Notre Dame’s Protection Dominates Indiana to Transfer into CFB Playoff Quarterfinals

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The strongest evaluation could be the best.

Coming into the primary School Soccer Playoff matchup of 2024, the query was primary. May the Indiana offense—a prolific unit that struggled towards its greatest competitors—deal with an elite Notre Dame protection?

It appeared unlikely, given the problems IU encountered in a good win over Michigan and lopsided loss to Ohio State. Notre Dame, in the meantime, had ceded greater than 16 factors solely twice all season. Outlier performances can occur, nevertheless it did not look nice for Indiana on paper.

On a cold Friday night time, it did not look nice on the sector, both.

ND’s suffocating protection backed up its billing, controlling the uncommon in-state showdown for a 27-17 overcome Indiana.

To start the primary quarter, the Irish pressured a right away three-and-out. After a deflected move led to glorious discipline place for IU, ball-hawking Notre Dame security Xavier Watts made a clutch, diving interception close to the aim line to thwart a major scoring probability.

On the primary snap of the following drive, Jeremiyah Love raced 98 yards down the left sideline for a lead ND would by no means relinquish.

From there, we see in hindsight, it was over.

Indiana’s subsequent two possessions ended with a punt, and a promising drive earlier than the break stalled within the crimson zone. The opening half completed with the Hoosiers going through a 17-3 deficit after mustering 138 yards.

Notre Dame continued its dominance straight away within the second half, sacking Kurtis Rourke on IU’s first offensive snap. Indiana punted on three straight drives—which gained a mixed 5 yards—and the Irish ballooned their result in an insurmountable 24 factors within the course of.

Two garbage-time landing drives later, the field rating would not look so dreadful for Rourke and the Hoosiers. However he did not hit 100 yards passing till deep within the fourth quarter. Indiana discovered little or no success throwing the ball exterior of some slants, and the operating recreation was an entire non-factor at 70 yards on 22 non-sack makes an attempt.

The protection, in brief, simply overwhelmed a gifted IU crew.

If the Irish can preserve that stage, they’re going to be extremely powerful to beat within the School Soccer Playoff. They’ve superior to face second-seeded Georgia within the Sugar Bowl throughout the quarterfinals.

Now, do not confuse that for a prisoner-of-the-moment prediction. Notre Dame’s offense moved the ball decently sufficient on a resilient IU crew but stays a priority.

Riley Leonard remains to be extra a QB the Irish are successful with, not due to. He accomplished 23-of-32 passes for 201 yards, a modest 6.3-yard clip that is even beneath his Eightieth-ranked 7.1-yard common within the common season. That merely will not be ok towards high groups.

As well as, whereas Love’s 98-yard scamper was excellent, ND trudged to three.3 yards on its remaining carries. These issues can coexist as a optimistic—it solely takes one run!—and an actual subject to observe.

However, once more, this protection is a championship-caliber unit. The subsequent matchup may play into Notre Dame’s fingers, as nicely.

Georgia is exceptionally gifted as a complete, however beginning quarterback Carson Beck is not expected to play within the CFP due to an elbow harm that sidelined him within the SEC Championship Sport.

Gunner Stockton, a 4-star prospect in 2022, is a dual-threat with terrific potential. Nonetheless, he is tried simply 51 passes and by no means began a recreation at Georgia. It is solely affordable to say sending him out towards such a wise, bodily protection is trigger for apprehension.

As with Indiana’s outlook on Friday in South Bend, outliers can occur. The surprising, in any case, is a staple of school soccer.

Notre Dame actually will not be missing confidence, although.

The entrance seven is sturdy, evidenced by 10 stops within the backfield on Friday. The secondary—led by Watts, who haunted IU with 10 tackles and an interception—is a sticky unit and infrequently offers up explosive performs even with out star cornerback Benjamin Morrison.

Historical past is affected by examples in regards to the worth of an elite unit, and there’s genuinely not a weak spot on ND’s protection. This efficiency despatched a transparent warning to the remainder of the applications within the CFP.

The competitors stage solely will increase from right here, however the Irish have a rock-solid basis to belief.