The stage is set perfectly for the first game of the expanded College Football Playoff. Notre Dame, a football powerhouse since the early 20th century, will face off against Indiana, a team that is making its debut on this national stage.

However, Indiana is not intimidated, especially after an impressive season under coach Curt Cignetti, finishing with 11 wins for the first time in program history. The only drawback is that they haven’t faced a team as formidable as Notre Dame, making them the ultimate underdog—or as some would say, a Cinderella story. Everyone loves a good underdog tale!

The atmosphere in South Bend promises to be electric, with chilly weather and possible snowfall surrounding the historic Golden Dome. Who will come out on top? Our experts share their thoughts.

Scooby Axson

Indiana’s story is inspiring, but which version of the team will we see? Will it be the one that overpowered weaker teams or the one that struggled against Ohio State? Notre Dame also has its playoff battles to overcome, and their defense should be enough to send the underdog home early. Notre Dame 31, Indiana 20.

Jordan Mendoza

Indiana has enjoyed a fantastic season, but they’ll be up against a defense that got tougher in the second half of the year. Despite Kurtis Rourke being able to exploit some weaknesses in the passing defense, he won’t lead a game-winning drive in the closing minutes. Notre Dame 30, Indiana 27.

Paul Myerberg

Notre Dame looks to be a dominant force and should secure a comfortable victory to move forward to the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Indiana has had difficulty against defenses of similar strength, and they need to manage turnovers to stand a chance in South Bend. Notre Dame 36, Indiana 17.

Erick Smith

Many fans who oppose Notre Dame are eager to see the Fighting Irish embarrassed on this national platform. The loss to Northern Illinois provides some encouragement to them and to Indiana. However, I expect a close match where strong defenses prevail in the frigid environment, but ultimately, the more talented team will prevail. We’ve seen similar scenarios with Indiana facing Ohio State. It will be close, but still disappointing for the Hoosiers. Notre Dame 24, Indiana 14.

Eddie Timanus

The motivation of being underestimated can be potent, and Indiana has faced continuous chatter regarding their lack of quality victories. They’re determined to showcase their talent against a team that has historically dominated Indiana football. Notre Dame will be prepared, but the Hoosiers might just pull off the first playoff upset. Indiana 31, Notre Dame 24.

Dan Wolken

The outcome of this game will likely hinge on performance at the line of scrimmage. Based on what I observed when Indiana faced Ohio State, it will be a challenge for them to protect Kurtis Roarke adequately to develop their offense. Notre Dame should come in focused and ready to dominate. Notre Dame 31, Indiana 10.