Notre Dame sweeps Indiana from College Football Playoff to set up Sugar Bowl date with Georgia

Notre Dame is the trivia answer forever.

The Fighting Irish became the first team to win a College Football Playoff home game with their 27-17 victory over Indiana in the first round of the new 12-team playoff.

The big blow came early when Jeremiah Love ran for 98 yards. 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 quickly matched by the Fighting Irish.

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Indiana’s offense continued to struggle coming out of the locker room, punting on both of its third-quarter and first-quarter drives.

Leonard ran for a score to give Indiana a 27-3 lead, but the Hoosiers ended up scoring two more touchdowns. In the second, with 25 seconds left, they went two for a one-and-one play, but it didn’t work, except to put the ball on the Irish.

December 20, 2024; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans during the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. (Photos by Matt Cashore-Imagn)

The Hoosiers scored 14 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little.

Leonard completed 23 of 32 passes for 201 yards – Jordan Faison led the Irish with seven receptions for 89 yards.

The other three matches of the first round will be played throughout Saturday.

File: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiah Love (4) breaks a 98-yard run for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers on Dec. 20, 2024, during a CFP First Round play off game at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (MAGN)

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Notre Dame now has a date with Georgia for the Sugar Bowl, which will be played in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.