College Football Playoff Preview: Indiana Hoosiers v Notre Dame Fighting Irish

[@randychester2754]

That humiliating NIU loss absolutely galvanized ND and resulted in the 10-0 run since. Without that loss, I don't believe they would have won all 10 of those games. Marcus Freeman deserves enormous credit for raising his team from the grave. I love Cignetti and Indiana's story this year. They get a lot of unfair criticism for their schedule. This IS a good team with a very bright future. Wish these teams didn't have to play 1st round, want to pull for both. ☘️

[@eugenefarrell1002]

Go Irish from Dublin Ireland ☘️ 🇮🇪

[@tobyorcutt8500]

I love your city. We watched the Notre Dame game against Navy last year. One of the best vacations my wife and I ever had. ☘️ 🇮🇪 🇺🇸

[@gordyhamilton137]

GO IRISH GO

[@brighamanderson4577]

IUs adjusted strength adjusted schedule is now right next to Notre dame you can’t say that beating a ranked team than ended barely bowl elegible is impressive

[@Awilson14064]

So hard to pick a team if your from Indiana much love to both programs

[@dadee5425]

I can't choose... I was born blue & gold but bleed crimson & white...Ohh the humanity!

[@WillGettinToIt]

Easy, blue and gold🤟🏾

[@Awilson14064]

👆🏻only real ones know

[@beam65md]

Funny, I was born Crimson and Cream, because those are Hoosier's colors. Go Big Red! Shut all the doubters up for good!

[@mag1631]

I'm suprised IU fans are confident against ND. The Ohio State game showed the talent gap or whatever you want to call it. I just think IU is a lower tier of football still. I'm glad they are doing good in football and I hope they keep it up next season also. go Irish.

[@miller7522]

Take away the two punting errors and it was 17-15. Iu has an inexperienced punting team cause they didn’t punt much. Depends on if they correct the OL line problem

[@Hithereitsme32]

@@miller7522they gone be punting versus nd trust me

[@rfplaw1]

They clearly are a lower tier but we could still blow it. Their confidence is similar to Purdue fans when they are halfway decent. Suddenly think they are superior.

[@DonnyRocker2012]

Coaching I’m in South Bend: it’ll come down to coaching.

[@IrishCarBombMeets12TeamPlayoff]

​@@DonnyRocker2012gotta like Denbrock & AL Golden in that matchup.. 💯☘🏈

[@WillGettinToIt]

ND will run all over that overrated run D. They tried to say Army had the best run D and we put almost 300yds on them. They tried to say USC had a good run D. We ran for almost 300 on them. We'll do the same to IU

[@HoosierFilms]

Indiana didn’t have a “line issue” vs OSU, they had a noise/silent count tell issue where OSU could beat them off the line before the snap. Notre dame isn’t as loud as OSU and a bunch of Hoosier fans will show up in south bend.

[@Indyfinnswim]

go IU!

[@issaccody1161]

@@HoosierFilms This feels like copium to me.

[@HoosierFilms]

@ Did you actually watch the OSU game? IU ran up and down on them, both of their backs had 70 yards . They also held OSU to the lowest rushing total all year. If IU doesn’t give up 14 points on the punt team that game is within reach in the 4th. You can’t go on the road NO TEAM and give up 14 points on ST and expect to remain competitive. Now add (OSU fans , not me) “the loudest they’ve ever heard the shoe” to a team that’s a pass first team, who also commited 5 false starts (one of the least penalized teams in CFB) it’s pretty obvious that the noise affected IU, also if you can jump the snap because you know the snap tell , it’s a major advantage. The line was fantastic all year and you could tell just watching the noise was a factor. It can be cope if you want to believe that. But I actually watch the games, it’s really easy to see when noise is a factor. I’m a ND football fan , who grew up in Bloomington , I’d love to see ND win, and run it in all my family’s face. But ND stadium is not the shoe, it can be loud but not OSU loud. It’s just not. Add in the fact that IU fans will show up. They just will. The crowd will be thinner. I’ve been to games that aren’t CFBP games where the opposing teams fans have shown up a taken 20-25% of the stands. If that happens and it’s likely that it will because IU fans are state wide, that noise will not be as big a factor. I could be wrong but if ND wins it won’t be due to noise as much as it was against OSU, IU also now has the advantage of preparing for that sort of environment because they’ve experienced it with OSU. The game will come down to executing and talent , not penalties, ST failures and noise/communicating offensively.

[@Fighting_Irish86]

ND wins 38-17. Go Irish!!!☘️☘️

[@mikebronicki8264]

Sounds about right. We want UGA!

[@briancarroll1917]

Can’t wait to hear the chatter get quiet when Nd demolishes the Hoosiers. They won’t score over 17 on the Irish

[@davidswift7776]

Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke rocks and will give The Irish fits. Do not underestimate, simply amazing as a an Ohio Bobcat transfer !

[@DrYankemAndPuIem]

Please. Say Hi to Xavier Watts bud

[@maureencora1]

i Wish They Play This Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy.

[@gordyhamilton137]

NO

[@kbrewski1]

Sorry. Not the way it works.

[@DJ7mph]

Translation. I wish we could turn this road game into a home game.

[@WillGettinToIt]

Why

[@maureencora1]

@@WillGettinToIt Why Not?

[@rouse196]

Hoosiers by 10

[@kells1001]

Didnt mention IU run defense being the best in the big ten.

[@JoeOutdoors]

Sure would be sweet to repeat 11-5 on 11-5, 1898, Indiana

[@chuckcribbs3398]

Stats: IU is #1 against the run, #2 total defense, #2 scoring offense and #1 in point differential. They only gave up 115 rushing yards against Ohio State and 69 against Michigan. You think ND is going to run against IU? And the biggest factor is coaching experience. Cignetti and his crew are way more experienced. Decades more. If not for two bad punts against OSU it would have been way closer and we would have had a chance to win. ND is going to lose. Bank on it.

[@DrYankemAndPuIem]

Who have they played? You also probably said the same thing against OSU

[@Nitabita_]

Three words: Denbrock and Golden best coordinators AND highest paid in college football this year. They aren’t the highest paid coordinators for nothing! This is going to be a GREAT match up.

[@HoosierFilms]

@@DrYankemAndPuIem the who have you played is really cute when you factor in Indiana and ND have the same strength of schedule lol, Also who have you lost to?

[@HoosierFilms]

@@Nitabita_they’re the highest paid because nobody want to live in South Bend and they have to pay more than an SEC team , ND has the money so they pay it.

[@DJ7mph]

@@chuckcribbs3398 coaching experience as in the head coach? Yeah but not at this level. But you also brought up assistants. Decades more? You sure about that? I doubt they have more.

[@iPhone-q4z]

ND fan. The pass game terrifies me after the usc game. Hoosiers are gonna be tough. Let’s go Irish

[@ajgallo21]

Dame 35-17

[@timcepin3386]

Indiana 30, Can’t Throw 20

[@JB6Lights]

GO IU 🏈

[@Will-fk2dk]

It comes down to Notre Dame's Offensive Line. Can Indiana take on that Offensive line which, at the beginning of the 2024 Season, was considered a liability. Since the NIU loss, Notre Dame's Offensive Line has absolutely mauled opposing Defenses. And I mean, it hasn't been close. They DESTROY Base 4 Fronts. And if Indiana attempts to stunt and blitz a lot, it will be over by Halftime. Teams that have blitzed ND have not been successful. Like, at all. The other match-up that is worth watching is Indiana Passing game vs ND's Secondary. USC was able to get several chunk plays on screens to the RBs, and their Freshman QB was LITERALLY just dropping back and launching deep balls down the sideline for the entire second half. The Irish were finally able to shut their passing game down late, with 2 long Pick 6s. Indiana could find success down the sidline, like USC, or in the screen game. If they choose to throw over the middle, it will be a mistake. The Safeties for ND are incredible. Now, I don't think Indiana will have to contend with the Irish throwing deep. I believe the Hoosiers can contain the deep passing game, and make Notre Dame hit the TEs, both of whom are excellent. But Indiana has some UNBELIEVABLY UNDERRATED LBs. I have wondered why they havent been talked about more this season. So the ND's TEs could find trouble as well. The thung is, Notee Dame QB Riley Leonard doesn't have to throw for a ton of yards in order to be successful. He is a demon when running the ball. Overall, this could be a good game, providing the Hoosiers can hold the Irish running game in check. Because if the Irish O-line dominates, its over early.

[@traderz7416]

Riley Leonard will gash and slash IU. Love breaks off a 60 yarder for TD when IU brings the house.

[@colinmurphy3707]

Indiana has a very good run game stats don’t show it Justice but we have a very solid 2-3 man rotation in the back

[@Fighting_Irish86]

So does ND. We have 3 runners averaging 8.0 YPC

[@elwalker9034]

People are way high on ND. I don't see it, but folks think they're it.

[@eugenestump111]

Flip has been switched ?

[@ModernFootball_Prod]

ND’s defense is going to tear IU to shreds. Yall only played ONE ranked team and lost 38-15. IU is not scoring more than 14 points and Notre Dame wins by double digits like almost every one of their games!

[@rouse196]

If Cig and the OC make adjustments for blindside protection, I don't see it happening. Big IF but there's no way they don't address that. I don't think they changed anything for Purdue because they didn't want to show their gameplan. Also going to be tough to make adjustments at the line (OSU noise exposed that) but I think they'll fix that too. The Ohio State game was the Hoosier's Northern Illinois game.

[@issaccody1161]

There are 10 opponents on Indiana's team who all have at least 5 losses or more. Difficult to say just how good they actually are.

[@troyjones5156]

One of those was Michigan and we know what they did to Ohio State.

[@issaccody1161]

@troyjones5156 And a fluke game is a fluke game. That MI loss doesn't mean much in terms of IU and ND.

[@eightyoneduce1976]

HOOSIERS by a million

[@ChiTsang]

IU players couldn't get in ND

[@randytallman6746]

IRISH 42-20

[@gbro8822]

Go Irish

[@1982mdunc]

Go Hoosiers

[@jamespaultaylor2059]

Notre Dame 42-20

[@rossrreyes]

ND should start preparing for Georgia NOW. Just put the Second Team in against Indiana.

[@andycockrum1212]

Yes please! Overlook Indiana

[@stanleygay7579]

I TOTALLY DISAGREE and thankfully Marcus Freeman is TOO SMART to UNDERESTIMATE any opponent !!!!

[@bobbyflake4313]

Ain't no way that happens in south bend

[@natetill812]

IU doesn’t have the run game? Dude you have no idea what you’re talking about 😂

[@DonnyRocker2012]

Discussion re defense shows video of offense…

[@Indyfinnswim]

these reviews are so predictable and (at least in this case) biased towards ND. I just like reading the comments and, I'm sorry, i like imagining how shocked ND fans will be when IU beats them. IU has nothing really to loose. Most of the critics have ND winning. ND has a lot to loose here. Go IU LOL!

[@jwacgridiron]

I’m a Hoosiers fan

[@AnimeNerdRain]

Notre dame wins 38-17

[@giftofgab7777]

Yup, and the majority of IU’s points will be during trash time. ND 45-17

[@dobie4473]

The average Rushing Offense against IU this year was #98. Against ND = #55. OSU was the highest at #59. IU played no one that could stop the run. ND's Rushing Offense is ranked #10. 6x better than OSU. The best Rushing Defense ND faced was Army at #11 and ND ran for 273 against them. Do the math.

[@Talking_Comics]

Hoosiers will win 34-21

[@mvdiablo]

pffftttt 😂 whos gunna stop Jeremiyah Love on Indiana???

[@Prestonian8]

Wanna bet???

[@aaronaaron4155]

I don't see the Hoosiers putting up 34 on the Irish defense.

[@briancarroll1917]

Yea I’m sure they’ll score that many points off a defense who’s allowing about 14 ppg

[@thereal_fatshady6920]

@@mvdiablo pfffft his name is aiden fisher, you will hear his name alot! 😂

[@Surge308]

It’ll be closer than I’d like to admit. 30-24. ND wins, IU covers

[@bencarter8423]

Some of the pro IU comments on here remind me why the majority of the smart people in our state are North of Indianapolis!

[@andycockrum1212]

Yall have Gary

[@bencarter8423]

@ And you have Tell City, your point?

[@bencarter8423]

@ Btw, in case you just think I hate southern Indiana. I went to the University of Southern Indiana!

[@HoosierFilms]

@@bencarter8423 I’m a ND football fan, and an IU basketball fan , but grew up in Btown and watched every Indiana game this year. ND strengths are IUs strengths Rush O vs Rush D. But ND weakness is Indiana’s strength. Deep ball throws, but Rourke isn’t going to give up pick sixes like USC did, Christian Gray is a liability deep, I think ND probably wins 60% of the time, but those are odds no ND fan should feel comfortable about . Id have much rather have drawn SMU or Clemson.

[@bencarter8423]

@ Grey is not a liability. He’s a sophomore who has stepped up all year. He had a rough day against USC, but has stepped up since Morrison went down. ND has one of the best secondaries in the country. Their qb isn’t going to throw the ball as well as he usually does. They have not seen a rushing attack like ND all year. Not even close!?

[@tylerbickell5576]

It's a switch has flipped NOT A FLIP HAS SWITCHED!!

[@deeppockets7540]

Notre Dame won't score more than 17. Hoosiers win by double digits.

[@takewhatugive9495]

Notre dame has wins over 8 bowl eligible teams, you all only have 3 teams, 2 which are 6-6😂. Who have you all played?

[@Prestonian8]

Do you want to make a bet??

[@craigboesen649]

Book marking this to come back to ridicule you

[@Hoosiers12345]

@@takewhatugive9495 We sure as hell would beat Northern Illinois!

[@DCindy50]

Stop, just tell us you have no idea what you're talking about

[@raymondhafsten5731]

The ultimate BS is ticket allocation...only way for IU fans including longtime season ticket holders to obtain is from scalped...this is play off should be specific allocation 50/50...bad enough lake effect snow and 8pm all for money

[@RedBullND]

50/50? What’s the point of it being a home game then?

[@kbrewski1]

It's a HOME GAME FOR THE HIGHER SEED. THUS, ND GETS MOST OF THE TICKETS. DURRRRR!!!

[@smccollum777]

Probably beat IU but, no way they make it any further. Their players are to soft to play with the big boys. ND reminds me of a glorified Texas high school team.

[@randytallman6746]

Take your medicine

[@WillGettinToIt]

Tell me you don't watch football without saying you don't watch football smh

[@DrYankemAndPuIem]

Dawg do you even know what you’re talking about?

[@SLAINTE574]

ND~35 IU~17. KNUTE ROCKNE STADIUM DEC. 20TH 9° LAKE EFFECT SNOW/WINTER ADVISORY 🌬️❄️🌨️☃️🏟️🌬️🌨️❄️☃️

[@steveanthony1667]

If that's indeed true, which it's not the score would be much lower. Iu 9 ND 7.

[@armandgallanosa]

Being an IU graduate and ND fan, I'm torn. Nah, lfg ND 🍀🏈💯!!!

[@thereal_fatshady6920]

the only big ten team that beat iu was ohio st AT ohio st. people acting like they havnt played anyone considering they play in the big ten where atleast 2/3 of the teams can beat you on any given day! its not exactly a weak conf... and if you say it is you are clueless about football and one of those unrealistic fans. news flash people ohio st is a tuff place to play and iu was just a few bad special teams plays away from being right there, mich got it done there and iu beat mich, and iu destroyed the rest of the big ten. i like the irish and will also root for them if they win but this IS NOT THE IU FOOTBALL TEAM OF THE PAST! I do say that is it comes down to bad weather it favors the irish run game, if its decent weather look out because Indianas passing game is something the irish havnt face this season. also iu has a pretty solid def.

[@Tony-rz4ks]

Notre Dame is going to destroy Indiana...34-14

[@ndn4203]

Notre dame wins 48-14