That said, the Irish had to fight hard against North Carolina to earn their fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season, 76-66. Then again, that should be expected in such a game.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish beat the Georgia Bulldogs 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Thursday in a quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame will face Penn State on January 9 in a semifinal game at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday that sends the third-ranked Fighting Irish into the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.