Notre Dame defeats Indiana in the College Football Playoff to set a Sugar Bowl date with Georgia

Notre Dame defeats Indiana in the College Football Playoff to set a Sugar Bowl date with Georgia

Notre Dame is forever the answer to trivia.

The Fighting Irish became the first team to win a College Football Playoff home game with their 27-17 victory over Indiana in the first round of the new 12-team playoff.

The big blow came early when Jeremiyah Love ran for a 98-yard touchdown. On Notre Dame’s next drive, Riley Leonard found Jayden Thomas to make it a 14-0 game, and all Indiana could muster was a field goal that was immediately tied by the Fighting Irish.

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Fighting Irish in the playoffs

Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024 has achieved. in South Bend. (IMAGN)

Indiana’s offense continued to fight its way out of the locker room, punting on both its third quarter drives and its first drive of the final quarter.

Leonard ran into the game to give Indiana a 27-3 lead, but the Hoosiers ended up scoring two touchdowns. On the second play, with 25 seconds left, they went for two to make it a one possession game, but it was unsuccessful and nearly tied the game for the Irish.

CFP banner

Dec 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Fans of the Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame battle the Irish during the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. (Matt Cashore-Imagn Images)

The Hoosiers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Leonard completed 23 of his 32 passes for 201 yards – Jordan Faison led the Irish with seven receptions for 89 yards.

The three other first round games will be played throughout Saturday.

FILE: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks off a 98-yard run for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers on December 20, 2024 during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

FILE: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks off a 98-yard run for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers on December 20, 2024 during the CFP First Round playoff game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (IMAGN)

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Notre Dame now has a date with Georgia for the Sugar Bowl, which will take place on New Year’s Day in New Orleans.

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