(Photo: Chad Ryan)
Bigger, Stronger, Faster
For two weeks we said it. Notre Dame is bigger, stronger and faster than Indiana. Think a bunch of four star guys verses a bunch of three star guys. Friday night the Irish, were all of that. In particular they were FASTER than IU. Was there any doubt that once Jeremiyah Love turned the corner on his record tying TD run, that NO ONE would catch him?
No chance.
Athleticism does not always translate into production and wins. Friday night for ND it sure helped.
quotes to note: “I came into this game battling a few things. I probably sound pretty terrible. But I came off of a little injury. I’m sick”. “I was just out of breath. I was gassed”. “He wasn’t going to catch me, I slowed down.” —Jeremiyah Love postgame on the illness and injury he was battling and his 98 yard TD run
The House that Rockne Built, Rocked
Irish nation showed up in Notre Dame Stadium Friday night. From the terrible towels to the thunderous noise, to the late game, “Hoosier Daddy?” chant, the home field crowd counted for the home team. An unscientific poll from the press box was unanimous: it was the best ND crowd in 30 years.
quote to note: “I’ve never been a part of an environment like that. It was special.” —Marcus Freeman
A Look at Georgia
#2 Georgia is 11-2. The Bulldogs were the winners of the SEC with a 22-19 win over #5 Texas, their second win over the Longhorns in 2024. Head coach Kirby Smart is in his 9th season in Athens and has put up a 62-11 record. Besides Texas, they own victories over fellow CFP teams, Clemson and Tennessee. Their strength of schedule ranks as having been one of the most difficult in the nation.
Georgia has had just one common opponent the Irish, Georgia Tech who they defeated 44-42 in an epic eight overtime showdown on November 30. On October 19 the Irish defeated GT 31-13 in Atlanta.
Georgia, winners of national titles in 2021, and 2022 will be without two year starting quarterback Carson Beck. Beck was injured in the season ending Texas win. In his place the Bulldogs will start sophomore Gunnar Stockton. Stockton has a solid pedigree, but not a lot of game tape available. He came to Georgia as the No. 5 dual threat prospect in the recruiting class of 2022. In limited action in 2024, Stockton is 25-32 for 206 yards, no TDs and 1 interception. He has carried the ball 11 times for just 10 yards, but in high school he rushed for over 4,000 yards and 77 scores.
Against a very tough schedule, Georgia’s defense is allowing 20.4 points and 336.5 yards per game. They are just +1 in the turnover department, ND is +16.
quote to note: “We want Georgia.” —Notre Dame fan chant at Kirby Smart during College Football GameDay Friday.
Having a Record Year
Love’s 98 yard touchdown Saturday tied the all-time Notre Dame record for longest runs from scrimmage. In 2015 Josh Adams also had a 98 yarder. Love’s 18 total touchdowns on the year has him tied at #2 for scores in a season. Jerome Bettis holds the all-time record of 20, set in 1991.
Riley Leonard now has the all-time ND quarterback season rushing TD record to himself. His 1-yard score in the 3rd quarter Friday now gives him 15 for the year, breaking Brandon Wimbush’s mark set in 2017. Leonard’s 66.2 passing completion percentage on the year is third best in ND history behind Ian Book at 68.2 (2018) and Jimmy Clausen 68.0 (2009).
Earlier in the season Xavier Watts set the ND all time standard for interception return yards at 273, breaking Dave Duerson’s old record of 256. Watts is now #3 on the ND career interception list with 13 picks. Luther Bradley sits atop the list at 17.
quote to note: “My confidence is continuing to grow. The better these guys play around me, the more confidence I have in getting them the ball.” —Riley Leonard after finishing 23-32 for 201 yards and hitting 10 different receivers
Blue Bloods v. Upstarts
All week Fighting Irish Preview called it a match-up of blue bloods and upstarts. Notre Dame has been there forever. IU has not.
Does what a program has done in the past really matter? Not particularly, but the difference in the historical records between Notre Dame and Indiana is huge, and therefore, notable. ND: 118 winning seasons, IU 32. ND: 989 wins in 137 seasons, IU in a similar time span, 714 losses. ND has had seven Heisman Trophy winners, 110 consensus All-Americans and won 11 National Championships. IU not even or ever close.
What IU accomplished in 2024 was just this side of a college football miracle, courtesy of the transfer portal. Their performance on Saturday was most impressive from the standpoint that Indiana was competitive from the start, and continued competing until the very end. That is the mark of a well coached football team.
Okay, Curt Cignetti the college football world is watching what you have in mind for a 2025 encore.
quote to note: “Everything is about recruitment and development and now retention. Every year you’ve got to start over now in college football. It’s not quite the NFL but it’s getting close.” —Curt Cignetti post game on the future of the IU program
Just in Case you Missed it
The Sugar Bowl, quarter-final matchup between Notre Dame and Georgia will kickoff at 8:45 PM EDT on New Year’s Night in the Louisiana SuperDome. Georgia is a 1.5 point favorite. The same will mark ND’s first return to New Orleans since 2007.
quote to note: “I am gonna say the quiet part out loud. Notre Dame is going to beat Georgia. Notre Dame is great on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They can run the football. They can shut down the passing game.” —College football analyst for CBS Sports, Emory Hunt