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.
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Pennsylvanians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Keystone has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Pennsylvania families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Eagles legend Jason Kelce will host late-night show on ESPN beginning final week of NFL season
"They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce" will be recorded in front of a live audience at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. Jason Kelce will try his...
Pete Rose, baseball’s banned hits leader and former Phillie, has died at age 83
Rose, who helped the Philadelphia Phillies win their first World Series in 1980, was one of the most exciting players in baseball history, though...
Philadelphia mayor reveals details of 76ers deal to build arena near Chinatown
The agreement reached earlier this month calls for the Sixers to finance the entire project, called “76 Place,” with no city funding. It includes a...
Philadelphia mayor strikes deal with the 76ers on new downtown arena
Mayor Cherelle Parker announced Wednesday that she has forged a deal with team owners to keep the NBA franchise in town and will send it to city...
NFL Inflation: How ticket and concession prices have changed over time
Written by Josh Koebert Between new stadiums, ownership changes, and player salaries, the economics of football are changing from the top down. For...
