Penn State players celebrate after the Fiesta Bowl College Football Playoff game against Boise State, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The No. 6 seed Nittany Lions will face No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Thursday.
The Penn State Nittany Lions are one step closer to earning the third national championship in school history, and the first in almost 40 years.
The No. 6 seed Nittany Lions face No. 7 seed Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal game in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. on Thursday. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Here’s what you need to know to get set for the game:
How Penn State got here
Led by head coach James Franklin, QB Drew Allar, and a stellar defense, the Nittany Lions reached 13 wins in a season for the first time in program history. They cruised past both playoff opponents en route to the Orange Bowl, beating up on the SMU Mustangs in a 38-10 first round win, which they followed with a 31-14 victory over the Boise State Broncos.
How Notre Dame got here
Notre Dame reached the Orange Bowl after defeating Georgia 23-10 in the Sugar Bowl. The Fighting Irish are 13-1 overall this season.
Penn State vs. Notre Dame over the years
The Orange Bowl matchup will mark the 20th game between Penn State and Notre Dame, and the second time the teams have faced off in a bowl game. Overall, the series is even at 9-9-1. The teams haven’t played each other since 2007, a game Penn State won 31-10.
How has each time fared in the Orange Bowl previously?
Thursday will be Penn State’s sixth Orange Bowl appearance. They are 4-1 in the previous five games. It will also be Notre Dame’s sixth Orange Bowl appearance. They are 2-3 previously.
Who is the favorite?
As of Wednesday afternoon, SportsLine Consensus had the Fighting Irish as 1.5-point favorites, with the over/under for total points scored at 45.5.
What’s next for the winner?
The winner will head to the National Championship Game on Monday, Jan. 20, where they’ll face the winner of the Cotton Bowl, either the Texas Longhorns or the Ohio State Buckeyes. Those teams face off Friday at 7:30 in Dallas.
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