Notre Dame Took Round One: Can Indiana Strike Back in 2025?
Last year Notre Dame came out on top, defeating Indiana 27–17 in a physical, playoff-style slugfest that answered plenty of questions while leaving a few in the air. Now, with the 2024–25 season in the books, our attention shifts forward. Can Indiana’s breakout campaign under Curt Cignetti become something sustainable? Will Notre Dame’s hard-fought playoff win be the stepping stone to finally contending for a national title?
Indiana's Big Step: Was It a Leap or a Peak?
Indiana, under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti, posted one of the formidable offenses in the nation, 43.3 points per game, and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff, an outcome almost no one predicted a year ago. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke emerged as a leader in a fast-paced, well-coached system. Looking ahead to 2025, questions loom: Can Indiana reload after likely departures at quarterback, wide receiver, and on the offensive line? Will Cignetti’s transfer-heavy roster strategy work long-term in the Big Ten? The defense, resilient but prone to breakdowns, must tighten up if Indiana wants to remain a playoff-level team. A second straight double-digit win season isn’t out of reach, but Indiana will now play with expectations rather than underdog energy. That may be the biggest test of all.
For Notre Dame, It's Time to Push Even Further
Notre Dame finally earned a postseason win in the College Football Playoff era, and did so with a gritty, complete team performance. Quarterback Riley Leonard proved his toughness with a 98-yard touchdown run and efficient passing. Jeremiyah Love gave the Irish a versatile ground threat, and the defense held strong against one of the most explosive attacks in the country. Notre Dame’s ceiling isn’t just a playoff win. After a 12–1 season and a top-three defensive ranking, Notre Dame must now take the next step: competing and beating teams like Georgia, Michigan, and Alabama on the biggest stage. If they can maintain their takeaway margin and develop red-zone consistency, this could be Notre Dame’s best shot at a national title since the Lou Holtz era.
Two Programs, Two Directions
Notre Dame will enter 2025 as a legitimate national title contender. All while Indiana will enter with something to prove: that its rise wasn’t a one-year flash, but the start of something much bigger. One reestablished itself, and the other announced its arrival. The next season will tell us whose momentum carries further and whose foundation proves more real.
