They called it “Tressel Ball” at Ohio State, where Freeman was a linebacker from 2004-08. Under Jim Tressel, the Buckeyes won with defense, special teams and an offense that didn’t screw it up.JASON FITZ ON THE SUGAR BOWL

Isn’t that just what happened at the Allstate Sugar Bowl? No. 7 Notre Dame beat No. 2 Georgia 23-10 and advanced to the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl. The Irish (13-1) knocked out the Bulldogs (11-3) and will face No. 7 Penn State on Jan. 9 with a chance to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game.

“I knew this was going to be a 60-plus minute game because that team never stops,” Freeman said on the ESPN telecast. “That’s why they’re the Georgia Bulldogs, so we had to be aggressive. Defense did a heck of a job. All three phases did a heck of a job.”

Could that lead to a rematch with No. 8 Ohio State – a rematch from last year’s 17-14 thriller at Notre Dame Stadium – for Freeman and the Irish? That is skipping a step, which Freeman is sure not to do heading into the matchup with the Nittany Lions. But yes, the Irish can win a national championship in this manner.

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Irish build first-half lead with turnovers

Notre Dame had a plus-16 turnover margin coming into the game, and they forced two game-changing turnovers in the first half.

Irish safety Adon Shuler belted Georgia running back Trevor Etienne and forced a fumble at the Notre Dame 10-yard line, which Jaiden Ausberry recovered with 2:37 left in the first quarter.  With 33 seconds left in the half, RJ Oben strip-sacked Stockton, which Junior Tuihalamaka recovered. Riley Leonard hit Beaux Collins for a 13-yard TD on the next play.

Georgia also had an unfortunate mistake when backup cornerback Parker Jones bumped into an official during a 67-yard pass to Arian Smith for a 15-yard penalty. That turned a potential TD into a field goal.

The Bulldogs lost between 10-to-14 points on those three plays alone.

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton – playing in place of Carson Beck (elbow) – hit seven of his first eight passes. Stockton, however, took three sacks in the first half. He finished 20 of 32 for 234 yards and a touchdown, but the Irish allowed just three chunk plays in the passing game. Outside of a 32-yard TD pass to Cash Jones with 9:36 left in the third quarter, the Irish kept Georgia in front for most of the game.

Notre Dame special teams make difference

Notre Dame stretched the lead to 20-3 after a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown by Jayden Harrison on the first play of the second half.

That wasn’t the only special-teams win. Mitch Jeter – who was 6 of 12 on field goals before the College Football Playoff – connected on field goals of 44, 48 and 47 yards, respectively. He is 5 of 6 on field goals in the playoff.

Riley Leonard, Irish offense grind out win

Is Notre Dame’s offense good enough to win the national championship? That will be the question in a four-team field that features No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Penn State and No. 8 Ohio State. Basically, can Leonard keep up with the other quarterbacks and their offenses?

Leonard was 10 of 15 for 60 passing yards in the first half – and he had six carries for 50 yards. The rest of Notre Dame’s running backs had eight carries for 25 yards.

Freeman, however, kept going to Leonard – even after a failed fourth-and-1 with 5:42 left in the third quarter. Notre Dame took over after a failed fourth-and-5 by the Bulldogs with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter, and Leonard led a drive that milked more than seven minutes off the clock. That included inducing Georgia to jump offsides on fourth-and-1, and a third-and-7 scramble where Leonard went vertical for the first down.

Leonard finished 14 of 23 for 88 passing yards, 65 rushing yards. Jadarian Price (7 carries, 32 yards) and Jeremiyah Love (6 carries, 19 yards) struggled to get traction, and receiver Jordan Faison (4 catches, 46 yards) remains the best threat in the passing game.

The Irish beat the SEC champion by two scores despite nine penalties for 70 yards. That’s because Notre Dame had no turnovers and no game-changing mistakes that invited the Bulldogs in for a rally. Donovan Hinish – who replaced injured All-American defensive tackle Rylie Mills – closed the game with a sack.