Breaking Down the Possibility of a Hoosier State Rivalry Between Notre Dame and Indiana
Indiana Football Head Coach Curt Cignetti recently called out Notre Dame amidst the sudden cancellation of two matchups between the Irish and Hoosiers.
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
The in-state matchups were scheduled to take place in South Bend in 2030 and in Bloomington the following season. The Hoosiers reportedly opted out of the scheduled arrangement, which removed the only power-four program for Indiana’s future non-conference opponents.
“They ought to come to our place twice, and we’ll go up there once, since they’re not in a conference”, Cignetti told Big Ten Network.
The agreement was signed before the hiring of Cignetti and the subsequent success that followed, including a Heisman-winning QB and a National Championship.
The cancellation of the two-game series brought forth a revival of the Notre Dame and USC rivalry, which many fans applauded. However, others openly wondered what was lost in the cancellation, which may have resulted in the start of a legendary in-state rivalry between the two sides' powerhouse Universities.
Under Cignetti, the Hoosiers have faced the Irish only once. The matchup was the first game of the current College Football Playoff (CFP) format. Under the watchful gaze of ‘Touchdown Jesus,’ Notre Dame dominated the Hoosiers with a final score of 24-17 to advance to the next round of the 2024 CFP. Although Cignetti’s inaugural season guiding the Hoosiers ended by Irish hands, Indiana would go all the way the following season to win the 2025 National Championship.
Overall, the Irish have led the series against Indiana, with 24 wins and four losses. The Hoosiers have dropped the last seven consecutive matchups. The first iteration of the in-state rivalry occurred in South Bend during the 1898 season, when the Hoosiers defeated the Irish 11-5.
The two programs would trade wins and losses before the Irish lifted off starting in 1908. It would take over four decades until Indiana broke the losing streak when they upset the Irish 20-7 in 1950. Since then, Indiana has failed to defeat Notre Dame in the last seven matchups.
Notre Dame and Indiana have not crossed paths much compared to the Irish’s historical in-state rival, Purdue. Despite being less than 200 miles apart (over three hours on highway US-31), the two schools have scarcely faced off. This is in part due to Indiana joining a conference and the widespread anti-Catholic sentiment that forced Notre Dame to travel across the country in search of opponents.
Although the anti-Catholic sentiment has largely evaporated from modern culture, the conference dilemma remains. The Indiana athletics department sees the potential matchup between Notre Dame as a win/lose ordeal. If Indiana wins, then they benefit with a signature win. However, a Hoosier loss would almost certainly have playoff implications down in Bloomington.
The real losers of the deal are the fans on both sides, who are actively being neglected in an accelerating matchup that would create legends and lore for the Hoosiers and Irish players alike. If the cancellation had happened four years earlier, then there would be less controversy and what-ifs. The fact remains the state commonly referred to as the “Basketball State” now features two premier football programs, which both carry the capacity and expectations of championship contention.
There is little doubt that the renewal of the matchup would result in intense and passionate gridiron battles. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana’s former QB, won the coveted Heisman Trophy last season, and current betting odds show CJ Carr, Notre Dame’s current Sophomore QB, as this season's frontrunner Heisman candidate. A duel between Coach Cignetti and Coach Freeman would be riveting for sports fans as a whole. Hopefully, the near future will contain a Hoosier State showdown between the two schools.
Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here to support our independent journalism.
Follow The Irish Tribune on social media:
Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list and get every story in your inbox.
Check out our Irish partners:
TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here!
Comments