South Bend, Ind. – The College Football Playoffs, now in its expanded format, delivered an exhilarating showdown on Friday night as #5 Notre Dame faced off against in-state rival #8 Indiana. With a spot in the CFP quarterfinals and a matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day on the line, both teams brought their best to the gridiron.
First Quarter: Defensive Duels and Explosive Plays
Notre Dame chose to defer after winning the coin toss, placing their confidence in a defense ranked among the nation’s elite. That decision paid off immediately, as the Irish forced Indiana into a three-and-out after a 3-yard loss and two incomplete passes.
Notre Dame’s offense, however, stumbled early. Riley Leonard’s first pass was tipped by Indiana defender James Carpenter and intercepted by D’Angelo Ponds, giving the Hoosiers prime field position at the Irish 41-yard line. Indiana capitalized, advancing to Notre Dame’s 17-yard line before a pivotal turnover shifted the momentum. Kurtis Rourke’s pass was intercepted at the 2-yard line by Irish standout Xavier Watts, halting the Hoosiers’ drive.
On the ensuing play, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love delivered the game’s first big moment with a dazzling 98-yard touchdown run, putting the Irish up 7-0. By the end of the quarter, Notre Dame had outgained Indiana 171 to 69 in total yards, despite holding just a slight edge in possession time (7:57 to 7:03).
Second Quarter: Efficiency on Display
Notre Dame wasted little time building on its lead in the second quarter. A methodical 16-play, 83-yard drive consumed the clock and showcased the Irish’s offensive precision. Riley Leonard capped it off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Thomas, extending the lead to 14-0.
Indiana responded with a promising nine-play, 48-yard drive but was forced to settle for a 34-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic, cutting the deficit to 14-3. Notre Dame closed out the half with a 49-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter, stretching their lead to 17-3. Statistically, the teams were evenly matched in the first half, but Love’s explosive run was the key difference, giving Notre Dame a clear advantage heading into halftime.
Third Quarter: Defensive Domination
The third quarter was a defensive masterclass, particularly by Notre Dame. The Irish completely smothered Indiana’s offense, holding them to just six plays and a net loss of seven yards. Indiana’s defense also stepped up, limiting Notre Dame’s ground game to nine yards and holding Riley Leonard to 51 passing yards on 8-of-9 efficiency.
Notre Dame still managed to add to their lead. Mitch Jeter’s 33-yard field goal pushed the score to 20-3 late in the quarter, and the Irish defense ensured Indiana couldn’t mount any meaningful response.
Fourth Quarter: Closing the Door
As Indiana’s defense began to tire, Notre Dame’s offense put together one final dominant drive, marching 78 yards and capping it with a 1-yard touchdown run by Riley Leonard. The score extended the lead to 27-3 and appeared to seal the game.
Indiana, however, refused to go quietly. The Hoosiers engineered a 12-play, 76-yard drive late in the quarter, ending with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Kurtis Rourke to Miles Price. A successful two-point conversion narrowed the gap to 27-11. After recovering an onside kick, Indiana struck again with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr., cutting the deficit to 27-17. Their two-point attempt failed, leaving them needing another miracle.
Notre Dame recovered Indiana’s second onside kick attempt, allowing the Irish to run out the clock and secure the win.
Looking Ahead
Riley Leonard led Notre Dame with a composed performance, completing 23 of 32 passes for 201 yards and adding a rushing touchdown. Jeremiyah Love was a standout, rushing for 108 yards on eight carries, including his game-changing 98-yard touchdown.
With the victory, Notre Dame advances to the CFP quarterfinals, where they’ll face defending champion Georgia Bulldogs. As the Irish prepare for their toughest challenge yet, they’ll carry momentum from a statement win against their in-state rival.
