traditional white uniform and gold pants combination would be most likely. It can be reasonably anticipated that Georgia will wear red, leaving Notre Dame with a good amount of creative freedom if it chooses to stray away from white.

The Bulldogs have dominated the all-time series against the Irish, even though the past two on-campus matchups came down to the very end.

The conclusion of the first-ever on-campus game in the College Football Playoff has set the stage for our first quarterfinal matchup in the new 12-team format. Notre Dame will advance to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan.

Marcus Freeman has had an interesting journey in his short tenure as the head man at Notre Dame. There have been some really terrific and encouraging bright spots, but also many letdowns and head-scratching moments as well.

It's hard not to look ahead to Jan. 1 because the Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia is a chance for Notre Dame football to change its perception.

The Georgia Bulldogs have their opening College Football Playoff game coming up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day. Head coach Kirby Smart has coached many big games before this.