Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana

Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (13) pulls in 28-yard reception as Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray (29) defends during the first half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame record with a 98-yard touchdown run, Riley Leonard added two more scores and the Fighting Irish shut down the highest-scoring team in the College Football Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday night.

The seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (12-1) won their 11th straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman earned the biggest win of his three-year career by extending his Irish record to 12 victories over ranked teams in three seasons.

Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) completed a magical season by finishing with its second fewest points this season on a cold, brisk night in the first CFP game ever played on a campus site. Both of the Hoosiers’ losses came to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season school record for wins but still hasn’t won at Notre Dame since 1898.

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Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason trying to replicate what they built in Year 1 under coach Curt Cignetti.

Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti watches against Notre Dame during the first half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Notre Dame: Plays Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds (5) celebrates his interception of a Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard pass during the first half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Thomas (83) catches a five-yard touchdown reception against Indiana during the first half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Indiana wide receiver Myles Price (4) tries to outrun Notre Dame safety Jordan Clark (1) safety Xavier Watts (0) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Notre Dame running back Dylan Devezin (25) is tackled by Indiana defensive back Amare Ferrell (25) during the second half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Notre Dame wide receiver Jayden Thomas (83) reaches for yardage after a catch as Indiana linebacker Jailin Walker (2) defends during the second half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Notre Dame protects home field in new postseason era with 1st playoff win, 27-17 over Indiana | iNFOnews.ca
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman watches against Indiana during the second half in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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