More than 14 hours before kickoff of the College Football Playoff opener, a line of traffic has piled up in South Bend, Indiana, where Notre Dame is set to host the visiting Hoosiers.
The in-state rivalry game between the biggest school in the Hoosier State and the independent powerhouse kicks off at 7pm local time (8pm EST), with the campus in Bloomington three hours away from South Bend.
The snow showers and driving conditions did not stop those wanting an early view of the white-clad Notre Dame Stadium.
A line of cars waiting to park for a football game more than half a day away shows the craziness of college football in South Bend, where the famed Fighting Irish are looking for their first national title since 1988.
A low of 22 degrees is slated for South Bend this evening, with flurries expected throughout the day. It is currently 31 degrees in Northern Indiana.
The matchup between 11-1 teams is the biggest game in Indiana’s football history, with no close second. The Hoosiers had never won more than nine games in a single season before the 2024 campaign.
A line of traffic has piled up in South Bend in the snow awaiting kickoff of Notre Dame-Indiana
The in-state rivals have not played since 1991 and have only faced once over the last 66 years
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and his dog pay a visit to ‘Touchdown Jesus’ in South Bend
The matchup is so big that no extended wait time and no weather conditions will keep some away from being close to the stadium, with tons more traffic expected throughout the day.
ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, fresh off calling Chargers-Broncos on Thursday night, has already posted a video from campus, with his dog Peter running around in the layer of snow already on the South Bend ground.
The in-state foes also have only met one time on the field since 1958, a measly nonconference clash in 1991, making the clash incredibly special to those who call the Hoosier State home.
Traffic should hit a fever pitch around 5pm local time, as those making the drive from Bloomington come to town after commencement ceremonies. Two hours before kickoff is also a typical time for those wanting to tailgate arrive.
Indiana moved up its winter commencement ceremonies to 9am and Noon local time to accommodate those wanting to travel to South Bend for the game.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .