Notre Dame Routs Indiana in First Game of Playoff

Photo by Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame (11-1), as the No. 7 seed, defeated 10th-seeded Indiana (11-2) in the first game in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff by a score of 27-17. The game occurred in South Bend, Ind. on Dec. 20 in sub-freezing temperatures. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ran 98 yards for a touchdown to score the first points of the playoffs late in the first quarter. That score gave the Fighting Irish all the fight they needed to come out the victor,

Indiana at Notre Dame

The game started as a defensive battle, with Notre Dame forcing Indiana to punt to end the game's first drive. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard threw an interception to end the Irish's drive. Not to be outdone, Indiana QB Kyle Rourke was picked off by Xavier Watts to end Indiana's second drive of the game.

After the interception, Notre Dame took the lead with a 98-yard touchdown run by Love. The Irish wouldn't look back outscoring the Hoosiers 13-3 in the second and third quarters.

Coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers made the fourth quarter interesting by scoring 14 points and recovering an onside kick. Indiana never gave up but their efforts proved fruitless as Notre Dame held them off to secure the win.

Turning Point

Indiana had all the momentum when they intercepted Riley Leonard and drove the ball into the red zone late in the first quarter. Tragedy struck for the Hoosiers when QB Rourke was picked off on the 2-yard line.

With Notre Dame backed up on their own 2-yard line, the whole stadium knew a run was coming but somehow Love ran 98 yards for a touchdown. This play gave Notre Dame the momentum and they never lost it, dominating the game from there on out.

What It Means?

Notre Dame keeps its national championship aspirations alive as the Irish advance to the next round of the playoff where they'll face No. 2 seed Georgia (11-2). The Fighting Irish and Marcus Freeman have proven their loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies was a fluke and their playoff spot was deserved. The Irish are two wins away from their first national championship appearance since the 2012 season title game and three wins away from their first title since 1988. Freeman has this squad playing top-notch football and playing a Georgia team without starting QB Carson Beck bodes well for the Irish. This could be their year.

Indiana has nothing to hang their head about. First-year coach Cignetti and this Hoosiers' team just had the most successful season in Indiana football history. While the Indiana faithful would have loved a deeper playoff run, no one can call this season anything other than a success. Cignetti proved he's the man for the job and the Hoosier program looks to be in good hands moving forward.