Notre Dame vs. Indiana score, takeaways: Irish prove too much for overmatched Hoosiers, notch first CFP win

A Sugar Bowl showdown against Georgia awaits Notre Dame after an impressive first-round win

(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. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 11:52 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana still belonged 

Hindsight is 20/20, but Indiana absolutely deserved its spot in the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers won the games they were given in the regular season and earned their way to a 12-team field. 

The debate is that a three-loss SEC team, like Alabama or Ole Miss, should have made it over Indiana -- that those teams would have given Notre Dame a better fight. It's a fun mental exercise to discuss hypothetical situations after Selection Sunday, and once the games are played, but it's also entirely futile. 

The fact of the matter is that Alabama and Ole Miss didn't do enough to snag a berth. The Crimson Tide sunk their season with a 21-point loss to 6-6 Oklahoma, while Ole Miss fell twice as a double-digit favorite against unranked opponents. 

Those teams cannot do that in the regular season and then pretend that they're some juggernaut when the College Football Playoff rolls around. Indiana got double-digit wins with its schedule. Alabama, Ole Miss and other multi-loss power conference teams didn't. Simple as that. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 11:44 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame's trench play can take it far 

College football games are often decided at the line of scrimmage, and Notre Dame showed that both of its lines can take it far in the postseason. The Fighting Irish absolutely dominated Indiana in the trenches. 

On offense, Notre Dame was able to keep a clean pocket for quarterback Riley Leonard. Indiana's pass rush only got through for two sacks and one quarterback hurry for a total of three pressures. The Fighting Irish also rushed for 194 yards while averaging a blistering 5.7 yards per carry. 

Defensively, Notre Dame was able to squash an explosive Indiana offense. The Hoosiers rushed for just 63 yards on 27 carries, marking the third time this season that they've finished with fewer than 100 yards on the ground. It was also the second time that Indiana was held without a rushing touchdown. 

Notre Dame also got through for three sacks and two quarterback hits. The Fighting Irish also had 10 tackles for a loss while largely limiting explosive plays. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 11:43 pm ET · Will Backus]

Cignetti talks the talk…

Final: (7) Notre Dame 27, (10) Indiana 17

… but he did not walk the walk. At least not Friday evening. Cignetti made waves on social media ahead of kickoff when he said that Indiana doesn't "just beat top-25 teams, we beat the shit out of them."

Well, Indiana is now 0-2 against current top-25 teams. The Hoosiers were outscored 65-35 in those games and scored an average of four points per quarter. 

It wasn't just the fact that Indiana lost Friday -- it was the way that Indiana lost. For someone that certainly likes to shoot off fiery one-liners, Cignetti coached like he was totally unprepared for the moment. 

Late in the second quarter, Indiana -- down 14-0 at the time -- faced third-and-5 from Notre Dame's 17-yard line. The Hoosiers ran the ball on a direct snap to running back Justice Ellison, who gained a yard, on what seemed like a set-up play for a fourth-down attempt. 

Indiana initially lined up to go for it, but took a timeout and then settled for a field goal that cut Notre Dame's two-score lead to a ... two-score lead. 

Then, early in the fourth quarter and down 20-3, Indiana punted on fourth-and-11 from Notre Dame's 48-yard line. Instead of going for it in a do-or-die situation, Cignetti waved the white flag by punting. Notre Dame then went on to score its decisive touchdown on the next possession. 

Indiana actually punted three times in Notre Dame territory. Not the performance you would expect from a coach that provides plenty of flashy quotes. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 11:26 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana battling down the stretch 

Late 4Q: (7) Notre Dame 27, (10) Indiana 11

Indiana scored its first touchdown of the game with less than two minutes to play when quarterback Kurtis Rourke hit wide receiver Myles Price for a 7-yard touchdown. The Hoosiers also successfully converted on a 2-point try and then recovered an onside kick. At this point, it's probably too little, too late, but Curt Cignetti's squad is showing some fire in the waning moments of Friday's game. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 11:10 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame puts it away 

Late 4Q: (7) Notre Dame 27, (10) Indiana 3 

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard can etch his name into the program's history books. He scored his 15th rushing touchdown of the year to officially salt this game away, which is a single-season program record for Notre Dame quarterbacks. The Irish are likely headed to New Orleans to face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:50 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana has some life

Still a very deep hole to dig out of, but the Hoosiers aren't completely done yet. Notre Dame lined up to try a 37-yard field goal, but kicker Mitch Jeter's attempt was blocked at the line. Indiana was able to recover the block and return it to its own 25-yard line. At least a glimmer of hope for the Hoosiers. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:41 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame closing in on first playoff win 

Late 3Q: (7) Notre Dame 20, (10) Indiana 3 

This one seems like it's almost in the books. Indiana has shown that it can score in droves this season, but the sun is starting to set on a promising Hoosiers squad, and their recent history against ranked teams looks bleak. Indiana is now averaging just 2.6 points per quarter in its two games against ranked teams. 

By comparison, the Hoosiers scored 11.5 points per quarter against 11 unranked opponents. Despite what Indiana coach Curt Cignetti may have said, it just seems like the moment was too big for his squad. 

On the flip side, Notre Dame looks primed to make a run in the bracket. The Irish have been dominant in the trenches on both sides of the ball, which is a recipe for success in the postseason. They should match up well in that department against most teams they'll see on their side of the bracket. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:26 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame tacks onto its lead 

Late 3Q: (7) Notre Dame 20, (10) Indiana 3 

Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter extended his team's lead to three possessions with a 33-yard field goal after Notre Dame worked the ball deep into Indiana territory. Marcus Freeman is playing chess right now. Right before attempting the field goal, the Fighting Irish lined up in a weird formation with the intention to go for it. The ball was snapped, and Notre Dame came up short. However, it turns out Indiana coach Curt Cignetti called a timeout before the play began, which saved Notre Dame from a failed conversion attempt. It seemed like an intentional ploy from Freeman to draw an Indiana timeout. It worked perfectly. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:22 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana shoots itself in the foot

It's hard to blame one play on Indiana's poor performance, but the Hoosiers aren't helping themselves. Indiana shut Notre Dame down on third-and-14 and forced Irish quarterback Riley Leonard out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage. But defensive lineman James Carpenter, who had a big sack to force the third and long, hit Leonard well after he passed the sideline. That gave Notre Dame a free first down on what would have been a crucial stop. Now, up 17-3, Notre Dame has a new chance to slam the door shut on this game. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:11 pm ET · Will Backus]

Big injury for Notre Dame 

Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills just cut through Indiana's offensive line to sack Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke for a loss of eight yards, backing Indiana up to its own 4-yard line. Unfortunately for the Fighting Irish, Mills remained on the turf with an apparent injury after making the play. He entered Friday's game as Notre Dame's leader in sacks and had two tackles, one sack and one tackle for a loss prior to exiting the game. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 10:02 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana needs a stop 

Notre Dame gets the ball to start the third quarter, which means that it has a chance to blow this game wide open. Conversely, Indiana desperately needs a stop to get this game from getting out of control. The opening kickoff does not reckon well for the Hoosiers. Notre Dame ran a special reverse to wide receiver Jordan Faison, who then returned the ball 43 yards to Indiana's 47-yard line. Time for Indiana's biggest "prove it" moment of the game. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 9:36 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame has big lead at the half 

Half: (7) Notre Dame 17, (10) Indiana 3

(7) Notre Dame enters halftime of its College Football Playoff debut with a comfortable 17-3 lead against (10) Indiana. The Fighting Irish are scoring the ball in different ways. 

They opened the deluge with a 98-yard touchdown run from Jeremiyah Love, which is the longest scoring run in College Football Playoff history. Notre Dame then scored its second touchdown to cap a 16-play, 83-yard drive that took over nine minutes off the clock between the first and second quarters. 

Outside of Love's 98-yard touchdown run, the Irish are giving Indiana a death by 1,000 cuts. Subtracting Love's long run, Notre Dame is averaging 3.6 yards per carry -- just enough to stay in front of the chains. Quarterback Riley Leonard is averaging 5.1 yards per attempt. 

As a result, Indiana's confidence seems shaken. The Hoosiers have had four drives end in Notre Dame territory, including two trips to the red zone, with just three points to show for it. They had an egregiously bad sequence near the end of the second quarter. On third-and-5 from Notre Dame's 17-yard line, with less than four minutes on the clock, Indiana ran the ball on a direct snap to running back Justice Ellison. It seemed like a play that would set up a fourth-down conversion attempt and Indiana initially lined up to go for it. 

But coach Curt Cignetti took a timeout and elected for a field goal instead. It seemed like a call with the intent of settling Indiana down, since it already had one red-zone possession end in an interception. 

The Hoosiers do have halftime to settle themselves down and figure out a new game plan. They haven't run the ball well, and the deep shots aren't there, but quarterback Kurtis Rourke has worked the middle of the field well. 

Notre Dame gets the ball to start the third quarter, though, with an opportunity to dig Indiana's hole even deeper. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 9:37 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame's special teams come through 

Late 2Q: (7) Notre Dame 17, (10) 3 

Mostly everything is working for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish just extended their lead to 10 points, with less than 10 seconds to play in the half, thanks to a 49-yard field goal from kicker Mitch Jeter. It was a big moment for Jeter, who has battled through injuries late in the season and has been shaky from long range this year. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 9:19 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana gets on the board 

Late 2Q: (7) Notre Dame 14, (10) Indiana 3

The good news for Indiana is that it was finally able to put some points on the board after working the ball into Notre Dame territory. The bad news is that the Hoosiers could have come away with a lot more. They got all the way to the red zone, and on fourth-and-4 from the 16-yard line, they initially lined up to go for it. After a timeout, coach Curt Cignetti decided to settle for the 34-yard field goal. Four of Indiana's five drives have now ended in Notre Dame territory, including one trip to the red zone. The Hoosiers have just three points to show for all of that. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 9:01 pm ET · Will Backus]

Watts having a big night for Notre Dame 

Notre Dame defensive back Xavier Watts is living up to his reputation as one of the best players in the nation. His diving interception in the first quarter led to Jeremiyah Love's 98-yard rushing touchdown. He also just blew up a first-and-10 running play to stifle what was a promising drive for Indiana. The Hoosiers then threw an incomplete pass and had another negative rushing play. Watts has been credited with four total tackles and his interception thus far. He's been all over the field. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:52 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame pouring it on 

Early 2Q: (7) Notre Dame 14, (10) Indiana 0 

That was a big statement drive from Notre Dame, which is in full control of this game so far. The Fighting Irish marched 83 yards down the field in 16 plays, taking over nine minutes off of the clock -- a majority of which came late in the first quarter -- thanks to a strong rushing attack that stayed in front of the chains. Then, five yards from the end zone, quarterback Riley Leonard faked a handoff and delivered a pass to wide receiver Jayden Thomas who, thanks in large part to the play-fake, was wide open in the end zone. 

Notre Dame is 72-1 in its last 73 games when leading by at least 14 points. Indiana has lost 38 of its last 39 games when trailing by 14-plus points. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:45 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame in control

End 1Q: (7) Notre Dame 7, (10) Indiana 0 

It's all Notre Dame thus far. The Fighting Irish will have the ball deep in Indiana territory when the second quarter begins. The Irish are running the ball well, even outside of Jeremiyah Love's 98-yard touchdown, which tied a program record. The Irish rushed for 131 yards on eight carries in the first quarter, averaging just over 16 yards per carry. 

Indiana, meanwhile, has 69 total yards after 15 minutes of play. The Hoosiers have had a couple of drives end in Notre Dame territory, so they've had opportunities to score. They just haven't been able to finish drives. Star quarterback Kurtis Rourke has struggled thus far. He's completed just one pass in six attempts for 28 yards. Indiana has tried a few deep shots but, for the most part, Notre Dame's defensive backs are running in step with Indiana's wide receivers. The offense might need to get creative to conjure up some separation. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:41 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame controlling the game thus far 

Notre Dame is in full control. The Fighting Irish escaped an early disaster when an Indiana interception gave the Hoosiers possession in Notre Dame's territory. Notre Dame then got the ball back a couple of plays later when defensive back Xavier Watts logged his own interception near the goal line. Jeremiyah Love ripped off a 98-yard touchdown, Notre Dame forced another punt, and now the Irish are sitting on the ball as the first quarter comes to a close. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:26 pm ET · Will Backus]

First TD of the 12-team playoff is a big one 

(7) Notre Dame 7, (10) Indiana 0

Excellent complementary football, Irish. One play after Notre Dame defensive back Xavier Watts intercepted a pass near the goal line, star running back Jeremiyah Love ran around the left tackle and then hit the gas, sprinting past Indiana's secondary and all the way into the end zone for 98 yards. It's tied for the longest run in school history, and it's especially impressive since Love just worked his way back from knee injury. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:21 pm ET · Will Backus]

Pick party in South Bend

Well, at least the defenses decided to show up for the College Football Playoff. Indiana had a prime scoring opportunity after Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard's pass was intercepted in Fighting Irish territory. Indiana then converted on a third-and-14 thanks to a spectacular 28-yard catch by Cedarius Doss. Then, on the ensuing play, Indiana's Kurtis Rourke overthrew a receiver over the middle of the field, and Notre Dame defensive back Xavier Watts made a diving interception to give his team the ball back. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:17 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana's defense answers 

Not to be outdone, Indiana's defense just made a huge play of its own. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard's pass on second-and-long was deflected at the line of scrimmage and picked off by Indiana defensive back D'Angelo Ponds. That puts the Hoosiers in great field position at Notre Dame's 41-yard line, so a prime scoring opportunity is there. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:14 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame's defense makes a statement 

Notre Dame's defense set the tone early. Indiana had a prime opportunity to take the crowd out of it early, but the Hoosiers lost three yards in three plays and were then forced to punt. Star quarterback Kurtis Rourke attempted two passes, both of which fell incomplete. Notre Dame's defensive front was very active, stuffing the lone rushing attempt and putting some pressure on Rourke so he didn't have time to stand back and pick Notre Dame's secondary apart. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 8:10 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana will start us off 

Notre Dame won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, which means that Indiana's offense will open the game with the ball. Despite the cold, there's a fiery crowd inside Notre Dame Stadium, so it will be important for the Hoosiers to set the tone early and make an impact on offense. 

[Dec 20, 2024 at 7:45 pm ET · Will Backus]

Notre Dame vs. Indiana prediction 

In spite of the fact that Friday's game features two of the most explosive offenses in college football, Notre Dame and Indiana could be locked into a slugfest -- early on, at least. On paper, the two are very similar, and it could take some time to figure each other out. Though Indiana didn't show well in its one game against a ranked opponent this season, Notre Dame is vulnerable. It was a while ago, but this is the same Irish team that lost to Northern Illinois, after all. It will be tough for Indiana to walk out of South Bend with a win, but I expect the Hoosiers to keep it close. Pick: Indiana +7.5 

Where to watch Notre Dame vs. Indiana, TV channel, prediction, pick, spread, College Football Playoff odds

Will Backus

[Dec 20, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET · Will Backus]

Could be in for a boxing match 

Notre Dame and Indiana are two of the most complete teams in college football. Both rank top six nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Fighting Irish are putting 39.8 points on the board per game (second in FBS) while allowing just 13.6 points per game (third). Indiana boasts a whopping 43.3 points per game while holding opponents to just 14.7 ppg. Indiana has scored at least 30 points in 10 of its 12 games this year; Notre Dame only allowed one regular-season opponent to eclipse that mark. This has all the makings of a boxing match with each team taking some time to figure the other out.   

[Dec 20, 2024 at 7:00 pm ET · Will Backus]

Indiana in a tough spot 

Indiana has had a truly special season, and it's impressive that the Hoosiers won 11 games in their first season under coach Curt Cignetti when considering the program's struggles in recent years. Indiana still has yet to truly get over the hump, though, as the Hoosiers are riding a 13-game losing streak to ranked opponents. That includes a 38-15 loss to Ohio State, their only game against a top-25 opponent in 2024. Narrow the field to top-five opponents and Indiana's struggles are magnified. 

The Hoosiers are 1-71 all-time versus AP top-five opponents with their only win coming in 1967 against No. 3 Purdue. Their current 45-game losing streak against top-five opponents is the third-longest streak by any team all-time. Now Indiana has to face a Notre Dame team that has won its last six games against ranked opponents, the longest active FBS streak.  

[Dec 20, 2024 at 6:30 pm ET · Will Backus]

Two dominant forces meeting 

Indiana and Notre Dame have been two of the most dominant teams in college football this season. The Hoosiers currently rank first in the FBS in points per game differential at plus-28.7, while Notre Dame isn't too far behind in second place at plus-26.3. Indiana boasts the largest year-over-year increase in PPG differential (up 36.5 points from 2023) in FBS history. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has its largest PPG differential in any season since it outscored its opponents by an average of 26.5 points in 1973.     

[Dec 20, 2024 at 6:05 pm ET · Dennis Dodd]

Indiana's Cignetti primed for the big stage 

In his office on Sunday, Dec. 8, Curt Cignetti was his usual deadpan self with the hype building around him. 

"I've played them five times," Cignetti said of the Irish. "Three and two."

"Cig" is referring to his record against Notre Dame as a graduate assistant and assistant coach at Pittsburgh, Rice and NC State in a stretch that started 40 years ago. 

That's all about to change in the first game in the CFP's 12-team era the night of Dec. 20 at Notre Dame Stadium. Indiana – 11-1, ranked No. 8 in the CFP rankings and a 10th seed in the bracket – has accomplished a lot this season, but Notre Dame is the program that comes complete with its own ghosts, legends and intimidation.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti knows just enough about Notre Dame and playoffs to make Hoosiers dangerous in CFP

Dennis Dodd