In a momentous night for college football, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-1) downed the Indiana Hoosiers (11-2) by a score of 27-17 in the sport’s first-ever on-campus College Football Playoff game.
Playing in front of a raucous crowd at Notre Dame Stadium, the Irish set the tone early and never looked back.
The defining highlight arrived on the game’s very first drive when running back Jeremiyah Love burst through a gap for a record-tying 98-yard touchdown run, sparking an electric atmosphere and an early Notre Dame lead. Love finished the night with 108 yards on just eight carries, contributing to the team’s 193-yard total on the ground.
Quarterback Riley Leonard spearheaded a balanced offensive attack, completing 23 of 32 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s defense showcased its mettle by holding Indiana’s potent offense to a mere 63 yards rushing and forcing a critical interception. Although Indiana mounted a late comeback bid, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the Hoosiers simply could not overcome Notre Dame’s commanding early advantage.
Indiana (11-2) found a spark late in the second half when quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw two touchdown passes.
With this historic win, Notre Dame punches its ticket to the Sugar Bowl, where the No. 2 seed Georgia Bulldogs await on New Year’s Day.