SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 7 Notre Dame cruised past No. 10 Indiana 27-17 in the first game of the 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday night. The Fighting Irish advance to play No. 2 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

What will determine who wins Friday's CFP game between Indiana and Notre Dame? Three keys, plus more predictions from the USA Today Network.

Notre Dame secured a decisive victory Indiana, defeating the Hoosiers 27-17 in the opening game of the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff on Friday night in South Bend, Indiana.

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden was thinking about Georgia well before the clock hit 0:00 against Indiana

Georgia's defense has been inconsistent this season, so it will be important for the unit to bring its best against the Irish.

Notre Dame (12-1) has bounced back resoundingly from a gut-punch Week 2 loss at the hands of 7-5 MAC program Northern Illinois, winning 10 straight games to punch their ticket to the CFP Playoff. The Irish’s soft 66th ranked schedule that includes signature wins over Texas A&M,

Sugar Bowl promises to be one of the most exciting games in college football history as the University of Notre Dame faces the University of Georgia in a highly anticipated College Football Playoff Quarterfinal.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are preparing to take on the SEC Champion Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl for a chance to move on to the semifinals in the college football playoff. While the weather played a big part in the story surrounding Notre Dame’s win over the Indiana Hoosiers — as well as the other three first round games — it will likely never be mentioned this week.