Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Love sets College Football Playoff record with 98-yard TD run against Indiana in first-round win

The first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff got off to a wild start.

Notre Dame RB Jeremiah Love ripped off a 98-yard run in the first quarter of a dominating 27-17 Irish win on Friday, and it came one play after Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke threw an interception. Love’s run was the longest in school history when he became the first player to find the end zone in the extended playoff game.

Just before his run, Xavier Watts sacked Rourke on an improper throw. Rourke’s pass came right after Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt made a great catch down the sideline on third down. As Indiana rushed to the line to make sure there was no replay review of Sarratt’s catch, ESPN had to cut the replay of the grab.

Indiana had the ball after Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard threw an interception on Notre Dame’s second offensive play of the game.

The run put Love over 1,000 yards rushing for the season. He entered Friday’s game with 134 carries for 949 yards and 15 rushing TDs. His carry is also the longest run in College Football Playoff history. That record had stood from the first weekend of the four-team playoff, when Ezekiel Elliott ripped off an 85-yard run in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama on Jan. 1, 2015.

Notre Dame advanced to the quarterfinals with its win and will face No. 2, Georgia on Jan. 1 in the Sugar Bowl.