In a historic night for Notre Dame football, the Fighting Irish clinched their first-ever College Football Playoff victory, defeating Indiana 27-17 at the chilly Notre Dame Stadium. Jeremiyah Love made headlines by tying a Notre Dame record with an impressive 98-yard touchdown run, marking the longest run in College Football Playoff history.
The seventh-seeded Irish, now boasting a remarkable 12-1 record, built on their winning momentum by shutting down the high-scoring Indiana team. The Hoosiers finished with only 17 points, their second lowest of the season, mostly scoring late in the game when the outcome was already decided.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman expressed pride in achieving a milestone for the program, stating, “We’re the first group to play and win a playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium, so that’s something we’ll share for the rest of our lives.”
Early in the game, Indiana seized a brief lead with an interception, but Notre Dame quickly turned the tables by intercepting Hoosier quarterback Kurtis Rourke, leading to Love’s record-breaking touchdown. Following that, the Irish extended their lead with a 16-play drive culminating in a touchdown pass from Riley Leonard to Jayden Thomas.
Despite Indiana’s efforts, they were unable to regain control, as Notre Dame’s defense held firm, allowing only a single field goal until the final moments of the game. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti acknowledged Notre Dame’s dominance, saying, “They took it to us… They won, they deserved to win.”
With this victory, Notre Dame advances to the quarterfinals, where they are set to face No. 2 seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. While Georgia historically leads the matchup 3-0, their starting quarterback Carson Beck’s availability remains uncertain following an elbow injury.
Riley Leonard not only contributed to the scoreboard with a passing touchdown but also made history with a late rushing touchdown, setting a new record for most rushing touchdowns by a Notre Dame quarterback in a season. Overall, Leonard went 23 of 32 for 201 yards.
This season marked a remarkable turn for Indiana, which achieved a school record for wins despite finishing the season with disappointment. Coach Cignetti highlighted the team’s achievements under his leadership, stating, “This team accomplished things no other Indiana team did.”
As Notre Dame celebrates this landmark victory, the players and coaching staff look forward to representing their university further in the playoffs, embodying hope and determination as they aim for a national championship.
Summary: Notre Dame defeated Indiana 27-17, securing its first College Football Playoff win. Jeremiyah Love made history with a 98-yard touchdown run. The Irish will face Georgia in the quarterfinals, while Indiana concludes a record-setting season.