SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Marcus Freeman spent his first two seasons as Notre Dame coach chasing the playoff dream.

This year he’s living it – at home.

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After finishing the regular season on a 10-game winning streak and having two weeks to prepare for the most important postseason game of his career, Freeman is finally ready to pit the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish against the 10th-seeded Irish on Friday to lead Indiana.

“We’ve been in the playoffs since Week 3,” Freeman said, alluding to their postseason hopes after the surprising loss to Northern Illinois. “Every game we play is a version of a playoff game for us. We have to continue to understand that there is no more additional pressure than there has been in the last ten.”

Except the Irish (11-1) know this is different.

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Notre Dame hasn’t won a national championship since 1988, its longest title drought since winning the school’s first title in 1924. And unlike previous playoffs, the Irish will play the first on-campus game in College Football Playoff history.

How unusual will this environment be?

It is the first time Notre Dame will host a postseason game, the first time Notre Dame Stadium will host a Friday night game, and the first time since 1990 that a Notre Dame home game will not be televised by NBC.

Still, the Irish are doing their best to make it look like another week of football.

“The hardest part of this whole process was probably the finale here at Notre Dame, because that’s no joke,” quarterback Riley Leonard said. “Otherwise it’s like a few bye weeks for us. We deal with it the same way. The exercise was the same, the same recipe for success.”

However, there is much more at stake in this matchup between the two Indiana schools, who have only met once since 1959. Notre Dame won 49-27 in 1991.

No. 9 Indiana (11-1) is the least likely playoff contender.

Curt Cignetti, the Associated Press Coach of the Year, engineered an eight-game turnaround in his first season with the Hoosiers and set a new school record for wins in a single season while narrowly missing out on winning his first Big Ten title. Title to play since 1967.

The Hoosiers score 43.3 points, the most of any playoff team, and also boast one of the stingiest defenses in the FBS. And even though Indiana failed its only test against a ranked opponent, the Hoosiers believe the loss will help them accomplish what most still think is impossible: the Sugar Bowl for a quarterfinal game against the No. 2 seed To reach Georgia.

“It was a tough loss, but I think it was really important for us to have a game like that and test ourselves and know what it takes to win these games,” quarterback Kurtis Rourke said, referring to to the 38:15 defeat at then-No. 2 Ohio State last month. “This is win or go home, so we have to make sure we give it our best shot.”

They may also have a key advantage: postseason experience.

Cignetti and many of his assistant coaches played together for FCS and Division II playoff teams, and Cignetti also has a national championship ring from his time as Alabama coach Nick Saban’s recruiting coordinator.

“Well, I’m kind of used to this routine,” Cignetti said. “But I don’t think, to be completely honest, it’s a big change for any of the coaches that are in the playoffs.”

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Notre Dame’s defense was one of the best all season, despite a series of injuries, including two that sidelined the preseason All-Americans.

But one of them, defensive tackle Howard Cross III, is expected to return Friday after missing the final three games of the regular season. There is little doubt that Cross will be fresh, almost six weeks after suffering the high ankle sprain. The question is, will he be rested or rusty?

“I feel good physically,” Cross said. “So I’m just happy and blessed to be able to get on the field.”

Stay ahead

Indiana hasn’t just won games this season. It dominated the opponents.

Ten of the Hoosiers’ 11 wins have come by margins of 14 or more points, and they have faced second-half deficits in just three games and just once. But while it won’t be the same under the Friday night lights, the Hoosiers insist they’re ready for any challenge.

“We know we’re supposed to be here, we know we belong, but we’ll always have that chip (on our shoulder),” Indiana receiver Elijah Sarratt said. “We remember what everyone said during the season and remember what everyone says now. We’re going to go down there, focus on ourselves and try to take care of business.”

Make a dream come true

The most telling play on Friday will be Notre Dame’s ground game against Indiana’s defense.

The Irish offense focused primarily on a three-pronged running attack with Leonard, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Indiana, meanwhile, leads the nation in fewest rushing yards per game allowed (70.8) and its 2.46 yards per carry allowed is second-best in the FBS. Despite the loss, Ohio State ran 29 times for just 115 yards. So the Hoosiers know where they have to start if they want to move forward.

“We have to stop the run,” All-Big Ten linebacker Aiden Fisher said. “We’re really proud of that as a defense and the fact that they’re really good on offense. It’s going to be a really good game.”

Tailgating

The fans have been waiting a long time for a game like this, and some of them got the fun started right away on Friday morning.

Some were tailgating as snow fell in South Bend early Friday morning.

They celebrated all day.

In the shadow of Notre Dame Stadium there is food, fandom and unparalleled excitement.

“I’ve been coming here to games my whole life. “My father was here, and I would say the atmosphere here now is more tense and energetic than ever,” said Kevin, Notre Dame student and Elmhurst resident. Kelley said.

It’s an early Christmas present for Notre Dame and Indiana fans who want to witness the history-making game.

“Everyone is just 10 out of 10 excited, 10 out of 10 it’s great, the vibe is great. I love it,” said Notre Dame student Libby Schuster.

The Deerfield Chaplains cheer on the Hoosiers.

“There are a large number of Indiana fans in Chicago. There are a large number of Notre Dame fans in Chicago,” said Deerfield IU graduate Jeffrey Kaplan.

It’s almost like the Crosstown Classic East.

“My mother is for Indiana. My father is for Notre Dame. I have Notre Dame. My sister has Indiana. That’s it. It really is,” said Notre Dame fan Jack Carretta.

And for South Bend businesses accustomed to the season ending in November, the game is a financial windfall. The bars and restaurants along Eddy Street are bustling.

People bought goods in the Hammes Notre Dame bookstore.

“Today we got all the warm gear, and we’re going to come back tomorrow to get all the fun stuff, the stuff we can’t take to the stadium, the stuff we’re taking home,” Notre Dame said Alumnus Meg Dunn.

ABC7 Chicago’s Dionne Miller and Eric Horng contributed to this report.