Notre Dame football has one massive key to victory against the Indiana Hoosiers, and everyone knows it
The Notre Dame football identity isn’t hard to figure out. The Fighting Irish want to play tremendous defense, and run the football at a high clip. The latter has a real challenge in front of them in their home playoff matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, matching up against one of the best run […]
The Notre Dame football identity isn’t hard to figure out. The Fighting Irish want to play tremendous defense, and run the football at a high clip. The latter has a real challenge in front of them in their home playoff matchup against the Indiana Hoosiers on Friday, matching up against one of the best run defenses in all of college football.
On the Notre Dame side, the Irish have been a tremendous rushing offense. Not only have they been able to break off some big plays on the ground, but they have also been incredibly efficient as well, averaging 6.3 yards per carry as a team. They are led by running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, one of the best rushing duos in the country.
Love leads the team with 949 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground, averaging stellar 7.1 yards per carry. The sophomore sensation has also made some big plays in the passing game, hauling in 22 receptions for 206 yards and two scores. At 6-0 and 210 pounds, Love is the type of dynamic playmaker that Notre Dame hasn’t seen in some time.
If Love wasn’t on the team, many more would be talking about Price a lot more. He would be the top runner on many other teams across college football, but is arguably the best second back across the country. On the season, Price has rushed for 651 yards and seven scores on 89 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per carry.
You also have to add quarterback Riley Leonard into this conversation. Notre Dame has clearly been running bum less to preserve him down the stretch, but Leonard is also tremendous with his feet. He finished the regular season second on the team in rushing with 721 yards and 14 touchdowns. While his average isn’t quite to the Love or Price standar, Leonard has gone for a healthy 5.8 yards per carry. That trio has been incredible, helping the team go for 224.8 yards per game.
On the Indiana side, they boast a tremendous run defense. As a unit, they are allowing just 70.8 yards per game, and an unreal 2.5 yards per carry.
There obviously is some context to those numbers with the Hoosiers having not seen many good rushing teams on their schedule. Still, those numbers are almost unbelievable. Their front seven possesses a ton of talent, and is not a group to be underrated. There is absolutely NFL talent on those first two levels.
The Notre Dame offensive line has been better down the stretch, but they have a huge challenge in front of them. On the Indiana defensive line, they are led by defensive tackles CJ West and James Carpenter, and defensive end Mikail Kamara. All three of them are transfers and have a ton of experience behind them. They are each physical, relentless, and will surely be up for the challenge.
On the second level, Indiana has a couple of very talented linebackers as well. Former James Madison transfer Aiden Fisher is one of the top defenders in the Big Ten, leading the team with 108 total tackles. His partner in crime inside is Jailin Walker. A lighter built linebacker at 6-1 and 218 pounds, Walker is an outstanding athlete, possessing sideline to sideline range.
If Notre Dame is able to run the football, and early in this game, it could be a long day for the Indiana defense. It allows their offense to be so much more versatile, and make a ton of plays. Indiana is going to come in with a lot of energy, and nothing is more defeating than getting gashed on the ground.
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