Indiana coach Curt Cignetti started Friday night’s College Football Playoff opener at Notre Dame with some fanfare. His decision-making while the overmatched Hoosiers had their backs against the wall lacked the same arrogance.

No call illustrated Cignetti’s conservative approach more than his decision to punt on fourth-and-11 from Notre Dame’s 48-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Trailing 20-3, Indiana’s struggles against the Fighting Irish’s rushing attack couldn’t guarantee any more possessions.

“I didn’t want to punt, but we didn’t do anything offensively. And our defense fought,” Cignetti said after the game. “The only positive thing I could really point out was that our defense fought. Because the offensive didn’t achieve anything. And I didn’t want to go fourth and tenth, it’s like you’re just wishing and hoping.” . “You have nothing to rely on at this point and there would still be time to win the game, but I felt like it was the best move.”

Punter James Evans only managed to throw the ball 26 yards, one of his three punts that failed to break 30 yards in the game. It was also the third time Indiana punted after crossing Notre Dame territory, a difficult record for a team that only had three points at the time. Notre Dame marched 78 yards down the field with quarterback Riley Leonard scoring a one-yard touchdown to increase the Irish lead to 27-3.

The Hoosiers ended up scoring two late touchdowns, the second of which came on an impressive onside kick, to cut the score to 27-17. In reality, Notre Dame was absolutely dominant, and Indiana shied away from aggressive decisions that could have swayed the game in limbo.