SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Nearly half an hour before Indiana football kicked off its College Football Playoff First Round game against the University of Notre Dame, a handful of Hoosiers encouraged louder boos from the Fighting Irish faithful.
Over the next nearly four hours, Indiana gave Notre Dame fans plenty to cheer about as the Hoosiers fell 27-17 on Friday at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
The Hoosiers received the opening kickoff and proceeded to go three-and-out. And despite the Fighting Irish being set up at their 40-yard line, Indiana sophomore cornerback D’Angelo Ponds intercepted Notre Dame senior quarterback Riley Leonard’s pass after it was deflected.
Indiana sixth-year senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke responded with an interception of his own, which was followed by Fighting Irish sophomore running back Jeremiyah Love’s 98-yard rushing touchdown to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.
Over the Hoosiers’ ensuing two drives, they gained 63 yards in 14 plays. Notre Dame, on the other hand, capped its 14-play, 83-yard drive spanning just over nine minutes with a touchdown to take a 14-0 lead.
Both squads notched a field goal on their last full drives in the opening half as the Fighting Irish went into the halftime locker room with a 17-3 advantage.
Notre Dame went three-and-out in its second half-opening drive, as did the Hoosiers. Fighting Irish fifth-year senior Mitch Jeter drilled a 33-yard field goal with just under four and a half minutes left in the third quarter to give his squad a 20-3 lead.
Indiana’s offense, which gained just 138 yards in the opening half, continued to struggle in the third quarter. After notching another three-and-out, the Hoosiers ran six total plays in the quarter and lost seven yards.
Notre Dame then drove into Indiana’s territory, allowing Jeter to attempt a 37-yard field goal, which was blocked by Indiana sixth-year senior defensive lineman James Carpenter. The Hoosiers failed to capitalize, however, as they punted the ball after a five-play, 12-yard drive.
The Fighting Irish continued to cruise to victory with Leonard adding a touchdown to take a 27-3 lead.
Rourke tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to fifth-year senior wide receiver Myles Price with just under a minute and a half left in the game. The Hoosiers were successful on the 2-point conversion to pull to within 16 points.
Indiana then recovered an onside kick to gain possession with 1:24 left. Nearly a minute later, Rourke tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., but the Hoosiers failed on the 2-point conversion to seal the 10-point loss.
Rourke finished 20 for 33 for 215 yards alongside two touchdowns and an interception. The Hoosiers conclude their season with an 11-2 overall record in their first campaign under head coach Curt Cignetti.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
