In the first game of the new College Football Playoff 12-team format, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated visiting Indiana Hoosiers 27-17.
After early turnovers by both teams, the Irish took the game over and never looked back. The scoring started with a Jeremiyah Love 98-yard touchdown, the longest run in CFP history.
Notre Dame would then get the ball back a few minutes later, and would embarrass on a 16-play, 83-yard touchdown drive capped off with a Jayden Thomas 5-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Riley Leonard.
The two teams would then exchange punts and field goals before the half. It was much less active on the scoreboard during the third quarter, as the Irish added another field goal to stretch their lead to 20-3.
Leonard would add a score on the ground in the fourth quarter, to extend the lead 27-3 and effectively end the game. Indiana did make it a contest late with two touchdowns, but the lead was too large to overcome with so little time left.
Notre Dame’s winning streak is now up to 11-games, as they will now face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl in the second-round of the CFP.
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