Notre Dame Stadium will host its first-ever College Football Playoff game on Friday, December 20, as the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish (11-1) take on No. 10 Indiana (11-1). This marks the inaugural playoff game to be played on a home campus under the expanded 12-team format. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET, with ESPN and ABC carrying the broadcast.
The matchup will reignite a regional rivalry, with Notre Dame holding a commanding 23-5-1 record in their 30 previous meetings against the Hoosiers. However, this will be their first postseason encounter since the series began. The two teams last met in 1991, with the Irish claiming a decisive 49-27 victory. The last Indiana win over the Irish was in 1950, and the only win in South Bend by the Hoosiers was over a century ago in 1898.
This matchup marks the 30th meeting between these in-state rivals, with Notre Dame holding a commanding 23-5-1 overall record. The Irish, who finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in both major polls, are making their third appearance in the College Football Playoff.
At stake is a berth in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on January 1, where the winner will face No. 2 Georgia.
Notre Dame's defense, ranked among the nation's elite in several categories, and a dynamic offense led by quarterback Riley Leonard, who ranks second nationally in rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks, will be key factors to watch.
Adding to the historical significance, this will be the first game at Notre Dame Stadium played on a Friday and the first non-NBC broadcast at the iconic venue since 1990.
Follow reports leading up to the game, plus game coverage at Michiana.Life.