Notre Dame football ready for first round of playoffs

 

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — #7 Notre Dame view #10 IU the same as any other team.

In the first year of the 12-team playoff, Notre Dame will host their first playoff game and the first of the postseason.

It's the first meeting between the two teams since 1991 and the Hoosiers will travel 200 miles to face the third ranked team in the house that Rockne Built.

Both programs finished the regular season 11-1, with an opportunity to advance to the Sugar Bowl vs #2Georgia. What should turn out to be a competitive game is not viewed as anything more than another game for the Irish. Why? Because they're carrying the same mindset since their week two loss to NIU.

"We've been in playoff situational games since week three and we understand that. Every game that we play in is a version of a playoff game in our minds. So, continue to understand that don't have any added pressure for this one that you haven't had the previous 10," Head Coach Marcus Freeman said.

"Definitely, the biggest game my career. I had a lot of time to prepare for this, but it's a really cool experience and I'm not trying to take it for granted. To make it to where we are now, is kind of why I came to Notre Dame. I came here to compete to make the college football playoff and compete for a national championship. So, we're one step closer," Quarterback Riley Leonard added.