Welcome to the Morning Five, a collection of numbers you need to know before kickoff of tonight’s Sugar Bowl. Because everyone’s living life by the numbers, some of them just don’t realize it.
#1……2. That’s where Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard ranks on the team in both rushing yards (751) and attempts (135), right behind team leader and tailback Jeremiyah Love. The 6’4, 216 pound Leonard has also chipped in 15 touchdowns on the season. Leonard isn’t a “running quarterback” in the sense that Georgia Tech’s Haynes King is. Notre Dame isn’t going to run the power lead plays the Jackets did, but leans more heavily on zone reads. Busting that up will be among the critical jobs for the Bulldog defense.
#2…..0. That’s the total number of times that Bulldog freshman punter Drew Miller has kicked in a game during his collegiate career. That makes me nervous. I understand Miller was the top-ranked punter in the nation coming out of high school and has been repping in practice. But in a game this evenly matched the kicking game often looms large in the outcome. That makes me a bit nervous. Brett Thorson averaged over 47 yards per kick in 2024 and put Georgia among the top five teams in the nation in net punting. It’s no stretch to say Thorson may be harder to replace than Carson Beck.
#3….9. That’s Notre Dame’s rank nationally in opponent red zone scoring. The Irish have given up touchdowns on only 54.55% of opponent possessions inside the 20. That seems like a significant number for a Bulldog offense with a first time starter at QB. I don’t expect the Red and Black will get a ton of shots to score in this one. They absolutely must make those count by scoring touchdowns when the opportunity arises.
#4….11. That’s the number of fumbles the Irish have lost in 13 games this season. 0.85 fumble turnovers per game ranks them 66th nationally. If the ‘Dawgs could grab a loose ball or two to steal an extra possession here and there it would certainly be a huge help. Georgia, by the way, has lost only 5 of the 21 fumbles by Bulldog ball carriers this season, a true stroke of good luck. Let’s hope that continues as well.
#5…..1.23. That’s the Blue and Gold’s turnover margin on the season, good for an impressive 3rd ranking nationally. You’re going to win a lot of football games when you’re +1.23 in the turnover column. I suspect that if the Irish are +2.00 in the turnover column tonight it will be the end of the Bulldogs’ season. Until later…
Go ‘Dawgs!!!