Notre Dame is the answer to trivia forever.
The Fighting Irish became the first team to win a College Football Playoff game at home with their 27-17 victory over Indiana in the first round of the new 12-team playoff.
The big blow came early with Jeremiyah Love running 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, which was immediately tied by the Fighting Irish.
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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. in Curva del Sur. (IMAGE)
Indiana’s offense continued to struggle out of the locker room, punting on both of its third-quarter drives and first of the fourth quarter.
Leonard ran for a score to put Indiana up 27-3, but the Hoosiers ended up scoring two more touchdowns. In the second, with 25 seconds left, they tried two to make it a one-possession game, but were unsuccessful, virtually freezing the game for the Irish.
December 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, United States; Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans 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 other three first round games will be played throughout Saturday.
FILE: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) breaks a 98-yard run for a score against the Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 20, 2024, during the CFP first-round playoff game at Notre Stadium Give me in South Bend, Indiana. (IMAGE)
Notre Dame now has a date with Georgia for the Sugar Bowl, which will be played in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
