Editors Note: Since the original publication of this article, ESPN has announced that the Sugar Bowl will now kickoff on Thursday, January 2nd, at 4 p.m. EST.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl between Notre Dame and Georgia has been postponed 24 hours. The announcement was made in the wake of a deadly terror attack in the French Quarter of New Orleans early on New Year’s Day. The game is now slated for Jan. 2 at 8:45 p.m. ET.
In a prepared statement, Jeff Hundley, chief executive officer of the Sugar Bowl Committee, indicated that the game has officially been postponed. It was originally set to kick off at 8:45 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day.
“All agree it’s in the best interest of everybody and public safety that we postpone the game for 24 hours,” Hundley said. The Sugar Bowl Committee is devastated by the terrible events from early this morning. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are in ongoing discussions with authorities on the local, state, and federal levels and will communicate further details as they become available.”
Sugar Bowl Winner to Face Penn State
The Sugar Bowl is the last of the four scheduled College Football Playoff quarterfinals. It is played at The Caesars Superdome, a short distance from where the attack took place. Both teams have been under shelter-in-place directives since early Wednesday morning. The winner of the Sugar Bowl will play Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 8. The updated scheduling will provide Penn State with a two-day rest advantage over the winner of the Sugar Bowl. Either Notre Dame or Georgia will have less than a week to prepare for the semifinal game in South Florida.
Notre Dame issued the following statement:
“Our prayers are with the family members and loved ones of all those impacted by the terrible attack in New Orleans this morning. We pray for all those injured and extend our deepest gratitude to the brave first responders who risked their lives to protect others. To be in solidarity with those who suffer is to exemplify the spirit of Notre Dame. Today, we are in solidarity with all those impacted by this tragedy,” wrote Rev. Robert A. Dowd, president of the University of Notre Dame.
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