South Bend, Indiana. All of those significant losses taught Marcus Freeman both the hard and the unexplainable lessons.
With snowflakes flying and players chanting the school’s alma mater, the Notre Dame coach celebrated the most important victory of his career at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday night, the first game of college football’s new playoff era.
Seventh-seeded Notre Dame defeated the Hoosiers 27–17 in their first-ever playoff game thanks to a 98-yard touchdown run by Jeremiyah Love on the Irish’s third play of the game, two more scores from Riley Leonard, and a high-scoring Indiana check.
You don’t do something for the first time very often in your life, do you? “Freeman said.” We will always remember the fact that we were the first team to play and win a postseason game at Notre Dame Stadium.
He and the Irish (12-1) have a day or two to celebrate their first in four playoff attempts and their 11th straight victory, which ties the school record for most wins in a season.
However, it’s just a first step. Georgia (11-2), the SEC champion, will play next in the Sugar Bowl and have an opportunity to go to the semifinals as they look to win their first national championship since 1988.
Leonard, who rushed for one record-breaking score and threw for another, said, “It’s really cool, but at the same time it’s another football game.” Because we enjoy playing the game, getting ready for it, and representing this university, all we’re aiming to do is survive and play as many games as we can.
The Irish might snap the program’s longest title drought since their first claimed championship in 1924 if they perform as well as they did against 10th-seeded Indiana (11-2).
Despite giving up 14 points in the final 87 seconds in the same stadium where they almost had their season terminated on September 7 with a 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois, Notre Dame swiftly took control with to Love’s amazing early burst and ultimately ended the Hoosiers’ extraordinary season.
They gave the Hoosiers their second straight defeat to a top five opponent this season, leaving no room for doubt on a cold, windy platform for the first-ever CFP game held on campus. Despite setting a school record most wins in a single season, Indiana hasn’t triumphed against Notre Dame since 1898.
They brought it to us. According to Hoosiers coach and AP Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti, “I thought their quarterback played really well, and I thought their defense suffocated our offense until the last 1:50 or whatever.” They deserved to win, so they did. They were mostly responsible for our poor performance tonight.
Kurtis Rourke’s ball was intercepted by Xavier Watts at the Irish 2.
Love made it 7-0 on the following play by scuffing around the right side of the defenders, avoiding a tackle, and running down the sideline. In 2015 against Wake Forest, he tied Josh Adams for the longest run in Irish history. Additionally, it was CFP’s longest run ever.
Love finished with eight carries for 108 yards despite not being full strength and appearing to reinjure his left knee later in the first half.
I was looking up at the video board he wasn t going to catch me, Love said.
Indiana never recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early in the second quarter. Leonard s 1-yard TD run late in the fourth gave him 15 this season to break Notre Dame s season record by a quarterback.
With 201 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, Leonard finished 23 of 32. Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in another poor game against a strong defense, finishing 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception and the Hoosiers rushed for just 63 yards.
And for Freeman and Notre Dame, it was more than a relief. It was time to revel in victory.
There s no place like Notre Dame, Leonard said. This is why you come here, this is why I came here to play for a (national) championship.
KEY LESSONS
Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed fewer minutes than any other FBS team this season entering the playoff and had the highest-scoring team in the playoff. They didn t do either Friday night against a stout Irish defense that rattled Rourke early.
Notre Dame: The Irish have relied on the running game and defense all season and it was that combination that gave Notre Dame the first playoff win in school history. They may need more out of their passing game to win their first national championship since 1988.
ONE MESSAGE
Cignetti wavered from his blunt-talking ways momentarily after the season-ending loss to express just how special this season was for an Indiana team that put itself back in the national conversation.
No one s as disappointed as I am, but sometimes you re going to have a disappointment and you have come back from it, he said. This team accomplished things no other Indiana team did.
NEXT UP
Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason trying to replicate what they built in Year 1 under coach Curt Cignetti.
Notre Dame: Plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year s Day.
— Michael Marot | AP Sports Writer
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