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SportsCasting
SportsCasting
Jeff Hawkins

CFP 12-Team Playoff Opener: Notre Dame Handles Indiana

Indiana (Organization) CFP Notre Dame Hoosiers Riley Leonard Kurtis Rourke ESPN Football FBS Jeremiyah Love

During Friday night’s debut of the CFP’s 12-team expanded playoff system, Notre Dame re-introduced the iconic program to its first playoff appearance since 2020, while Indiana expected to experience a coming out party. 

Entering the in-state rivals’ first meeting since 1991, the Hoosiers wanted to show off what new coach Curt Cignetti had created since taking over Nov. 30, 2023. After adding 30 transfers, outscoring teams by an average of 28.7 points per game, the highest differential in FBS, the Hoosiers registered an all-time best 11 wins. 

In the three previous seasons, the Hoosiers won a combined nine games.  

The Hoosiers’ new culture, however, didn’t carry over to the playoff opener as the Fighting Irish earned a 27-17 victory at a chilly Notre Dame Stadium. The Hoosiers scored twice in the final 3:23 to make the score respectable.

After claiming their first CFP victory, the Fighting Irish advance to face the SEC-champion Georgia Bulldogs in the  Sugar Bowl.  

X (Twitter) users reacted to the Hoosiers dropping the programs’ 30th all-time meeting and remaining winless in South Bend, Indiana, since 1898. Was the CFP opener a “dud” until the end? … 

Pregame conditions … 

For historical purposes, here’s the first 12-team playoffs coin flip …  

With Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke entering the matchup with a combined nine interceptions, both experienced early turnover problems, beginning with Leonard’s first pass attempt … 

Through the regular season, Rourke compiled 19 red-zone touchdown passes. He threw his first red-zone interception on the Hoosiers’ second possession … 

Following the turnover, Notre Dame didn’t take long to register the “first touchdown of the 12-team playoff.” Scoring on the first play of the drive, Jeremiyah Love’s 98-yard touchdown rush extended his streak of scoring at least once in all 13 games this season. He did it against the top run defense in the FBS … 

Love’s run marked the longest run in the CFP, matched the longest run in Notre Dame history and was the longest in the FBS this season …

How do you feel about Notre Dame breaking tradition … 

The Fighting Irish went up 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard scoring pass to Jayden Thomas with 12:52 left in the second quarter. It capped a 16-play, 83-yard drive covering 9:08. Both teams exchanged field goals to close out the first half … 

After Indiana decided to punt trailing by 17, Leonard’s walk-in score in the fourth quarter capped a nine-play drive that drained 5:44 off the clock, extending the Fighting Irish’s lead to 27-3. It also established a new program record for rushing TDs by a QB (15) … 

The Hoosiers finally scored with 1:27 remaining when Texas Tech transfer Myles Price extended the ball over the goal line following a 7-yard pass from Rourke. Elijah Sarratt caught the two-point conversion. They scored again after recovering the on-side kick, but it was too little, too late …

The Hoosiers entered the CFP first-round game averaging 43 points and 439 yards per game. Against the Fighting Irish’s defense, they accumulated 17 points and 278ards. One hundred and 26 yards came on their final two scoring possessions. At least two future Hoosier parents enjoyed Friday’s landmark contest … 

Final score: Notre Dame 27, Indiana 17 … 

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