NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Locked in a defensive struggle in which neither team gained 300 yards, Georgia coach Kirby Smart made an aggressive but ill-fated decision late in the first half of the Sugar Bowl. Right after Notre Dame took a 6-3 lead on a 48-yard field goal, Smart had untested sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton drop back to pass from his 25-yard line with 38 seconds left instead of running out the clock. Defensive end RJ Oben broke through for a strip-sack, and the Fighting Irish’s Junior Tuihalamaka fell on the ball at the Bulldogs 13. One play later, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard hit Beaux Collins for a 13-yard touchdown. Just like that, No. 2 Georgia (11-3, CFP No. 2) trailed 13-3 in a game in which every point was precious. The No. 3 Fighting Irish (13-1, CFP No. 5) went on to win the College Football Playoff quarterfinal 23-10, ending Smart’s bid for his third national title with the Bulldogs. “Typically when you’re down, you need every possession you can have, and we made a decision that we were going to be aggressive and we were going to try to go two-minute, and that’s what everything says you should do,” Smart said. “You can’t give up possessions when you’re trailing. We felt like we had a little quick-game pass. Certainly not counting on getting beat that quick at left tackle, and got a sack-fumble, which gave them some momentum.”
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jaxson Dart’s final college pass was a 69-yard touchdown that got him chewed out by coach Lane Kiffin on the sideline. It’s one the quarterback will never forget. Dart threw for 404 yards and four touchdowns in his final start for Ole Miss, leading the 16th-ranked Rebels to a 52-20 romp over Duke in the Gator Bowl on Thursday night. Dart connected with Jordan Watkins seven times for 180 yards and two scores, including the longest pass play of the night with 1:27 to play. Kiffin ripped him for it afterward. “I love him except for the last play when he checks to a pass play he’s not supposed to do,” Kiffin said. “He’s got to learn a little better class there.” Dart added 43 yards rushing, leaving EverBank Stadium with grass and dirt stains all over his red and white uniform. The senior never considered opting out of the bowl game. Instead, he helped the Rebels (10-3) make history. With the victory, Ole Miss notched double-digit wins in consecutive years for the second time in program history and the first since 1959-60.
NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt went through a miserable first four months last year, including a career-worst 0-for-32 slide that ended with a May 11 ninth-inning single to avoid his first five-strikeout game. “The feeling was just like, man, I’m better than this,” the former NL MVP said Thursday, three days after finalizing a $12.5 million, one-year contract with the New York Yankees. “But you got to go out and prove it. I mean, if you don’t perform, then you know you’re not going to be playing. And I think that’s just the truth in this game and in life.” A seven-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner, the 37-year-old first baseman left St. Louis and became part of the Yankees’ Plan B after they lost Juan Soto to the rival New York Mets. Coming off a World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Yankees also have added left-hander Max Fried, closer Devin Williams and outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 38 points, Max Christie had a career-high 28 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame Anthony Davis’ absence for a 114-106 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night. James hit a season-high seven 3-pointers and Christie added five for the Lakers, who have won six of eight. Austin Reaves contributed 15 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles hung on to beat Portland for the fifth straight time. Davis sat out for only the second time this season to rest his sprained left ankle, which the star big man hurt on Christmas. Point guard Gabe Vincent also sat with a hip injury. Anfernee Simons scored 11 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter for the Blazers, who have lost four of six. Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija added 19 points apiece.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS
Friday, Dec. 20
No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17
VRBO Fiesta Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 31
No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14
Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
Wednesday, Jan. 1
No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 2 OT
Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential
Wednesday, Jan. 1
No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21
AllState Sugar Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 2, 3 p.m. (rescheduled from Jan 1.)
No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10
Capital One Orange Bowl
Thursday, Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m.
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 7 Notre Dame
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Friday, Jan. 10, 6:30 p.m.
No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State