Indiana at Notre Dame: Live updates from College Football Playoff first-round game

Posted by author December 21, 2024 Sports

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The first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff era is also a first in over 120 years for Notre Dame. The matchup with Indiana is the first Notre Dame home game on a Friday since Nov. 30, 1900. Yes, really.

Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Notre Dame -7.5 | Total: 50.5

How these teams got here

Indiana: The Hoosiers are the No. 10 seed with one loss because of a regular-season schedule that featured just one team with eight or more wins. And that team was the one that beat the Hoosiers. Indiana started 10-0 before losing 38-15 at Ohio State in a game where nothing went right for Indiana. The Hoosiers took out their frustration on Purdue the next week with a 66-0 win and has another shot to show it’s among the nation’s elite with a matchup against the Irish.

Notre Dame: Not counting Oregon, the only undefeated team in the country, the Fighting Irish have the longest win streak. Notre Dame’s Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois feels like it happened in another dimension. The Huskies turned out not to be a contender in the MAC and Notre Dame has evolved into a powerhouse ever since. Just one of Notre Dame’s 11 wins has been by one score.

Live34 updates

Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:21 AM GMT+1

Costly penalty for Indiana

Indiana had Notre Dame stopped on 3rd and long, but Indiana’s James Carpenter hit QB Riley Leonard as he was going out of bounds. The late hit penalty gives ND a fresh set of downs.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:15 AM GMT+1

Indiana goes nowhere

Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke gets sacked twice, leading to a punt from the Hoosiers’ own end zone.

Great starting field position for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame’s leader in sacks, Rylie Mills, was injured in that series. That could be significant for the Irish.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:05 AM GMT+1

Indiana forces a punt

Notre Dame couldn’t capitalize on the big return, failing to get a first down. It’s a punt and Indiana ball just like that.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 4:02 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame starts 2nd half with a bang

The Irish ran a lateral on the opening kick return of the 2nd half, and Jordan Faison took it all the way to the Indiana 47-yard line.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:51 AM GMT+1

Halftime stats

Total yards:

Notre Dame – 242 (7.1 yards per play)

Indiana – 138 (4.6 ypp)

Player stats:

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Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:37 AM GMT+1

Halftime: Notre Dame 17, Indiana 3

The Irish have mostly dominated on both sides of the ball. Indiana’s red zone interception looms large.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:35 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame adds a FG

Mitch Jeter’s 49-yarder hits and the Irish lead is back to 14 points.

Big spot for Jeter, who has battled injuries and struggled for most of the season.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:30 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame into IU territory

The Irish are just past midfield with 42 seconds left in the half, trying to add some points before the break.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:19 AM GMT+1

Unfamiliar feeling for Hoosiers

Indiana isn’t used to playing from behind this season.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:17 AM GMT+1

Indiana takes the FG

Hoosiers opt for the points as Nicolas Radicic hits from 34 yards to point them on the board.

Notre Dame leads 14-3 with 3:26 to play in the first half.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:14 AM GMT+1

Decision time for Indiana

The Hoosiers are facing 4th and 4 at the Notre Dame 16. They looked like they were planning to go for it before calling a timeout. What do you do?
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 3:04 AM GMT+1

Indiana gets a stop

Notre Dame goes 3 and out and punts it away.

Hoosiers ball and the really need to get some points on the board.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:59 AM GMT+1

Indiana’s offense stalling

The Hoosiers are forced to punt for the third time already as they’re struggling to block Notre Dame’s defensive front. Ugly start for one of the nation’s top offenses
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:55 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame’s TD drive was 16 plays, 83 yards and took 9:08 of game clock.

That was ND simply imposing its will on its in-state foe.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:50 AM GMT+1

Touchdown Notre Dame!

Riley Leonard finds Jayden Thomas in the back of the end zone. And the Irish double their lead to 14-0.

Just about a perfect start for the home team in the playoffs.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:44 AM GMT+1

End of 1st: Notre Dame 7, Indiana 0

After a wild first few minutes, things have settled a bit in South Bend. But Notre Dame is in the red zone and threatening to add to its lead.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:42 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame marching

The Irish have the ball again and they’ve methodically moved it into Indiana territory.

Already on the edge of field goal range.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:31 AM GMT+1

What a start!

The first 5 minutes of the first playoff game in a 12-team format featured:

Have we taken a breath yet?
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:23 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame 98-yard TD!

Jeremiyah Love breaks free for a HUGE touchdown run down the sideline!

Irish strike first to take a 7-0 lead.
Sat, December 21, 2024 at 2:20 AM GMT+1

Notre Dame gets it back on a INT!

Right after Indiana got into the red zone, Kurtis Rourke gets intercepted by Xavier Watts near the goal line. That’s Watts’ 6th INT of the season.

The Irish get it right back.