The No. 7 ranked Notre Dame team effectively neutralized the high-octane offense of No. 10 Indiana, securing a 27-17 victory that halted the Hoosiers’ impressive season during the first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff.

This victory propels the Irish into the Sugar Bowl, where they will face No. 2 Georgia in the playoff quarterfinals. Notre Dame was in control for the majority of the game, with Indiana scoring 14 points in the last 90 seconds after falling behind by 24 points.

As the higher seed hosting the opening playoff round in South Bend, the Fighting Irish physically dominated the game with 193 rushing yards, effectively leveraging the cold conditions that hindered both teams’ passing games.

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The game began spectacularly with a record-breaking 98-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love in the first quarter, setting a new mark for the longest carry in playoff history. This exemplified the Irish’s ability to penetrate Indiana’s defense, which had allowed fewer than 1,000 rushing yards all season.

Notre Dame averaged 5.5 yards per carry, while Love contributed significantly with 108 yards on 13.5 yards per carry. Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams added 56 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Riley Leonard faced challenges with Indiana’s pass rush, effectively managing only one significant play—a 44-yard completion to Jordan Faison that led to Notre Dame’s final score. He completed 23 out of 32 passes for 201 yards and accounted for two scores.

Kurtis Rourke from Indiana completed 20 of 33 passes for 215 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. The Hoosiers entered the matchup boasting an impressive 9.7 yards per attempt and the top quarterback efficiency rating in the FBS at 179.1.

Indiana totaled 278 yards on 61 plays, with much of that yardage accumulated during the game’s final moments when the outcome was already determined.

With this win, the Irish have now secured 11 consecutive victories after an unexpected loss to Northern Illinois in September. This season marks the fifth in their history that Notre Dame has achieved 12 wins, joining the ranks of 2018, 2012, 1989, and 1988.

This defeat concludes what has been a remarkable season for Indiana and head coach Curt Cignetti. Previously, the Hoosiers had never exceeded nine wins in a season, but this year they recorded an impressive 11-1 regular season, earning Cignetti national coach of the year honors.

While Indiana’s offense frequently scored over 30 points throughout the season, they faltered against tougher opponents like Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame, managing only 3.9 yards per play in those matchups compared to an average of 7.2 yards per play against other teams.

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