The College Football Playoff quarterfinals wrap up on Thursday with the Sugar Bowl matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame.

The game has been pushed back a day due to a terrorist attack early Wednesday in the French Quarter of New Orleans, as classified by the FBI.

Before the game, Georgia’s head coach Kirby Smart spoke with ESPN’s Marty Smith, describing the last couple of days in New Orleans as emotional.

“It’s been tragic. It’s heartbreaking to think about the loss of life and the overall safety we expect in our country,” Smart shared with Smith. “I want to express my gratitude to the first responders who have done phenomenal work to keep the city secure during these times. Our players are eager to play the game they love, and thankfully they have that chance today.”

Smart further commented, “There are matters in life that surpass football. At times, we become engrossed in our own experiences and fail to appreciate the everyday blessings that allow us to compete in football and face off against esteemed teams in the CFP quarterfinals. Feeling gratitude often alleviates a lot of the pressure we might feel.”

ESPN’s Molly McGrath also reported that both teams underwent a “lockdown” in their hotels for most of Wednesday until it was deemed safe to head to the stadium for their late-night walk-throughs.

Smith also inquired whether the postponement of the game might affect how Smart’s team performs against Notre Dame on Thursday.

“It will change certain things. We frequently adapt to prepare for situations like this. Our group is incredibly resilient, and I anticipate that resilience will shine through today.”

The victor of the Sugar Bowl will move on to compete against No. 6 Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl scheduled for January 9.