Create a Search Index Configuration: Stuck in Submitted Status

I'm working through the Create a Search Index Configuration challenge and my search index has been stuck in "Submitted" status for I'm working through the Create a Search Index Configuration challenge and my search index has been stuck in "Submitted" status for a week now. The "Search Index Last Run Status" hasn't progressed to "Ready," and no data is appearing in Process History at all — it's completely empty. 

and the system is saying:

Step not yet complete in Data Cloud

We can’t find any records for the My_kav index object.

What I've tried so far:

• Waited 2+ days
• Deleted and recreated the search index configuration from scratch
• tried refreshing but the status didnt change

None of this has resolved it.

Questions:

1. Is anyone else currently experiencing this, or is there a known issue with the Data Cloud playground backend?
2. Roughly how long should I expect to wait before it processes, or is 2 days a sign something is actually broken?
3. Would requesting a new Trailhead playground (letting the current one expire and creating a fresh org) be the fastest way to resolve this, or is there a quicker fix?

Any help getting unblocked would be appreciated — trying to get through this ASAP.