Sean Gallagher

There is still work to do.

Notre Dame still has to beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl and then defeat the winner of the Ohio State-Texas Cotton Bowl if they reach the national championship game in Atlanta later this month.

But for Notre Dame fans, especially younger ones like myself born after the 1988 national title, the 23-10 Sugar Bowl win over Georgia in the quarterfinals was a special moment.

Watching the Fighting Irish play in what are considered New Year’s Six bowl games have mainly been painful for me, only getting worse when I’d be nursing a hangover from the New Year’s Eve celebrations. There was no “Luck of the Irish”. Just Murphy’s Law.

Entering the Sugar Bowl, there was that dread that history might repeat itself. But that feeling disappeared as the 1st quarter continued. It was becoming clear that Notre Dame would be competitive for once in one of these prestigious bowl games, and might even win it. That felt more like a reality after the defense recovered a fumble up 6-3 before halftime, and the offense immediately striking for a touchdown to go up 13-3.

Victory felt more inevitable on the opening kickoff in the 2nd half, returned for a touchdown to go up 20-3, but still nervous that Georgia could come back.

While Georgia got a touchdown to pull within 10, Notre Dame’s defense remained poised, and the offense, while not having its best game of the season, got into field goal range to extend the lead, and then, led by Riley Leonard in the 4th quarter, milked the clock to the point where the Bulldogs would not have enough time to put together a comeback.

As one of those people that need to make sure the game is over, especially with Notre Dame, once it was locked up, there was a sense of joy and emotion I have never felt watching this team since I was a kid. One that almost brought me to tears, which sounds silly, but I’ve seen enough bad moments that have left me feeling despair (yeah, the Northern Illinois loss was one).

It was nice to enjoy the confetti and the postgame trophy ceremony, even if the traditional pomp and circumstance doesn’t matter in the new, 12-team Playoff, as the Irish still have to win two more games to get the trophy every team wants the most.

I’ve taken the time to enjoy it, but I’ll be back to being nervous come Thursday night when Notre Dame and Penn State kick off from the semifinal at the Orange Bowl.