For the first time since 1991, Notre Dame and Indiana face off in a College Football Playoff game.

Currently, the Fighting Irish hold a strong 23-5-1 advantage over their in-state rivals. However, the Hoosiers may have a chance to come out on top in this high-stakes matchup.

Indiana secured its playoff position after an impressive 11-1 season, with their sole defeat coming against Ohio State late in the season. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke excelled, completing 202 of 287 passes for 2,827 yards, along with 27 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Similarly, Notre Dame also finished the regular season with an 11-1 record, rebounding impressively after an unexpected early loss to Northern Illinois.

The Fighting Irish’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, had a solid performance, completing 194 of 293 passes for 2,092 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Running back Jeremiyah Love contributed significantly, rushing for 949 yards and 15 touchdowns on 134 carries.

Weather could play a role in the game, as temperatures are forecasted to be in the upper 20s with possible snow.

Stay tuned for live updates and highlights from the College Football Playoff matchup:

Crucial Mistake by Indiana’s James Carpenter Aids Notre Dame

During the third quarter, Indiana’s defensive lineman James Carpenter made a significant blunder by pushing Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard, who was already stepping out of bounds, into an official near the sideline on a crucial third-and-4 play. This led to a personal foul call, moving the ball from the 24-yard line to the 12-yard line.

Notre Dame wrapped up this drive with a field goal, courtesy of Mitch Jeter, after Indiana’s defense managed to hold them outside of the end zone.

Jeter’s 33-yard field goal increased Notre Dame’s lead to 20-3 with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter. A trick play on fourth down failed, but Notre Dame benefitted when the officials recognized that Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti had called a timeout just in time. The Irish simply opted for the field goal instead.

Upcoming CFP National Championship 2025 Location

The 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship is scheduled to be held at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. This venue previously hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2018, where Alabama triumphed over Georgia 26-23.

Exciting Kickoff Return for Notre Dame

Although the subsequent drive stalled after three plays, Notre Dame surprised everyone with a creative kickoff return to start the second half.

Halftime Score: Notre Dame 17, Indiana 3

Just before the end of the second quarter, Mitch Jeter successfully kicked a 49-yard field goal, bringing Notre Dame’s advantage to 17-3 as they headed into halftime. The Fighting Irish defense nearly achieved a shutout in the first half, only allowing the Hoosiers to score a field goal late in the period.

In the first half, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard completed 11 of 17 passes for 87 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. He also rushed for 20 yards on five carries. Jeremiyah Love rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter, finishing the half with 91 yards on four carries. Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke completed 6 of 13 passes for 77 yards but was intercepted, giving Notre Dame more points soon after.

Notre Dame will receive the kickoff to start the second half.

Halftime Insights from Coach Curt Cignetti

Coach Curt Cignetti of Indiana emphasized the importance of Kurtis Rourke connecting on passes and enhancing the passing game for the second half. He acknowledged the defense’s struggle with missed tackles in the first half.

Indiana Settles for Field Goal: Score Update – Notre Dame 14, Indiana 3

With a fourth-and-4 situation, QB Kurtis Rourke and Indiana appeared ready to proceed, but then they opted for a timeout. Rourke remained sidelined afterward, and Coach Cignetti chose to attempt a 34-yard field goal, which was successful. Notre Dame led Indiana 14-3 with 3:26 remaining before halftime.

Who’s Indiana’s Offensive Coordinator?

Indiana’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Tino Sunseri, will not return next season, having just been appointed as UCLA’s new offensive coordinator to succeed Eric Bieniemy. He spent time in Los Angeles this week to meet with the team but will continue coaching Indiana throughout its playoff journey.

Sunseri played a vital role in recruiting Kurtis Rourke to Indiana. Rourke previously played five seasons at Ohio and was honored as the 2022 Mid-American Conference Player of the Year.

Notre Dame 14, Indiana 0: Jayden Thomas Scores Touchdown

With 12:52 left in the second quarter, Notre Dame capped off its second consecutive drive with a touchdown to extend its lead to 14-0. Quarterback Riley Leonard threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Thomas, marking only Thomas’s second touchdown reception this season. Mitch Jeter successfully converted the extra point.

This drive consisted of 16 plays covering 83 yards and taking 9:08 off the clock.

End of First Quarter: Notre Dame 7, Indiana 0

At the end of the first quarter, Notre Dame led Indiana 7-0. Jeremiyah Love had a notable 97-yard rushing performance.

Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke played two downs and gained 10 yards, scoring a touchdown on one of them. He completed just 1 of his 6 attempts in passes, totaling 28 yards, with one interception. Remarkably, he had only thrown four interceptions throughout the first 12 games of the season.

Notre Dame scores first with a 98-yard touchdown run

Notre Dame capitalized on Kurtis Rourke’s interception by converting it into points. Jeremiyah Love executed a 98-yard touchdown run, which is tied for the longest in the history of the program, matching Josh Adams’ run against Wake Forest in 2015.

According to NCAA’s David Worlock, Love’s run ranks as the second-longest in college football postseason history.

On the play, Love was nearly untouched as he made his way to the end zone.

Notre Dame forces a turnover

The Fighting Irish intercepted a pass, stifling Indiana’s initial momentum and positioning themselves closely to the goal line.

Indiana’s defense makes the game’s first turnover

Quarterback Riley Leonard’s attempted pass was deflected, landing in the possession of an Indiana defender, resulting in an interception.

Indiana begins on a snow-free field

Despite snow being a possibility in South Bend, the field was clear as kickoff approached. Notre Dame kicked off, and Indiana’s offense, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, took the field.

Indiana must contain Riley Leonard

Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti highlighted the necessity for their defense to limit Notre Dame’s quarterback, Riley Leonard, especially regarding his running ability.

When is the College Football Playoff game between Indiana and Notre Dame?

The College Football Playoff first-round game featuring No. 10 seed Indiana and No. 7 seed Notre Dame kicks off at 8 p.m. ET at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana.

How to watch Indiana vs. Notre Dame College Football Playoff game

The matchup between Indiana and Notre Dame will be broadcast live on ABC and ESPN.

You can watch live streaming on Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Enjoy Indiana vs. Notre Dame FREE with Fubo

Indiana vs. Notre Dame betting odds

As per BetMGM’s odds on Friday afternoon, Notre Dame is favored to take down Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

• Spread: Notre Dame (-6.5)
• Moneyline: Notre Dame (-275); Indiana (+220)
• Over/under: 50.5

CFP first-round predictions: Notre Dame vs. Indiana

YSL News: No. 7 Notre Dame to defeat No. 10 Indiana

Paul Myerberg expresses: “With a schedule that’s been considered relatively weak, Notre Dame goes unnoticed as a real contender. The Fighting Irish possess a well-rounded team across offense, defense, and special teams. Conversely, Indiana’s capacity to advance through the playoffs remains in doubt. Expect Notre Dame to restrain Kurtis Rourke and exploit the Hoosiers with the nation’s third-best rushing offense based on yards per carry.”

ESPN: Notre Dame holds a 70.4% chance to win

ESPN’s Matchup Predictor indicates that the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a 70.4% likelihood of outpacing the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff’s first round, as of December 13 (Friday).

The Sporting News: Notre Dame 28, Indiana 24

Bill Bender comments: “Indiana’s run defense, allowing only 2.5 yards per carry this season, faces a significant challenge from Notre Dame’s talented trio: Riley Leonard (721 yards, 5.8 ypc.), Jeremiyah Love (949 yards, 7.1 ypc.), and Jadarian Price (651 yards, 7.3 ypc.). Kurtis Rourke will challenge a defensive secondary that has been opportunistic for Notre Dame, and Indiana will need to establish its running game as well. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has had an exceptional season. Will it carry on against the Irish? Notre Dame has successfully covered in their last seven games, but this game will likely remain competitive.”

Fox Sports: Indiana takes the win

RJ Young remarks: “The Fighting Irish are faced with a formidable challenger in Indiana, who has defeated 10 out of their last 12 opponents by at least ten points and considers themselves the strongest team in Indiana. However, Al Golden’s defense has excelled, permitting only one team to score 35 points throughout the entire season.”

Bowl game forecasts

Here are the expert predictions from YSL News Sports for all college football bowl games.

All-time record between Indiana and Notre Dame

The Indiana Hoosiers have faced off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish a total of 29 times since their initial encounter in 1898. Notre Dame currently leads the historical series with a record of 23 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie.

In their last meeting in 1991, the Fighting Irish triumphed with a score of 49-27.

College Football Fix podcast

The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff is set to begin, featuring four first-round matchups across campuses, with one scheduled for Friday and three for Saturday.

While historical moments will occur on the field, two of Saturday’s contests will coincide directly with NFL broadcasts, potentially leading to disappointing viewership figures and sparking discussions about the future of the college football calendar. Additionally, the circumstances unfold amidst significant player movement through the transfer portal, affecting teams within the playoff.

This week’s College Football Fix features a talk with Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg about these issues and others.

Location of College GameDay for College Football Playoffs

“College GameDay” won’t be slowing down during the postseason. In fact, they are set to offer double the fun for fans. The show began airing on Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET in anticipation of the Indiana vs. Notre Dame game.

The GameDay team will return on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET from Columbus, Ohio, where No. 9 seed Tennessee faces No. 8 seed Ohio State at 8 p.m. ET in the last first-round game of the College Football Playoff.

Understanding the College Football Playoff Format

The College Football Playoff bracket features 12 teams, comprising the five highest-ranked conference champions selected by the CFP committee along with the next seven highest-ranked teams.

The top four ranked conference champions get seeding from one to four and automatically advance to the second round. The fifth conference champion will be seeded according to its ranking, or as the 12th seed if it falls outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Any non-conference champions that make the top four rankings will start their seeding from No. 5.

“As a result,” the CFP notes on its website, “the seeding could appear differently than the final rankings from the committee.”

College Football Playoff Bracket: CFP Schedule

The initial round of the College Football Playoff kicks off with one game on Friday, December 19, followed by three additional games on December 20.

All times are in Eastern Time

FRIDAY, DEC. 20

• Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 10 Indiana, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

SATURDAY, DEC. 21

• Game 2: No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 SMU, noon (TNT)
• Game 3: No. 5 Texas vs. No. 12 Clemson, 4 p.m. (TNT)
• Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee, 8 p.m. (ABC/ESPN)

Schedule for CFP Quarterfinals

The quarterfinal matches will take place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, featuring one game on December 31 and three on January 1. All games will be aired on ESPN.

All times are in Eastern Time

TUESDAY, DEC. 31

• Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. winner of Penn State/SMU, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1

• Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. winner of Texas/Clemson, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. winner of Ohio State/Tennessee, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
• Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. winner of Notre Dame/Indiana, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)

Schedule for CFP Semifinals

The semifinal matches will occur on January 9 and January 10, both broadcasting on ESPN.

All times are in Eastern Time

THURSDAY, JAN. 9

• Orange Bowl: Winner of Fiesta Bowl vs. Winner of Sugar Bowl, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

FRIDAY, JAN. 10

• Cotton Bowl: Winner of Peach Bowl vs. Winner of Rose Bowl, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Schedule for CFP National Championship Game

MONDAY, JAN. 20

• Game: Winner of Orange Bowl vs. Winner of Cotton Bowl
• Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

College Football Playoff Rankings

1. Oregon (Big Ten champion, No. 1 seed)*
2. Georgia (SEC champion, No. 2 seed)*
3. Texas (No. 5 seed)
4. Penn State (No. 6 seed)
5. Notre Dame (No. 7 seed)
6. Ohio State (No. 8 seed)
7. Tennessee (No. 9 seed)
8. Indiana (No. 10 seed)
9. Boise State (MWC champion, No. 3 seed)*
10. SMU (No. 11 seed)
11. Alabama
12. Arizona State (Big 12 champion, No. 4 seed)*
13. Miami
14. Mississippi
15. South Carolina
16. Clemson (ACC champion, No. 12 seed)**

*First-round bye; **Automatic

Adapting Bowl Seasons: The Future of College Football’s Postseason

This is a timely moment to reevaluate the current setup. By 2026, when existing contracts end, it is expected that the College Football Playoff will broaden to 14 teams. This change is likely to influence bowl games significantly, as there are currently 35 bowl games that are not affiliated with the playoff.

However, bowl season, despite its various challenges, is closely tied to ESPN’s December broadcast schedule. ESPN operates 17 of these games and holds agreements for most others. It may be difficult to persuade the dominant player in college football broadcasting that bowl games are no longer needed, especially since they draw more viewers during the holiday season than regular season games in the NBA, college basketball, or the NHL. — Dan Wolken

Read Dan Wolken’s complete column here

Ranking Bowl Games: Which Ones Stand Out?

Let’s start with a few assumptions. First, we will consider that all first-round playoff matches, along with quarterfinal and semifinal bowl games, are must-watch events and will not be included in these rankings. Additionally, while some pairings may seem enticing based on records and rankings, the quality of the games can change depending on the key players participating. We also acknowledge that personal interests may influence your excitement for specific matchups.

We aim to organize these games based on their entertainment potential, but circumstances could shift before kickoff. Click here for our watchability ratings for all 35 non-playoff bowl games. — Eddie Timanus

Top College Football Quarterbacks in the Transfer Portal

This year’s College Football Playoff sees half the teams utilizing a transfer quarterback, including the matchup between Indiana and Notre Dame on Friday night. Last year’s transfer group contained notable names like Kurtis Rourke from Indiana, Riley Leonard from Notre Dame, Dillon Gabriel from Oregon, Will Howard from Ohio State, and Cam Ward from Miami, with Gabriel and Ward being Heisman Trophy finalists.

The top quarterbacks available in this year’s transfer season may not shine as brightly but could still play a significant role in the 2025 season. Click here for our analysis and details about the leading QBs on the transfer market, including those who have already committed to new programs. — Paul Myerberg