The college football quarterfinal playoffs Allstar Sugar Bowl game opened on Thursday with a moment of silence for the people killed in New Orleans following a terror attack in the city before the game was set to take place on New Year’s Day.

In several videos posted on X, fans inside the Caesars Superdome paused for 60 seconds and bowed their heads for the 15 people killed and dozens more wounded after a terrorist with an ISIS flag drove a truck through a crowded Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day.

It was just before the Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish players took the field for the coin flip and subsequent kickoff at 4:00 p.m. ET. The bowl game was postponed after it was initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday night.

Before the game, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said that he’s “convinced” New Orleans is “safe” following the terror attack, as The Daily Wire reported.

In an appearance on “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning, Landry was asked if he is concerned about more potential threats to New Orleans after Wednesday’s terror attack carried out by 42-year-old Texas native and Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar.

“I think one of the most important things is to make sure that each one of those victims did not die in vain. All of them had come to the city in order to enjoy the city, in order to enjoy some entertainment and ring in the new year,” the governor said.

“Y’all had a guest earlier who was an eyewitness, who said the same thing is that: We can’t live in fear. We need to be able to live our lives,” he added. “And what we plan to do is ensure that as we remember those folks, that we put New Orleans back in a position where people can come and have a good time. We believe that the city – I’m convinced that the city is safe.”

During pregame warmups, Georgia coach Kirby Smart described the Bourbon Street attack as “saddening and scary,” ESPN reported.

“Things are bigger than football out there,” Smart said. “Sometimes we get caught up in our own selves and our own moment and you lose sight how blessed we are every day to have the opportunity we have to play football and to play in a CFP quarterfinal game against a historic program. A lot of times when you have gratitude, it takes away a lot of anxiety.”

The winner of Thursday’s Bowl game will take on No. 6 Penn State in the CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 9, the outlet noted.

Zach Jewell contributed to this piece.

Related: Louisiana Governor Says He’s ‘Convinced’ New Orleans Is ‘Safe’ Ahead Of Sugar Bowl

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The college football quarterfinal playoffs Allstar Sugar Bowl game opened on Thursday with a moment of silence for the people killed in New Orleans following a terror attack in the city before the game was set to take place on New Year’s Day.

In several videos posted on X, fans inside the Caesars Superdome paused for 60 seconds and bowed their heads for the 15 people killed and dozens more wounded after a terrorist with an ISIS flag drove a truck through a crowded Bourbon Street on New Year’s Day.

It was just before the Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish players took the field for the coin flip and subsequent kickoff at 4:00 p.m. ET. The bowl game was postponed after it was initially scheduled to take place on Wednesday night.

Before the game, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said that he’s “convinced” New Orleans is “safe” following the terror attack, as The Daily Wire reported.

In an appearance on “Fox & Friends” Thursday morning, Landry was asked if he is concerned about more potential threats to New Orleans after Wednesday’s terror attack carried out by 42-year-old Texas native and Army veteran Shamsud-Din Jabbar.

“I think one of the most important things is to make sure that each one of those victims did not die in vain. All of them had come to the city in order to enjoy the city, in order to enjoy some entertainment and ring in the new year,” the governor said.

“Y’all had a guest earlier who was an eyewitness, who said the same thing is that: We can’t live in fear. We need to be able to live our lives,” he added. “And what we plan to do is ensure that as we remember those folks, that we put New Orleans back in a position where people can come and have a good time. We believe that the city – I’m convinced that the city is safe.”

During pregame warmups, Georgia coach Kirby Smart described the Bourbon Street attack as “saddening and scary,” ESPN reported.

“Things are bigger than football out there,” Smart said. “Sometimes we get caught up in our own selves and our own moment and you lose sight how blessed we are every day to have the opportunity we have to play football and to play in a CFP quarterfinal game against a historic program. A lot of times when you have gratitude, it takes away a lot of anxiety.”

The winner of Thursday’s Bowl game will take on No. 6 Penn State in the CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Florida, on January 9, the outlet noted.

Zach Jewell contributed to this piece.

Related: Louisiana Governor Says He’s ‘Convinced’ New Orleans Is ‘Safe’ Ahead Of Sugar Bowl

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