Notre Dame gets all-Indiana game at start of path to the National Championship

Notre Dame football is set to face the Indiana Hoosiers in South Bend for the first round of the inaugural 12 team playoffs. The Irish currently hold a record against the Hoosiers of 23-5-1 and defeated the Hoosiers the last time these two schools played. Though that was way back in 1991 by a score of 49-27.

Indiana is led by Kurtis Rourke as the Hoosiers offense averages 43 points a game on 256 passing yards per game.

The Irish will seek to end its 26 year national championship drought and overcome its tough road to the national championship. Entering Selection Sunday Notre Dame football was the six seed, but as expected the Fighting Irish fell to No. 7.

Notre Dame football takes on in-state rival for first round face-off

Notre Dame and Indiana are both 11-1, and have similar resumes. The Hoosiers strength of record is 8th and the Irish strength of record is 4th. The Hoosiers sole loss came to Ohio State by a score of 38-15, while the Irish loss came in week two against Northern Illinois and has since won 10 straight in dominant fashion.

If the Irish can defeat Indiana, they would face the No. 2 seed in the Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 1 in the quarterfinals in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. Georgia went on to upset the Texas Longhorns last night in overtime and won the SEC Championship game.

All of this means that Notre Dame football has 12 days to get healthy and get ready (looking at you Jeremiyah Love) before they'll face off against the Cinderella Hoosiers at 8pm on December 20. Should they give us all an early Christmas present, they'll ring in the new year on January 1, at 8:45pm