The first-round game between Indiana and Notre Dame was the first time the two in-state schools played each other since 1991.
Quarterback Riley Leonard overcame an early interception to lead the Fighting Irish's offense. Leonard complied 231 total yards and two touchdowns against Indiana. The Notre Dame defense held the Hoosiers to 63 rushing yards.
Notre Dame improved to 12-1 with the victory, matching the program's single-season wins record (1988, 1989, 2012, 2018). Indiana finishes its season 11-2, the best mark the program has ever posted.
The game began with turnovers by each team, but star Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love opened the scoring with a 98-yard rushing touchdown. From that moment on, the Fighting Irish controlled the game, as Indiana couldn't reach the end zone in the first 58 minutes of play.
Notre Dame's running game was the star on offense as Love, Jadarian Price, Riley Leonard and Aneyas Williams combined for 34 attempts, 194 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against one of the best rushing defenses in the country. Leonard also pitched in 201 passing yards and a passing touchdown to round out the offense.
After taking a 14-point lead into halftime, Notre Dame extended that lead to as big as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
As for Indiana, the Hoosiers, Indiana's high-scoring offense struggled for most of the night, as Notre Dame held them to just a field goal until late in the game. Indiana did score two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, but the Fighting Irish lead was too big for those scores to matter.
Still, Indiana's season ends with a program-best 11-2 recording Curt Cignetti's first year with the team. The Hoosiers represented the biggest surprise of the season, en route to their first College Football Playoff appearance.
Kurtis Rourke scored his first touchdown, completing a 7-yard pass to Myles Price, who got into the end zone with a good effort. Rourke then completed a pass to Elijah Sarratt for the two-point conversation.
With 1:27 left in the fourth quarter. Indiana recovered the onside kick. Indiana continued its last-minute push with a second Kurtis Rourke touchdown pass. Rourke found Omar Cooper Jr. for a 23-yard score. It was an eight-play, 50-yard drive in 59 seconds. The two-point conversation and onside kick attempt were both unsuccessful. Notre Dame took a knee to run out the final 24 seconds.
Final score: 27-17 Notre Dame.
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