Indiana Football Game Preview: Notre Dame – key question, injury report, how to watch

No. 8 Indiana football travels up north to South Bend, Indiana to face No. 5 Notre Dame in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

Notre Dame enters the game with a record of 11-1 including 10 straight wins. Nine of those wins came by more than two scores as the Fighting Irish have been rolling as of late. Their only loss of the year came shockingly when they lost to Northern Illinois at home a week after beating Texas A&M on the road.

ESPN’s College GameDay pregame show will also be there for the opening game of the College Football Playoff as the show is scheduled to start at 3:30.

Indiana football heads into their biggest game in program history as they look to avoid a similar performance to their one against Ohio State earlier this season.

Below is the full preview ahead of Friday’s matchup.

Key Question

Has Indiana football learned from their performance against Ohio State?

In their biggest game of the season Indiana Football did things they had not done all season long. They made unforced errors and poor decisions which played a big role in their 23-point loss on the road to Ohio State.

The atmosphere and crowd clearly affected the offense which scored just once after the opening drive of the game. Kurtis Rourke struggled as he faced more pressure from the opposing pass rush than he had all year long.

While the atmosphere and crowd might not be as loud on Friday as it was in Columbus, it will certainly play a factor on the biggest stage.

We will find out quickly how much Indiana football has grown and learned from their experience in Columbus.

If Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers were able to address the problems they faced in Ohio, they would have a great chance to beat the Fighting Irish and advance to the second round of the College Football Playoff.

Related: 5 Notre Dame players to keep an eye on in Friday night’s CFB Playoff matchup vs Indiana football

Matchup History

Indiana football will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face Notre Dame for the first time since 1991.

This will be the 3oth all-time meeting between the two in-state programs with Notre Dame leading the series 23-5-1. Indiana has lost the last six matchups between the two schools and 20 of the last 21.

Indiana’s last win against Notre Dame came all the way back in 1950 when they beat the Fighting Irish 20-7 in Bloomington.

SEE ALSO: Podcast: Talkin’ Bout The Hoosiers Ep. 36 – Indiana Football College Football Playoff Preview

Injury Updates

Tyler Stephens will make his third start of the season at left guard in place of Drew Evans who suffered a season-ending injury against Michigan.

Read: Kurtis Rourke wasn’t sure if he wanted to play another year in college but bet on himself anyway. Now, he soaking up every last minute: ‘We’ll talk about my last college game in four games’

Quick Hitters

Who? #8 Indiana (11-1) (8-1 B1G) vs #5 Notre Dame (11-1)

When? Friday, Dec. 20 | 8:00 p.m. ET

Where? Notre Dame Stadium (South Bend, Indiana)

TV: ABC/ESPN

Radio: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Spread: Notre Dame is a 7.5-point favorite and the over/under is set at 52.5 points per DraftKings SportBook.

SEE ALSO: Curt Cignetti on Indiana football: ‘This is home, right here baby. This is where it ends for me. We are just getting started’

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