The stage is set, New Year’s Day, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the Georgia Bulldogs, and a Sugar Bowl battle to continue playoff dreams. This is an opportunity for the Notre Dame program to make a statement in a game they don’t typically win. There’s a lot on the line for head coach Marcus Freeman, both in the short and long term.

In order for the Irish to come out on top, there are four Notre Dame players who will need to be the best version of themselves on Wednesday night. It could end up being the difference between winning and losing, and you can bet these standouts will have a big part in whatever the end result ultimately is.

QB Riley Leonard

Notre Dame needs to be able to run the football against Georgia. If they are going to be able to make some big plays in the running game, the Fighting Irish need some semblance of balance. Quarterback Riley Leonard has been very important for the team’s 11-game winning streak. While the passing is still up and down, Notre Dame will need to be able to make a couple of chunk plays in the passing game.

Leonard also brings the unique dynamic with his feet. Georgia has not seen many, if any, quarterbacks that have this type of rushing ability. We haven’t seen the Irish utilize Leonard in the designed quarterback run game recently, but that could change against the Bulldogs. The offense could pull out all of the stops.

RB Jeremiyah Love

If Leonard does have a good day passing the football, that could lead to a huge day for Love. That could mean as a runner, but also as a pass receiver as well. Notre Dame hasn’t had a difference maker at running back like Love in a very long time. The 6-0, 210-pound runner is a dynamic weapon. He comes into the contest with 1,281 total yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging a stellar 7.7 yards per touch.

DT Howard Cross III

Heading into the Florida State game, Cross was the playmaker from the middle of the Irish defense. When he got hurt, Rylie Mills stepped up and took his game to a whole other level. Now that Cross is back healthy, it’s time for him to return the favor. The preseason All-American has recorded 21 tackles for loss and 11 sacks in his career. Cross will need to be up for the challenge against one of the best interior offensive lines in the country.

S Xavier Watts

Notre Dame has been without several of its top defenders at various times this season. All-American cornerback Benjamin Morrison has been out the second half of the season, while Cross also missed three games. Mills will now be absent for the rest of the season, and was pretty inconsistent early in the year. Throughout all that adversity, Watts has been a pillar of consistency for this defense.

The senior has recorded 59 total tackles, six interceptions, and nine pass breakups this season. When the team has needed a big play to be made, it has felt like Watts has been there to make it.

Georgia has a very talented trio of tight ends they utilize with Oscar Delp, Benjamin Yurosek, and Lawson Luckie. As a unit, they have recorded 58 receptions for 763 yards and seven touchdowns. The middle of the field is a spot Georgia is going to try to take advantage of, and Watts will have to be up for the challenge. 

If Notre Dame football is in the market for one more transfer portal WR, there’s an interesting name that is out there

Potential Notre Dame transfer portal target to watch.