ATLANTA – During the final month of the regular season, one college football team suffered more criticism than any other: Indiana.
They didn’t play with anyone!
Your schedule force sucks!
They shouldn’t even be considered for the playoffs!
Well, it turns out the Hoosiers weren’t so bad after all. Their only two losses of the season came against each of the participants in the national championship game.
“Our two losses were to the No. 1 and No. 2 team in the country, on the road instead in a hostile environment,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said. “I think everyone thought we were a big story until the College Football Playoff rankings came out and then everyone’s self-interest took over and then it became political.”
Speaking in downtown Atlanta, a mile from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the site of Monday night’s title fight between Notre Dame and Ohio State, Cignetti offers perhaps the best scouting report of anyone in the country. He knows both teams, played on both teams and lost to both teams.
In Columbus, Indiana led the Buckeyes 7-0, then had a punt blocked, allowed another to be returned and ultimately lost 38-15. Against Notre Dame, in the first round of the playoff, the Hoosiers never led, trailing 20-3 at one point and losing 27-17.
Both teams “deserved” to beat the Hoosiers, he says. Indiana didn’t play well enough on special teams at Ohio State and didn’t play aggressive enough at South Bend.
When analyzing the matchup, the coach focuses on the statistics. It is a data type.
“Great confrontation. Two great coaches. The number 1 defenses versus the number 2 in the country,” he said. “Notre Dame actually scores more points per game than Ohio State, which would surprise 95% of people, but Notre Dame scores points…they are number one in the country in defensive touchdowns, number one in blocked kicks with six and they are +17 in the turnover rate, which equals points. “Notre Dame is going to have to generate some points off of their offense.”
But the one area he believes will decide the game: Ohio State’s passing game against Notre Dame’s famous man-to-man defense.
“I’ll be interested to see when Ohio State throws the ball, what happens?” Cignetti said.
The Irish are one of the best units in the country against the pass. And Ohio State has more offensive weapons than any other team. It’s strength upon strength.
In fact, opponents have thrown 12 touchdowns against Notre Dame and 19 interceptions. The opponent’s QB rating of 99.5 is the best for any pass defense in the country. So is the opposing QB’s completion rate (50.7%).
It’s tough to go up against the Irish, who play more man-to-man defense than anyone else in the nation, and good defense, too.
And yet, Thomas Hammock’s team discovered Notre Dame enough. The Northern Illinois coach and his Huskies defeated the Irish 16-14 in one of the biggest upsets of the season.
As?
“It was early in the season for them, bringing in a new quarterback and a new coordinator,” Hammock says. “They were trying to figure out how to build their offense and how to operate. They were trying to work a little more on the aerial game. “Notre Dame thought it was a great opportunity to improve our passing game against Northern Illinois, but we have a tremendous defense.”
Hammock has watched from afar as the Irish have grown and evolved throughout the season. He sees a different team than the one that played the Huskies on September 7.
“It all starts with leadership at the top, with the head coach,” Hammock said of Irish coach Marcus Freeman. “He’s been able to keep those guys locked in and focused. They play complementary football in many ways. “It’s been exciting to see them.”
Who do you support?
“I definitely hope Notre Dame wins. “I’m a Marcus Freeman fan,” he said.
What about Cignetti? He knows these two teams better than anyone.
“I don’t make predictions,” he deadpanned.