Pinned deep in their own territory at the two-yard line, sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love electrified the crowd at Notre Dame Stadium with a remarkable 98-yard touchdown run. After receiving the handoff in the end zone, Love burst through the left side of the field, leaving defenders in his wake and propelling Notre Dame to an early 7-0 lead. This incredible run set a new record as the longest in College Football Playoff history and equaled the longest run ever in the school’s prestigious football legacy. Love’s stellar performance included a total of eight carries for 108 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Fighting Irish’s dominance continued into the second quarter when quarterback Riley Leonard orchestrated a methodical 16-play drive that consumed over nine minutes of game time. The drive culminated in a five-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jayden Thomas, extending Notre Dame’s lead to 14-0. Despite Indiana’s struggles to find their rhythm on offense in the first half, they managed to salvage a 34-yard field goal late in the second quarter.
As the first half came to a close, Notre Dame’s kicker Mitch Jeter nailed a 49-yard field goal, giving the Irish a commanding 17-3 lead heading into halftime. Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti, acknowledged the need to improve their passing game and offensive execution during the break, emphasizing the importance of tightening up their defensive tackles to counter Notre Dame’s relentless attack.
The tough Notre Dame defense kept Indiana on their toes throughout the game, with the Hoosiers trailing for a significant portion of the first half. The Fighting Irish widened their lead with a 33-yard field goal by Jeter, pushing the score to 20-3 as they continued to distance themselves from Indiana.
In a historic moment, Leonard sealed the victory with a 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, setting a new single-season record for rushing touchdowns at Notre Dame. Reflecting on the win, Leonard expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to compete in the College Football Playoff and praised his teammates for their unwavering support.
Notre Dame’s head coach, Marcus Freeman, commended his team’s hard work and dedication in achieving the desired outcome of the game. He encouraged the players to savor the victory before shifting their focus to the upcoming Sugar Bowl. Freeman emphasized the importance of enjoying the moment and celebrating the team’s success, promising them a day off to rest before gearing up for the next challenge.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke found Myles Price for a seven-yard touchdown with just 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers executed a successful two-point conversion to narrow the gap to 27-11. A late touchdown with only 25 seconds left on the clock injected a brief moment of suspense into the game, yet Indiana’s failed two-point conversion officially dashed their hopes of a comeback.
Reflecting on the outcome, Head Coach Cignetti shared, “All good things come to an end. And when you’re my age, you’ve seen it all. I have a lot of guys hurting in there but a part of life is learning how to deal with disappointment the proper way and come back a stronger person because of the experience. You never get everything you want in life. That’s how life is.” Despite the disappointment, Cignetti emphasized the team’s achievements, acknowledging the significant milestones reached throughout the season.
Notre Dame secured their inaugural victory in the College Football Playoff, marking a milestone in their third playoff appearance following previous semifinal defeats in 2018 and 2020. The triumph propels Notre Dame forward to a showdown against the No. 2 seed Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl on January 1, 2025, set to take place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
