Indiana at Notre Dame: College Football Playoff first round live updates, score, highlights
After rattling off 10 consecutive wins since its loss to NIU, Notre Dame is the No. 7 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. On Friday night, the Fighting Irish will host the first-ever Playoff game on campus against No. 10 seed Indiana.
This is a chance for the Irish to not only make a statement but also capture its first big-time postseason win in three decades. Meanwhile, Indiana has had its best season in program history in Year One under Curt Cignetti. Thirteen players followed Cignetti from James Madison to Bloomington.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ABC on Friday night. Notre Dame and Indiana are meeting for the 30th time, with the last meeting coming in 1991.
Indiana punts again
12/20/2024 09:57:48 PMIndiana punted for the sixth time Friday night, this time a questionable call with the Hoosiers trailing 20-3 with less than 11 minutes to play in the game.
Notre Dame FG blocked
12/20/2024 09:47:05 PMAfter Notre Dame’s offense sputtered, Mitch Jeter’s low-field goal attempt was batted down and blocked by Indiana. The Hoosiers returned it 15 yards and will take over on their 40-yard line with 12:12 remaining in the game.
END 3Q: Notre Dame 20, IU 3
12/20/2024 09:39:38 PMNotre Dame carries its 20-3 lead into the fourth quarter.
Jeremiyah Love stiff arms IU player
12/20/2024 09:37:32 PMNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love has rushed for 99 yards so far against Indiana. Late in the the third quarter, he hit an Indiana defender with a stiff arm.
Indiana forced to punt
12/20/2024 09:32:32 PMWith an incomplete pass on third down, Indiana failed to pick up a first down and to answer Notre Dame’s field goal. The Fighting Irish will take over on their 31-yard line with 2:48 remaining and holding a 20-3 lead.
Notre Dame 20, Indiana 3
12/20/2024 09:25:17 PMWith 4:21 remaining in the third quarter, Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter converted a 33-yard field goal to put the Fighting Irish up 20-3. Notre Dame took off nearly seven minutes of clock on its 11-play, 28-yard drive.
Kurtis Rourke sacked
12/20/2024 09:13:40 PMIndiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke was sacked on third down by true freshman standout Bryce Young. The Hoosiers face a 4th-and-19 and are forced to punt. Notre Dame takes over on the Indiana 43-yard line with 11:03 remaining in the third quarter.
Rylie Mills injured
12/20/2024 09:12:01 PMNotre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills injured his leg early in the third quarter. Mills is the team’s leader in sacks this season. He was helped off the field.
Notre Dame three-and-out
12/20/2024 09:04:41 PMNotre Dame went three-and-out on its first drive of the second half. It’s the first three-and-out of the game for the Fighting Irish. Indiana takes over on its 12-yard line with 13:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Notre Dame kick return reverse
12/20/2024 09:01:17 PMNotre Dame returned the opening kickoff of the second half for 44 yards with a reverse play. The Fighting Irish take over on the Indiana 47-yard line.
Indiana trails at half for second time in 2024
12/20/2024 08:55:59 PMIndiana trails 17-3 at the half against Notre Dame. It’s the second time of the season. The last came at Ohio State when the Hoosiers lost 38-15.
Marcus Freeman: ‘We knew this was going to be a battle’
12/20/2024 08:54:31 PMMarcus Freeman and Notre Dame wanted “football weather” for Friday’s College Football Playoff opener. They got it. Notre Dame leads 17-3 over Indiana at the half.
“We knew this was going to be a battle,” Freeman told ABC’s Molly McGrath. “You talk about cold, December games, you’ve got to be able to run the ball, you’ve got to stop the run. That’s something we’ve been doing pretty well. Taking care of the ball for the most part.
“We’ve got to continue to try to make an impact on special teams. This is gonna be a battle. It’s been a good fight. Looking forward to coming back for the second half.”
IU struggling against ranked teams
12/20/2024 08:53:17 PMIn six quarters against ranked opponents this season, Indiana has now been outscored 55-18.
HT: Notre Dame 17, Indiana 3
12/20/2024 08:37:17 PMNotre Dame is currently outgaining Indiana 234 to 138 yards at the end of the first half.
Notre Dame extends lead
12/20/2024 08:35:09 PMNotre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter made a 49-yard field goal attempt, the punctuation point to the Fighting Irish’s 12-play, 52-yard drive. Notre Dame leads 17-3. Jeter’s kick was a season best.
Two-minute timeout
12/20/2024 08:23:16 PMNotre Dame is on its 21-yard line and facing a 3rd-and-6 entering the two-minute timeout.
Notre Dame 14, Indiana 3
12/20/2024 08:17:03 PMIndiana was forced to settle for a field goal, with kicker Nicolas Radicic converting a 34-yard field goal to chip into Notre Dame’s lead. The Fighting Irish lead 14-3 with 3:26 remaining in the first half.
Big stop for IU
12/20/2024 08:05:21 PMIndiana made a big-time stop midway through the second quarter, batting down Riley Leonard’s pass and forcing the Fighting Irish to punt. The Hoosiers take over on their 36-yard line with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter and trail 14-0.
Indiana shanks punt again
12/20/2024 07:59:12 PMIndiana punter James Evans has shanked each of his three punts on Friday night. The Fighting Irish take over on their 22-yard line with 9:30 remaining in the first half. Notre Dame leads 14-0.
Indiana’s last win at Notre Dame
12/20/2024 07:58:19 PMIndiana’s last win at Notre Dame:
Notre Dame 14, IU 0
12/20/2024 07:50:27 PMNotre Dame capped off its 16-play, 83-yard drive with a 5-yard pass from Riley Leonard to Jayden Thomas. The Fighting Irish lead 14-0 with 12:52 remaining in the first half.
Curt Cignetti weighs in on first quarter
12/20/2024 07:47:04 PMAsked about Indiana’s start to the game, Cignetti pointed to turnovers and not filling gaps on Jeremiyah Love’s 98-yard touchdown run.
“Very shaky start,” Cignetti said.
END 1Q: Notre Dame 7, IU 0
12/20/2024 07:44:04 PMNotre Dame leads 7-0 after the first quarter, led by running back Jeremiyah Love. Indiana has just 69 yards of total offense. The Fighting Irish are driving and face a 2nd-and-7 coming out of the quarter break from the Indiana 14-yard line.
Notre Dame piecing together drive
12/20/2024 07:43:29 PMNotre Dame is currently on a 10-play, 52-yard drive.
Indiana punts again
12/20/2024 07:30:52 PMIndiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke is 1 of 6 passing to start the game. Notre Dame will take over on its 17-yard line with seven minutes to play in the first quarter.
Jeremiyah Love goes 98 yards to the house
12/20/2024 07:23:30 PMOn Notre Dame’s first play after picking off Kurtis Rourke, running back Jeremiyah Love broke a 98-yard touchdown run. The Fighting Irish lead 7-0 with 10:57 remaining in the first quarter.
Notre Dame picks off Kurtis Rourke
12/20/2024 07:19:18 PMEach quarterback has now thrown a pick in the first quarter. Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts intercepted Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke with the Hoosiers driving into the Fighting Irish’s red zone. It was only Rourke’s fifth pick of the year.
Notre Dame takes over on its 2-yard line with 11:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Indiana picks off Riley Leonard
12/20/2024 07:15:45 PMIndiana defensive lineman James Carpenter tipped Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard’s pass, which was intercepted by Indiana defensive back D’Angelo Ponds. The Hoosiers take over Notre Dame 41-yard line early in the first quarter.
Indiana goes three-and-out
12/20/2024 07:13:11 PMIndiana goes a quick three-and-out forced by the Notre Dame defense on the first drive of the game. Notre Dame will take over at its 41-yard line with 14:06 remaining.
Kickoff
12/20/2024 07:11:03 PMIndiana will start at its 25-yard line.
Coin toss
12/20/2024 07:07:53 PMNotre Dame has won the toss and elected to defer. Indiana will start with the ball.
College GameDay picks
12/20/2024 06:59:30 PMWith guest picker Shane Gillis, the College GameDay crew made its picks:
Desmond Howard: Notre Dame
Nick Saban: Notre Dame
Kirk Herbstreit: Notre Dame
Pat McAfee: Indiana
Shane Gillis: Notre Dame
Update on Howard Cross
12/20/2024 06:47:12 PMNotre Dame All-American defensive tackle Howard Cross is expected to start against Indiana but has not played since injuring his ankle on Nov. 9.
Weather update
12/20/2024 06:35:01 PMWith snow already on the ground, it will be sub-freezing conditions as temperatures are expected to be in the upper 20s when Friday night’s game kicks off. It’s also expected to be a bit breezy, with 10-mph winds expected, according to The Weather Channel.
Final Notre Dame vs. Indiana line
12/20/2024 06:33:33 PMThe Fighting Irish are a 6.5-point favorite in Friday night’s game. The over-under is set at 50.5 points