BLOOMINGTON – In the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff, Indiana and Notre Dame will take center stage for the first act.
The Hoosiers and Irish, seeded Nos. 10 and 7, respectively, will face one another in the first of four first-round campus-site games, with kickoff set for 8 p.m., Dec. 20, in South Bend.
It will be the programs’ first meeting in more than 30 years, since the Irish defeated IU in the 1991 season opener, 49-27. Marcus Freeman’s team overcame an early season upset against Northern Illinois to become one of the nation’s toughest ground attacks, and most dominant defenses.
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Who does Indiana need to worry about, as it casts its eye north? Here are five players to watch
Riley Leonard, quarterback
It starts, as is so often the case, behind center. Leonard, a Duke transfer, has been a solid passer this season, but excellent in a dual-threat capacity. He finished the regular season with 2,813 total yards, and 30 combined rushing and passing touchdowns.
Leonard was a solidly efficient passer, completing 66.2% of his throws with 16 touchdowns to just five interceptions. But he changed games with his ability to mix it up on the ground, rushing for 5.8 yards per carry across 124, with 14 touchdowns on the ground.
Notre Dame fields one of the nation’s best rushing attacks, and Leonard pulls so many of the strings. He’s probably going to be the best dual-threat quarterback Indiana has seen so far this season.
In a matchup of strength on strength, corralling the quarterback will be job one for Bryant Haines’ defense.
Jeremiyah Love, running back
If Leonard is the brains of the run game, Love is the heart. Or vice versa. You get the idea.Pro Football Focus’ second-highest graded running back in America, Love rushed for 949 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry, a top-20 number nationally. And he graded out among the nation’s best receiving backs as well.
So much of Mike Denbrock’s offense revolves around Notre Dame’s strength running the ball. Having such a skilled quarterback helps in that regard, both in terms of passing efficiency and rushing effectiveness. But it also works because of the backs, and Love is the best the Irish have.
He’s not the only one though.
Jadarian Price, running back
Price, who also grades out well above average in the ground game, shared the load effectively with Love this season, carrying the ball 89 times for 651 yards and seven touchdowns. Like Love, Price had a long run of 70-plus yards, and like Love, Price averaged more than seven yards per carry.
Notre Dame is among the nation’s leaders not just in rushing efficiency but also explosiveness. In particular, the Irish are capable of tearing off longer runs (20-, 30- and 40-plus yards) at a promising clip.
And it’s not just limited to one back. They can rotate and still be dangerous.
Xavier Watts, safety
One of the best players in the country at his position, Watts is as meaningful of a game changer as anyone Notre Dame will put on the field defensively.
He’s third among teammates in tackles, tied for first with eight passes defensed, and his five interceptions are tied for third nationally. Watts has a defensive touchdown this season, and he’s both forced and recovered a fumble.
The Irish are second behind only James Madison in turnover margin this season, and they’re tied with Texas for first in total turnovers gained (28). Seventeen (17) of those 28 are interceptions, from a secondary that’s exceptionally dangerous. Watts is the tip of that spear.
Jack Kiser, linebacker
Rylie Mills leads all Notre Dame defenders with 6.5 sacks, but Kiser, the 2018 IndyStar Mr. Football, leads the way with 64 tackles, and 37 solo stops (also tops among Irish defenders).
Remember, Notre Dame’s head coach is a strong defensive mind, and Kiser — now in his sixth season in South Bend — is among Marcus Freeman’s most-trusted players.
Kiser also has a sack and a forced fumble this season, as well as two recovered. But more broadly, he is a tough, experienced, steadying presence at the heart of one of the best defenses Indiana is bound to see in the Playoff.
It only gets harder when you climb this high. The Hoosiers had better be ready.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana vs Notre Dame in CFP: 5 Irish players IU needs to worry about
