What happens when an 11-1 miracle squad faces a program steeped in college football history? That’s exactly the question on everyone’s mind as Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers gear up to face Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It’s the ultimate showdown: a Cinderella team with nothing to lose versus a powerhouse with everything to prove. Can Cignetti’s hype train keep rolling in this high-stakes showdown in South Bend? Or is history about to smack em down again?

On December 9th, during a press conference, Curt Cignetti’s message was loud and clear: don’t sleep on his Hoosiers. When asked about history favoring their in-state rival, Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame, the man didn’t flinch or didn’t even hold back at all on history. ” I think the series began in 1898, and Notre Dame has pretty much had the upper hand in the series records, okay? But regardless of who we play, this is the playoffs—it’s win or go home. And we’re in it to win it.”

Cignetti’s confidence is backed by his winning track record. You can ‘google’ him; all he does is win. And honestly, Curt Cignetti can talk the talk after that winning culture he brought to IU. Facing Freeman’s Fighting Irish might feel like climbing Everest, but he’s making it clear—this team ain’t here just to show up; they’re here to shock the college football world and win big. He didn’t stop there though.

He added, “I mean, our odds of making …Playoff at the beginning of the season—I don’t know what they were, but they were pretty darn low. I’m sure we were…17th out of 18 teams in the Big 10.” Curt Cignetti has receipts. All season, his team has faced disrespect–picked near the bottom, overlooked, doubted. Now, with a playoff shot on the horizon, it’s a sweet form of payback.

Then he dropped the mic with a sly grin—“Our odds of winning the next four games are… higher than they were making the….Playoff in… first place. So we’ve climbed that mountain.. regardless of who we’re going to play in the first round. The objective is the same.” It’s not just words; it’s a big statement by Curt. Hope it does not backfire on December 21st.

Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish—history

Notre Dame and Indiana Hoosiers have been going band-for-band since the late 1800s. This in-state rivalry runs deeper than most. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 21-5-1. A stat that feels more like a gut punch than history for Indiana fans. The Irish have owned this matchup for over a century now, with their last victory coming in 1991—a commanding 49-27 win. And Indiana’s last win?

You’d have to dust off a history book to find it: a 20-7 triumph in Bloomington all the way back in 1950. That’s 74 years of frustration for the Hoosier Nation. Indiana Hoosiers got the best shot with Curt Cignettis to break this 74-year curse. This ain’t just about the past—it’s about two programs that have clawed their way into the national spotlight.

Marcus Freeman’s Notre Dame squad has been steamrolling opponents all season, except for a Week 2 hiccup against Northern Illinois. Meanwhile, Cignetti’s Hoosiers, who stumbled only against Ohio State, have been nothing short of electric. Marcus Freeman knows the stake here, and he even gave props to Curt Cignetti’s track record while prepping for this game: “He’s won everywhere he’s been. He’s done a great job, and we expect a great opponent.” But in playoffs, it’s not about who talks the talk—it’s about who walks it.

As the clock ticks down to December 21st, all eyes are locked on South Bend. This ain’t just another game; it’s a fight for the heart of Indiana football. One team will be popping champagne for a shot at the quarterfinals. While the other will be left to lick its own wounds. Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers might be the underdog with history stacked against ’em. But low-key don’t sleep on Cignetti—the man’s been flipping naysayers into believers all season. Can Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame keep the dream alive, or will Indiana pull off the upset of the year?