Following a tragic terror attack in New Orleans on New Year's Day, the 2025 Sugar Bowl was postponed to Thursday. A poignant moment of silence for the victims preceded the game, followed by resounding "USA" chants from both Georgia and Notre Dame fans. This display of unity through sport, however, was unseen by viewers of the exclusive broadcaster, ESPN. The network chose not to air the moment of silence, the patriotic chants, or even the national anthem.

A general view of the field before the game between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

This omission has drawn considerable criticism, particularly in contrast to the network's past coverage of athlete protests during the national anthem. OutKick reached out to ESPN for an explanation but has yet to receive a response.

An aerial overall exterior general view of Caesars Superdome, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in New Orleans.  (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)

The Daily Mail highlighted the largely negative reaction to ESPN's decision. This follows separate criticism of ESPN's reporting on the New Orleans attack, where the network referred to the incident as a "truck attack," seemingly minimizing the role of the perpetrator. This language echoes a similar incident in 2021 where CNN attributed the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy to a "car," downplaying the actions of the driver. ESPN continued to use the "truck attack" terminology nearly a full day later during a SportsCenter broadcast.

Police investigate a crime scene on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana on Wednesday, January 1, 2025. A driver plowed into crowds of New Year’s revelers and began firing a weapon in the early hours of the morning.  Kat Ramriez for Fox News Digital (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

It seems unlikely that ESPN will showcase highlights of the patriotic displays from the Sugar Bowl. Instead, the network is expected to resume its typical programming.