(7) Notre Dame secured its first College Football Playoff win in program history Saturday evening, downing (10) Indiana 27-17 inside Notre Dame Stadium. It was a dominant performance from the Fighting Irish, who never trailed and comfortably controlled both sides of the ball for the better part of 60 minutes despite a late — but ultimately meaningless — push from the Hoosiers in the game’s final moments.
The Hoosiers scored a touchdown with 1:27 left on the clock and then recovered an onside kick. A couple of plays later, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke hit wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. for a 23-yard score. Indiana’ 2-point attempt failed and Notre Dame was, finally, able to hop on another onside kick attempt to kneel the clock out.
Notre Dame scored on five of its nine drives and punted just twice. It had three drives that covered at least 11 plays and took five minutes off the clock, including a 16-play, 83-yard drive between the first and second quarters that gave it an early 14-0 lead.
While Notre Dame’s offense was able to sit on the ball, the defense was able to prevent Indiana from mounting any meaningful drives. Prior to their late-game explosion, the Hoosiers had five drives end in Notre Dame territory, including two trips to the red zone, but came away with just three points. Indiana also didn’t have a single drive last longer than five minutes and it went three-and-out three times.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard shook off an early interception on a tipped pass and had an efficient performance with 23 completions for 203 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the game away, scoring his 15th touchdown on the ground in the process — a single-season record for Notre Dame quarterbacks.
With the win, Notre Dame punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals and a Sugar Bowl showdown against (2) Georgia. The Bulldogs, who will be without starting quarterback Carson Beck, earned a first-round bye after beating Texas in the SEC Championship Game.
- Indiana allowed 155 yards rushing in the first half, more than it allowed in any other game this season.
- Leonard also scored Notre Dame’s 42nd touchdown rushing of the season, which is tied for its most in a single season since 1989.
- Notre Dame is now 73-1 in its last 74 games with a 14-plus point advantage, and it has a 27-game winning streak in such contests.
- Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw his 29th touchdown of the year late in the fourth quarter, which is a single-season program record.
CBS Sports was here with you throughout the game. Be sure to read on below for more takeaways from Notre Dame’s win over Indiana in the CFP first round.
