More than 14 hours before the start of the first game of the College Football Playoffs, a line of traffic has built up in South Bend, Indiana, where Notre Dame will host the visiting Hoosiers.
The in-state rivalry game between the Hoosier State’s largest school and the independent power begins at 7 p.m. local time, with the campus in Bloomington three hours from South Bend.
Snow showers and driving conditions didn’t stop those who wanted to see Notre Dame Stadium dressed in white early.
A line of cars waiting to park for a football game more than half a day away shows the madness of college football in South Bend, where the famed Fighting Irish are seeking their first national title since 1988.
A low of 22 degrees is expected for South Bend tonight, with flurries expected throughout the day. It is currently 31 degrees in northern Indiana.
The matchup between 11-1 teams is the biggest game in Indiana football history, with no close second. The Hoosiers had never won more than nine games in a single season entering the 2024 campaign.
A line of traffic has built up in South Bend in the snow awaiting the start of Notre Dame-Indiana.
The in-state rivals haven’t played since 1991 and have only met once in the last 66 years.
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and his dog visit ‘Touchdown Jesus’ in South Bend
The standoff is so big that neither the long wait time nor the weather conditions will stop some from getting close to the stadium, and much more traffic is expected throughout the day.
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, who just called Chargers-Broncos on Thursday night, already posted a video from campus, with his dog pedro running on the layer of snow that was already on the ground in South Bend.
The in-state foes have also met just once on the field since 1958, a miserable non-conference clash in 1991, making the clash incredibly special for those who call the Hoosier State home.
Traffic should peak around 5 p.m. local time as those driving from Bloomington arrive in town after graduation ceremonies. Two hours before the start is also a typical time for those who want to get very close.
Indiana moved up its winter graduation ceremonies to 9 a.m. and noon local time to accommodate those who want to travel to South Bend for the game.