Tom Noie

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IU at Notre Dame, 8 p.m., Friday; TV: ESPN/ABC SOUTH BEND — How did that happen?

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On the job now for an entire college football season, Notre Dame director of athletics Pete Bevacqua has remained behind the scenes - until this week

Here are four players who could have a say on whether the Hoosiers or Irish play another day or put away the pads for the rest of winter.

It's win or that's it in a College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame and Indiana, but the Irish have been in that mode for the last 10 weeks.

When Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, it eliminated any margin of error the rest of the regular season.

The Irish know this drill. They've done this dance for 104 straight days and counting. When Notre Dame lost at home to Northern Illinois on Sept. 7, it eliminated any margin of error the rest of the regular season. There was no conference championship game Notre Dame could point to. No prime-time showdown against a highly ranked opponent to win back what was lost against NIU.

Notre Dame men's basketball was coming off an 11-day break from basketball and get another eight days off after one more non-conference contest

SOUTH BEND − Given what we witnessed in terms of gotta-see, high-energy events this month on this campus, there was hope Sunday for a Christmas miracle from the Notre Dame men's basketball.