In an exciting development for college football, Indiana hosted the first-ever matchup of the newly structured 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday. Despite being separated by less than 200 miles, the histories between No. 7 seed Notre Dame and No. 10 seed Indiana were limited. In their initial clash, Notre Dame secured a decisive 27-17 victory at Notre Dame Stadium, propelling them into the playoff quarterfinals where they will meet No. 2 seed Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Led by quarterback Riley Leonard, who threw for 201 yards, scored a rushing touchdown, and set a Notre Dame single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, the Fighting Irish maneuvered through the game with relative ease. Leonard’s 1-yard hastily executed run in the game’s fourth quarter solidified Notre Dame’s commanding lead at 27-3 with just under five minutes left.
Jeremiyah Love was another standout player, achieving a remarkable 98-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, which is now noted as one of the longest runs in FBS postseason history. However, injuries cast a shadow on the Irish, limiting key player contributions during the game.
Defensively, Notre Dame stifled Indiana’s high-powered offense, which had been averaging over 40 points per game. The Hoosiers struggled throughout, eventually scoring two late touchdowns that contributed to the final score but did little to impact the outcome.
Despite the loss, Indiana made history this season under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, tallying a program-record 11 victories. They continue to seek their first postseason win since 1991, but this year’s achievement marks a step forward for the Hoosiers program.
The game ended with Indiana making one more push, scoring a late touchdown and recovering an onside kick but failing to convert on a crucial 2-point attempt, sealing their defeat against the determined Fighting Irish.
As college football moves forward into the playoffs, the focus now shifts to Notre Dame’s journey toward its first national championship since 1988, with hope and anticipation building among its loyal fanbase.
This game not only highlights the significant strides made by Notre Dame under Coach Marcus Freeman, but it also underscores the potential for Indiana’s resurgence in college football as they strive for more success in the coming seasons. The future looks bright for both programs as they build on their respective successes and challenges.