Overview

• Indiana, led by first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, enters the playoff as the No. 10 seed after a program-record 11-win season.
• Notre Dame, the No. 7 seed, boasts one of the nation’s top rushing attacks and defenses, anchored by QB Riley Leonard and RB Jeremiyah Love.
• Both teams rank in the top three nationally in scoring offense and defense, setting up a battle of strengths on December 20 at Notre Dame Stadium.
• This marks Indiana's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, while Notre Dame seeks to build on its storied postseason history.
• The winner will advance to face No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, adding significant stakes to this intrastate matchup.