Notre Dame and Indiana Clash in Historic College Football Playoff Showdown

As the College Football Playoff (CFP) era kicks off, an electrifying matchup is set to unfold tonight at 8 p.m. ET when Notre Dame hosts Indiana in South Bend, Indiana. The game marks a significant moment, showcasing a fierce in-state rivalry between two teams that are only 200 miles apart.

This season, the Hoosiers make their CFP debut, while the Fighting Irish are competing in their third playoff appearance, the first since the 2020 season. Notre Dame is favored by seven points.

How to Watch

Date: Tonight, December 20, 2024
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana
Broadcast: ABC/ESPN

Game Preview

Throughout the season, both teams have demonstrated resilience, each boasting one loss. For Notre Dame, the unexpected loss came in September against Northern Illinois. Meanwhile, Indiana had a perfect record until a defeat against Ohio State in late November.

Headline players include Riley Leonard for the Irish and Kurtis Rourke for the Hoosiers, both of whom have been essential to their teams’ successes. Leonard leads Notre Dame’s offense with his dual-threat capabilities, while Rourke has been a standout after transferring from Ohio, highlighting Indiana’s stronger running game.

Players to Watch

Indiana

Kurtis Rourke (QB): Rourke has amassed 2,827 yards, completing over 70% of his passes with 27 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Justice Ellison (RB): The senior has notched 811 rushing yards with an average of 5.5 yards per carry.
Elijah Sarratt (WR): His impressive stats include four 100-yard games and eight touchdowns this season.

Notre Dame

Riley Leonard (QB): With 2,092 passing yards and 16 touchdowns, he is also the second-best rusher on the team.
Jeremiyah Love (RB): Love leads the team in rushing yards, nearing 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns.
Xavier Watts (S): A key defensive player with 50 tackles and five interceptions this season.

Betting Odds

As of now, Notre Dame’s odds are -7.5 on the spread, indicating they are favored to win; Indiana’s moneyline is set at +230. The over/under is placed at 50.5 points.