CFP First Round HALFTIME HIGHLIGHTS: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish | ESPN CFB

As the game kicks off on a chilly evening following an overnight snow, Solomon Van Horse opts for a fair catch on a short kickoff. Standing tall at 6’5″ and 223 lbs, he passes the ball to Justice Ellison, who is tackled for a three-yard loss by Joshua Burnham. The team focuses on disguising their defensive fronts. Leonard throws an interception to D’Angelo Pwns, giving Indiana the first takeaway of the night, though they’re not yet in field goal range. With tight single coverage, Elijah Serat makes an impressive catch. Moving quickly from the 17-yard line, it’s intercepted again by Xavier Watts, who marks his sixth interception of the year and second tonight. Both quarterbacks have now thrown interceptions. Riley Leonard and the Irish start from their own two-yard line. Jeremiah Love breaks free for a 98-yard touchdown, the first of the 12-team playoff, thanks to a crucial block by left tackle Anthony Knapp, who opens a gap against Big Ten defender M Kamar. The crowd is packed at the line of scrimmage as Tyson L breaks free. Denas Williams, usually blocking, sets quickly for Leonard, who delivers a short pass. B Collins balances and secures the first down, a successful play from Clemson’s transfer. Bo Call impressively catches a low pass and turns up the sideline for a conversion, showcasing his skills. A play-action pass by Leonard results in a check-down to Jadarian Price, who is tackled short of the first down. A high snap is managed by Leonard, but Evans fumbles on the sideline, recovered by Jordan Fison. Indiana’s Leonard finds a good pocket and connects with Williams, marking his eighth catch of the year. Starting from their 17-yard line, they celebrate Jeremiah Love’s 98-yard touchdown run. A blitz up the middle results in a wide receiver screen breaking tackles. Despite his size, Price finds room outside, turning the corner for a notable run. Tight ends play a significant role in the passing game. A fake leads to a touchdown for Jaylen Thomas, his second of the year on his 17th catch. A senior from Payne County, Georgia, scores another touchdown for Notre Dame, shining in his final season with hopes for a championship. With a bright future as a play-caller, he needs to steady the quarterback, who’s been inaccurate all night. The co-offensive coordinator and quarterback’s coach see Justice Ellison making a strong run, taking Indiana across midfield, trailing Ohio State and Texas. A pass is nearly intercepted by Donovan Hines. With two out of four on third downs, they opt for a run, but Jaylen Sne fumbles. An interesting choice, as their last drive was a 16-play touchdown, the longest in college football playoff history. Leonard completes his eighth consecutive pass to Chris Mitchell for 11 yards. A quick throw and tackle conclude with Miles Cross being tackled by Xavier Watts. Despite pressure up the middle, a pass to Sarat is caught on second and 10. A well-executed play-action pass to Miles Price follows, with Jordan Clark pulling him down, adding 17 more yards for Notre Dame to reach the 22. Curtis Roar recognizes Clark’s position for an easy completion. Price breaks a tackle and lowers his shoulder on the eighth play of the drive. Movement along the line goes unnoticed by officials. A direct snap to Ellison gains one yard on a cold, snowy night in Bloomington. Three weeks ago, a 34-yard field goal put Indiana on the board. Tight end Mitch Evans goes in motion. Leonard, hit as he throws, makes a diving attempt, confirmed as a catch by Jordan Fa for a 10-yard gain and first down after review. Leonard made a great play, though it seemed Fison had it initially; the question was whether the ball hit the ground during control. Officials confirmed it was a catch. With a pump fake, Leonard finds a running lane and secures another first down, stopping the clock. Williams stays in as running back, breaking a tackle and securing a first down, putting them in field goal range. The snap and hold are perfect, and Mitch Jeter’s 49-yard kick is good, with room to spare. Collectively, they’ve made eight out of 18 attempts, with Jeter and substitutes. They’re the only team in the country under 50%. It’s rare to see such excitement from a head coach, but it’s deserved for Mitch Jeter. It’s a challenging role, mentally taxing, but congratulations to him for overcoming injuries and succeeding.