An Indiana Hoosiers football team that dominated Big Ten competition for the majority of the season came crashing back down to Earth as they fell 27–17 to Notre Dame in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The loss was nowhere near as close as the score indicates. The Fighting Irish held a 27–3 lead over the Hoosiers until the final two minutes of the game, when Indiana scored two touchdowns and converted an onside kick.
As the game fourth quarter wound down, criticism grew surrounding Indiana's inclusion in the CFP, particularly Indiana making the new 12-team format over teams like Alabama, Ole Miss and Miami.
