We are nearing the start of the College Football Playoff – and with the field finally expanded to 12-teams, the tournament promises to be more exciting than ever.
Among the first-round matchups is a juicy one that will have the honor of getting the whole playoff started: No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame.
Former UCLA head coach and current CBS Sports analyst Rick Neuheisel added fuel to the fire with a bold prediction, calling for a major upset in the game.
“That protection issue is going to be key for Indiana,” Neuheisel said. “They have to sure that up, and to do that, they need a strong running game. They’re 51st in the country in rushing, but Notre Dame is 51st against the run.
“So Justice Ellison has to be a factor in this game. If that running game gets going, it’ll open up play action for Kurtis Rourke, which helps with the protection. Give me IU! Give me IU! I’m not ready to cancel the church of Cignetti.”
Despite Neuheisel’s confidence in Indiana, Notre Dame enters the game as 7-point favorites.
The Fighting Irish have a storied history in college football, and playing at home gives them an additional advantage.
However, the Hoosiers have been one of the season’s most compelling stories, overcoming long odds to secure an impressive 11-1 record.
Both teams share similar paths to the playoffs.
Indiana’s only loss came against powerhouse Ohio State, while Notre Dame’s sole defeat was a shocking home upset at the hands of Northern Illinois.
Questions linger about the strength of both teams’ schedules, with neither squad securing a major marquee victory. (Although winning on the road at Texas A&M like the Irish did is never easy.)
Friday night’s in-state clash is the hottest ticket of all four first-round matchups. There’s a possibility of snow showers which would surely add to the epic scene of it all.
Fresh off signing a contract extension, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the unique importance of the game while emphasizing the need to remain focus.
“It’s been a point of emphasis all two weeks since we’ve had an opponent named is to control the noise,” Freeman said. “We know it’s a big game. Everybody knows that and at the end of the day the preparation is what matters.
“There has to be a sameness in terms of your preparation and your approach to this game. Every week I challenge this group and I challenge myself to elevate. We’ve got to get better. But what I don’t want to do is do something this week that we’ve never done before. I think that’s the wrong message to send to your team.
“So, they’ve done a good job. They’ve heard that message every single day. But I think every person, every individual, has to make that choice to continue to turn down the noise and focus on the things that are going to give us the best chance possible to have success on game day.
“So, it’s an everyday message but also an everyday challenge to every individual to continue to the minute you start to think about an uncertain future that second thought of getting right back in the moment and preparing the right way is what’s most important.”
Needless to say, Friday night can’t get here soon enough.
What are your thoughts on Neuheisel’s predicition?
Do you actually think the Hoosiers can pull off the upset over the Irish in South Bend???
