The Community Notes feature on X is most commonly used to swat down false political claims, conspiracy theorists and the like. But Georgia head coach Kirby Smart endured the social media tool’s wrath on Thursday night.
Notre Dame defeated the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl, 23-10, thanks in part to a key sequence midway through the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth-and-one, the Fighting Irish lined up to punt, then suddenly rushed their offense back on the field. According to the rules, the Bulldogs had to be given a chance to substitute their defense back onto the field. They did just that, but after the mad rush to get set, a couple of Bulldogs jumped offsides, giving Notre Dame a first down.
Marcus Freeman just got Kirby Smart in a massive way.
Notre Dame played a game of “gotcha” pic.twitter.com/XQEiHTPYqK
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 3, 2025
Following the game, Smart told reporters he’s been told in the past that what Notre Dame did was illegal.
“It’s really unfortunate because I’ve been told by our head officials in the SEC you can’t do that, you can’t run 11 on and 11 off,” Smart said. “We did it in 2017 against Tennessee. We carried that, we practiced that and repped because teams try to do it, and were told by officials that you could not do that, so we were trying to say you couldn’t do that.”
“It’s really unfortunate because I’ve been told by our head officials in the SEC you can’t do that… you can’t run 11 on and 11 off.”
Kirby Smart addresses the substitutions made that caused the offside penalty against Georgia late in the game ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/gGivrKbPTM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 3, 2025
After Smart’s postgame comments were posted on X, Community Notes went to work.
“The NCAA rulebook states that you can’t substitute more than 11 players ‘while the ball is in play,'” read a Community Note.
“Replay shows the long snapper had not gotten set or touched the ball before the mass substitution, making it a dead ball and a legal play.”
So, Community Notes — and the NCAA rulebook — have spoken. Notre Dame pulled off a perfectly legal and quite clever move. Many fans found it funny Smart had been called out by Community Notes.
Kirby Smart getting community noted for not knowing the rules is hilarious.
Him having a close relationship with “head officials in the SEC” who he can chat about rules with however is very believable. Georgia would have won this game like many before if they had SEC refs here. https://t.co/s8iqcdhdA3
— SEC Exposed (@SEC_Exposed) January 3, 2025
Kirby getting community noted. 🤣 https://t.co/Vv9kLpASnw
— Darrell Dapprich (@dapp6410) January 3, 2025
