Here are some facts and figures about games involving Indiana college football teams. Times are eastern.
MUSIC CITY BOWL – DECEMBER 28
Purdue (6-6) vs. Auburn (7-5) (1:30 p.m.): This is the first meeting on the gridiron between the Boilermakers and Auburn. Rondale Moore has 12 receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns in Purdue’s 28-21 win over Indiana. Jarrett Stidham was 13-of-30 for 127 yards with a score in the Tigers’ 52-21 loss to top-ranked Alabama. Auburn posted a 28-14 win over Wisconsin in the 2003 Music City Bowl, while Purdue is making its first appearance in the contest.
COTTON BOWL – DECEMBER 29
Notre Dame (12-0) vs. Clemson (13-0) (4 p.m.): The No. 2 Tigers have taken two of the previous three meetings against No. 3 Notre Dame, including a 24-22 decision in the 2015 campaign. Ian Book went 22-of-39 for 352 yards and two touchdowns for the Fighting Irish in their 24-17 win over USC. Travis Etienne carried the football 12 times for 156 yards and two scores in Clemson’s 42-10 win over Pittsburgh for the ACC championship. Notre Dame’s last appearance in the Cotton Bowl was a 24-21 victory over Texas A&M in 1994, while Clemson was a 6-3 winner over Boston College in the 1940 affair.
DONE FOR THE SEASON
Saint Francis (10-3): The No. 8 Cougars saw their bid for a third straight NAIA national championship denied with a heartbreaking 34-28 overtime setback to No. 1 Morningside (Iowa) in the semifinals. Dylan Hensley raced up three catches for 92 yards with a score as Saint Francis had its 10-game post-season winning streak snapped.
NEW MAN IN CHARGE
Indianapolis will have a new leader for the 2019 campaign as defensive coordinator Chris Keevers takes over for Bob Bartolomeo, who retired after posting a 79-26 mark over nine seasons.
