College football playoffs: Notre Dame defeats Indiana University 27-17 in historic matchup
The matchup was a twist for those with dual loyalties in Hoosier State.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Indiana University fell to Notre Dame in a historic Friday night college football playoff matchup that was a twist for those with dual loyalties in the Hoosier State.
The final score was 27-17.
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Marcus Freeman spent his first two seasons as the Notre Dame coach chasing the playoff dream.
This year, he lived it - at home.
After closing the regular season on a 10-game winning streak and getting two weeks to prepare for the most meaningful postseason game of his career, Freeman was finally ready to lead the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish against 10th-seeded Indiana on Friday.
"We've been in the playoffs since Week 3," Freeman said, alluding to their postseason hopes following the stunning loss to Northern Illinois. "Every game we play is a version of a playoff game in our minds. We have to continue to understand that you don't have any more added pressure than you've had the previous 10."
Except the Irish (11-1) knew this one was different.
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Notre Dame hasn't made a national championship run since 1988, its longest title drought since winning the school's first in 1924. And unlike previous playoffs, the Irish played the first game on campus in College Football Playoff history.
Just how unusual was this environment?
It was the first time Notre Dame has hosted a postseason game, the first time Notre Dame Stadium hosted a Friday night game and the first time since 1990 that a Notre Dame home game was not telecast by NBC.
Still, the Irish did what they could to make this seem like just another football week.
"The hardest thing throughout this whole process has probably been finals here at Notre Dame because that's no joke," quarterback Riley Leonard said. "Otherwise, it's like a couple of bye weeks for us. We handle it the same way. Practice has been the same, the same recipe for success."
But the stakes were significantly higher in this matchup between the two Indiana schools that have met just once since 1959. Notre Dame won 49-27 in 1991.
No. 9 Indiana (11-1) was the most improbable playoff entrant.
Associated Press Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti engineered an eight-game turnaround in his first season with the Hoosiers, setting a new single-season school record for victories while falling just a tiebreaker short of playing for its first Big Ten title since 1967.
The Hoosiers had been scoring 43.3 points, the most of any playoff team, and had one of the FBS' stingiest defenses, too. And even though Indiana failed its only test against a ranked foe, the Hoosiers believed that loss would help them do what most still believe impossible - reaching the Sugar Bowl for a quarterfinal game against No. 2 seed Georgia.
"It was a tough loss, but I think it was really important for us to have a game like that, to be tested and know what it takes to win these games," quarterback Kurtis Rourke said, referring to the 38-15 loss at then-No. 2 Ohio State last month. "This is a win or go home kind of setup, so we're going to have to make sure that we come with our best effort."
One key advantage - postseason experience - didn't pan out in the end on Friday night.
Cignetti and many of his assistant coaches were together for FCS and Division II playoff teams, and Cignetti also has that national championship ring from his days as Alabama coach Nick Saban's recruiting coordinator.
"Well, I am kind of used to this routine," Cignetti said. "But I don't think it's a major change for any of the coaches, to be quite honest with you, that are in the playoff."
Tailgating
Fans waited a long time for this kind of game, and some of them got a jump start on the fun Friday morning.
"Just incredible, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm glad to be here with my incredible friends, and to see everyone here all together and support Notre Dame and Indiana. It's incredible," IU alumnus from Lake Forest Austen Rang said.
Some set up their tailgates as the snow fell early Friday morning in South Bend. They partied all day.
In the shadow of Notre Dame stadium, there was food, fandom and unparalleled excitement.
"I've been coming to games here my entire life. My dad went here, and I would say, like, the atmosphere here right now is more electric and more energized than it's ever been before," Notre Dame student and Elmhurst resident Kevin Kelley said.
It was an early Christmas gift for fans of Notre Dame and Indiana, who were there to witness the history-making game.
"Everybody is just 10 out of 10 excited, 10 out of 10, like, it's amazing, vibes are amazing. I love it," Notre Dame student Libby Schuster said. "I can't believe that the college playoffs are like genuinely changed so much, and finally we get to host a game. I love it."
The Kaplans of Deerfield cheered for the Hoosiers.
"There's a huge Chicago population of Indiana fans. There's a huge Chicago population of Notre Dame fans," IU alumnus from Deerfield Jeffrey Kaplan said.
It was almost like the Crosstown Classic East.
"My mom's rooting for Indiana. My dad's rooting for Notre Dame. I've got Notre Dame. My sister's got Indiana. It is. It just really is," Notre Dame fan Jack Carretta said.
And for South Bend businesses used to the season being done in November, the game was a financial windfall. Bars and restaurants along Eddy Street were bustling.
At Hammes Notre Dame Bookstore, folks were snapping up merchandise.
"Today, we were getting all the warm gear, and we're going to come back tomorrow to get all the fun stuff, the stuff that we can't take into the stadium, the stuff we're taking home," Notre Dame alumnus Meg Dunn said.
Back at home
Commonwealth Tavern in Roscoe village is one of the Chicago staples for Notre Dame athletics.
Fans were just starting to roll in after 6 p.m., with a little bit of natural anxiety for the playoff game.
The owner of Commonwealth Tavern said they were sticking with their usual game day specials of Notre Dame nachos and Guinness, of course.
He said they are a bit superstitious, and did not want to change anything up, as the football team kept its momentum going.
Fans were also filing into Kirkwood bar on Sheffield Avenue, making sure to get in early before the game starts.
That bar is the home for the Indiana Hoosiers.
Many of them showed up hours before kickoff just to make sure they could get a seat at Kirkwood.
"I think it'll be packed; we're lucky to get a seat because they'll be gone real quick. I expect an atmosphere similar to Bloomington, Indiana tonight. I'm stoked to be with my fellow Hoosiers," IU alumnus Seamus said.
"I never feel good about big games as someone who has been a die hard my whole life, but I think Freeman will have them ready. The coordinator is really talented, and I think we'll be in our best spot in years," Commonwealth owner Matt Baldino said.
ABC7 Chicago's Dionne Miller, Eric Horng and Maher Kawash contributed to this report.
