By MICHAEL MAROT
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Jeremiyah Love tied the Notre Dame report with a 98-yard landing run, Riley Leonard added two extra scores and the Preventing Irish shut down the highest-scoring workforce within the School Soccer Playoff, overwhelming Indiana 27-17 on Friday evening.
The seventh-seeded Preventing Irish (12-1) gained their eleventh straight — and their first playoff victory. They’ll face second-seeded Georgia within the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman acquired the most important win of his three-year profession by extending his Irish report to 12 victories over ranked groups in three seasons.
Tenth-seeded Indiana (11-2) accomplished a magical season by ending with its second fewest factors this season on a chilly, brisk evening within the first CFP recreation ever performed on a campus website. Each of the Hoosiers’ losses got here to top-five opponents. Indiana set a single-season college report for wins however nonetheless hasn’t gained at Notre Dame since 1898.
Notre Dame took management on its third offensive play when Love scooted round the fitting facet of Indiana’s protection, eluded one deal with and sprinted down the sideline to make it 7-0. He matched Josh Adams’ longest run in class historical past, set in 2015 towards Wake Forest. It was additionally the longest run in CFP historical past.
Love completed with eight carries for 108 yards regardless of showing to reinjure his left knee later within the first half.
Indiana by no means recovered after Notre Dame made it 14-0 early within the second quarter.
Leonard’s 1-yard TD run late within the fourth gave him 15 this season to interrupt Notre Dame’s season report by a quarterback.
Indiana scored each of its touchdowns within the last 1:27.
Notre Dame made it 14-0 on Leonard’s 5-yard TD go to Jayden Thomas early within the second quarter. The Irish settled for 3 extra discipline objectives, and the protection took care of the remainder — permitting only one discipline purpose.
Leonard was 23 of 32 with 201 yards and one interception. Notre Dame receiver Jordan Faison caught seven passes for 89 yards.
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke turned in one other poor recreation towards a high protection, ending 20 of 33 with 215 yards, with two TDs and one interception and the Hoosiers rushed for simply 63 yards.
Takeaways
Indiana: The Hoosiers trailed fewer minutes than another FBS workforce this season getting into the playoffs and had the highest-scoring workforce within the playoffs. They didn’t do both Friday evening towards a stout Irish protection that rattled Rourke early.
Notre Dame: The Irish have relied on the working recreation and protection all season — and it was that mixture that gave Notre Dame the primary playoff win in class historical past. They could want extra out of their passing recreation to win their first nationwide championship since 1988.
Up subsequent
Indiana: Will spend a busy offseason attempting to duplicate what they in-built Yr 1 beneath coach Curt Cignetti.
Notre Dame: Performs Georgia within the Sugar Bowl on New Yr’s Day.
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Initially Printed: December 20, 2024 at 8:41 PM PST
