Riley Leonard Guides the Irish to Victory Over the Hoosiers in the First Game of the 12-Team College Football Playoff Era.
Photo by Justin Casterline / Getty Images
By Pete Sampson, Joe Rexrode, and Seth Emerson
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 7 Notre Dame defeated No. 10 Indiana 27-17 on Friday night in the opening game of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Fighting Irish advance to face No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
The game got off to an exciting start with two interceptions in the first three drives and a 98-yard touchdown run by Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love. However, the intensity dwindled after that, particularly for the Hoosiers, who only managed to score twice in the final two minutes to narrow the deficit. Despite the late surge, Indiana was held to its second-lowest point total of the season, finishing with just 278 yards of offense compared to Notre Dame's 394. The Hoosiers rushed for only 63 yards, while the Irish gained 193 on the ground.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard completed 22 of 32 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown, adding another 30 yards and a score on the ground. However, it was the Fighting Irish defense that truly stood out, limiting Indiana's typically high-powered offense throughout the game.
The Athletic’s Analysis:
Notre Dame’s Defensive Mastery
Defensive coordinator Al Golden crafted nearly a perfect game plan, applying early pressure on Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke and never allowing him to settle in. The defensive line played a key role, with Howard Cross returning from an ankle sprain to dominate Indiana’s offensive line. Even though Notre Dame lost defensive tackle Rylie Mills and defensive end Bryce Young to injury during the game, it hardly mattered.
Indiana, which boasted the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense at 43.3 points per game during the regular season, had no chance to break through.
This performance erased any doubts following Notre Dame’s struggles against USC three weeks ago, where they were torched through the air before finishing the game with back-to-back pick-sixes. There were concerns then about the Irish’s reliance on underclassmen in the secondary and a pass rush that seemed to be losing steam, but Saturday’s performance was a statement that Notre Dame’s defense is still elite.
Indiana barely threatened Notre Dame, highlighting just how dominant the Irish defense was. While the team will face a significant test against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and injury concerns linger, Notre Dame’s defensive performance in its final home game suggested it has a national championship-caliber defense. — Sampson
Indiana’s Impressive Season, But Limitations Exposed
Indiana’s 11-1 record and College Football Playoff berth were well-earned, and Curt Cignetti’s team doesn’t need to apologize for either. The Hoosiers dominated much of the season against a schedule that appeared more challenging than it turned out to be. But losses to Ohio State and Notre Dame revealed the limitations of their offense, particularly the offensive line, which struggled against elite defenses.
In the 38-15 loss to Ohio State and the matchup with Notre Dame, quarterback Kurtis Rourke faced relentless pressure, often missing key throws when he had the rare opportunity to survey the field. Indiana’s offense, which had been formidable all season, simply couldn’t handle the intensity of top-tier defenses.
It was a remarkable, historic season for Cignetti and the Hoosiers, but it ended with a reminder that building a true national title contender in just one year is a tall order for a program of Indiana’s stature. — Rexrode
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