Marcus Freeman honest about Mitch Jeter's impact on Notre Dame win

Mitch Jeter kicked 12 field goals during the regular season before Notre Dame‘s first-round College Football Playoff win over Indiana.

Highlighted by a 49-yard field goal, Jeter went 2-3 against the Hoosiers and made all three extra point attempts in the game. During the 27-17 victory, his nine points became ultra pivotal down the stretch, leading head coach Marcus Freeman to praise the senior kicker’s confidence throughout his career.

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“[Jeter’s kicks] were huge, especially the one I think was 49 yards before half,” Freeman said after beating Indiana. “That was huge because not only was it an important field goal, but the length of that. He’s been doing it in practice, but to go out and do it in a game in cold weather, we needed that confidence in him and he needed that confidence in himself. It was pleasing.

“It was really good to see him make those big field goals today. We’ve got to fix the one that was blocked. I watched it on the sideline, looked a little low. I think that’s what ended up being the issue.”

The lone kick that didn’t land between the uprights wasn’t exactly Jeter’s fault. During the fourth quarter, a 37-yard attempt did get blocked, which Freeman said they would clean up this week and that it “can’t happen as we move forward.” While the special teams mishap didn’t cost the Irish in the end, Freeman realizes those are the moments that can cost his team an entire game in the right situation.

Still, the Irish held strong to help finish victory despite the opposition’s best efforts. The score was 27-3 before Indiana scored 14 points in quick succession during the final period, making the score closer than it felt during the game. Before that, Notre Dame appeared to be in control for entirity of the first-round matchup.

In their upcoming matchup against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Jeter’s leg may end up being the difference between an Orange Bowl berth in the national semifinal and going home to South Bend for the offseason.

The Sugar Bowl will take place on New Year’s Day, with kickoff set for 8:45 p.m. from inside Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Notre Dame is a 1.5-point underdog to the Bulldogs heading into game week, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.