Notre Dame dominates Indiana in College Football Playoff first round: Live reaction and updates
Riley Leonard leads the Irish past the Hoosiers in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.
Notre Dame rolls past Indiana. What’s next?
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 7 Notre Dame cruised past No. 10 Indiana 27-17 in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday night. The Fighting Irish advance to play No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
Two interceptions in the first three drives and a 98-yard touchdown run by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love got the first on-campus Playoff game off to a dramatic start. But the fireworks fizzled from there, particularly for the Hoosiers, until they finally reached the end zone twice in the final two minutes to shrink the margin of defeat. Still, Indiana was held to its second-lowest scoring output of the season and was held to 278 yards of offense to Notre Dame’s 394. Indiana gained just 63 yards rushing to Notre Dame’s 193.
There aren’t a lot of firsts at Notre Dame. This was one
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Thirteen hours before the first college football game of its kind, with snow lacquering everything and bitter cold keeping it there, the cars and trucks lined Angela Boulevard. Predawn arrivals seeking prime tailgating locations when the Notre Dame Stadium lots opened at 8 a.m. Hundreds of them, according to one attendant on duty. And, well, what would a historical moment for this sport be without a little embellishment?
Notre Dame can redefine itself vs. UGA
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Before Marcus Freeman could savor what Notre Dame football had just done, he was forced to look ahead to where the Irish were headed.
It was an only-in-college-football moment, where the head coach of a blue-blood program is presented a game ball by two bowl officials who had nothing to do with Notre Dame’s 27-17 victory over Indiana in the first on-campus game of the College Football Playoff era. Freeman obliged, accepting an invitation from two Sugar Bowl officials, which probably could have waited until Notre Dame had processed its performance on Friday night. It’s not like Notre Dame can head anywhere else.
Kiffin calls out CFP committee
No. 7 Notre Dame stymied No. 10 Indiana 27-17 in the first game of the expanded College Football Playoff on Friday night, much to Lane Kiffin’s dismay.
The Ole Miss coach made his discontent with Indiana’s place in the Playoff, and the largely dull matchup, known on X.
“Really exciting competitive game,” Kiffin said Friday night, tagging the College Football Playoff. “Great job!!”
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