They then went to Notre Dame last Friday and never put up a fight in a 27-17 loss that never felt that close. The Hoosiers only lost two games this season and took their fans on a ride that they'll never forget but that doesn't mean everyone was happy for them.

While the first round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff may have been underwhelming, with all four favorites winning by double digits, the second round promises some top-tier matchups that could turn into instant classics.

Indiana enjoyed its winningest season in program history in 2024 under new coach Curt Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to 11 victories and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a strong season,

Head coach Marcus Freeman leads the Fighting Irish, favored by seven points according to ESPN, against the Hoosiers, coached by Curt Cignetti. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum shared his game prediction, stating that he is backing the Fighting Irish.

Although Indiana football scored two touchdowns late versus Notre Dame, they were thoroughly outclassed in their Playoff game on Friday night. Unfortunately, the concerns about a soft schedule masking the team’s deficiencies were once again validated.

Notre Dame had no part of being a main character in that story and handled the Hoosiers to open up the first round of games. Before the game, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti was a bit fired up about the opportunity.