#11 Indiana Versus #7 Notre Dame

By: Greg Rector

Now, you all know how much of a fan I am of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. If you’ve watched me on The Last Word, you know I have greatly supported Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers this 2024 season.

This seems like a great matchup since I like both teams. However, this game sees two teams from the same part of the country playing each other. Yet once again, the CFB Playoff Committee didn’t make a Southern school come up to South Bend, which had been my hope since Notre Dame isn’t a conference champion as the setup currently used is in place.

I’m sorry, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have fewer losses than Arizona State and Georgia. They also lost one fewer game than Texas, which got the fifth spot. Once again, Notre Dame gets the shaft, and instead, the team from Bloomington comes to South Bend.

There’s my tirade over and done with. Let’s look at this game more closely.

INDIANA HOOSIERS

Coach Cignetti put this team together nicely. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke transferred from Ohio University, and Cignetti brought many of his former James Madison players to Bloomington. Outside of one-quarter of horrible football against Ohio State, the Hoosiers have dominated every opponent they faced. Please don’t start with how they didn’t play any good opponents. The B1G Conference has 16 teams, and it’s up to football teams to play who they are told to play.

The Indiana Hoosiers attacked teams beautifully through the air. Rourke threw for 2,827 yards and 27 TD passes, and Elijah Sarratt caught 49 passes for 890 yards and 8 TDs. This is one area where the Hoosiers were much better than in past seasons.

Justice Ellison (10 TDs) and Ty Son Lawson (12 TDs) were highly effective running backs on the ground.

The Indiana Hoosiers defense is a no-name bunch, yet they intercepted 14 passes and caused nine fumble recoveries. This group has been very successful against the running game. They ranked second in the country against the run for most of the season. This fact must be on the minds of offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and head coach Marcus Freeman for Notre Dame on how to attack this fine defensive unit.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This version of the Fighting Irish has been fun to watch. Losing players in the pre-season and not having quarterback Riley Leonard during spring training hurt Marcus Freeman’s plans for Notre Dame. What happened with an almost guaranteed first-round draft pick, Benjamin Morrison, being lost for the season? Leonard Moore, a true freshman, has stepped in and has been very effective at the corner position.

Mike Denbrock figured out how to use Riley Leonard quite nicely. Leonard threw for 2,092 yards, and he had 16 passing TDs. Riley Leonard’s legs are the key to his game, and he rushed for 721 yards and scored 14 TDs. Add in Jerimayah Love and his 949 yards and 12 TDs, and let’s not forget Jadarian Price with 651 yards and 7 TDs. Yes, I understand the running game isn’t as exciting for many so-called fans, but it works for Notre Dame, and with enough passing, this version of the Fighting Irish has gone 11-1.

As I said in my season preview, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense has been outstanding all season. They intercepted 17 passes, with Xavier Watts leading the way with five more after last season’s seven interceptions, and they also recovered 11 fumbles.

However, the real strength of defensive coordinator Al Golden’s defense has been the pressure they use on opponents. Ask the Navy and Army coaches how well they handled the pressure; the same applies to Texas A&M. This has been a vast difference compared to past teams. I don’t care who the Notre Dame Fighting Irish play in this playoff. This group will attack your offensive line and cause havoc.

Prediction

As much as I have loved watching the Indiana Hoosiers this season, the end of the road comes to their season when they play the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I have Notre Dame winning this game with a 30 to 24 victory.

Let’s Go Irish!!!!