CFP-bound Hoosiers have a chance at Notre Dame. No, seriously. You doubt them after that season?

The Irish like to run. The Hoosiers are among the best run-stopping teams in the nation. The Battle of Indiana is on.

Let’s just allow Sunday’s CFP selection committee’s announcement to marinate:

Indiana University, the losingest program in Division I history, is headed to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, and it feels like a fever dream. The Hoosiers will face Notre Dama Dec. 20 at 8 p.m. under the shadow of the Golden Dome. This program, which won nine total games the past three seasons, won 11 this year, and while the strength of schedule isn’t terribly high – I’m being nice -- they’ve absolutely rolled most of their decidedly sub-standard competition. There’s been nothing flukey about what the Hoosiers have accomplished, no asterisks, no explanations. Yeah, IU didn’t beat any Top 25 teams, but they rolled virtually everyone in their path (save for Michigan, who beat Ohio State, in case you missed it), but they didn’t lose to anybody they were supposed to beat.

Like Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois in their second game of the season (Sept. 7), a loss that looked like it might be disqualifying before the Irish turned their season around and won 10 straight games. It’s fair to say Notre Dame is currently playing its best football of the season.

And IU can beat them.

Did I mention Notre Dame’s loss to Northern Illinois?