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Penn State Takes on the Irish in Historic Orange Bowl

Notre Dame Football — © Stephen Lew - Imagn Images

Everything will be on the line when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (13-1) take on the Penn State Nittany Lions (13-2) in a game that will determine college football history, create coaching legacies and challenge teams’ tendencies. At 7:30 p.m. EST on Jan. 9, the Capital One Orange Bowl kicks off the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Will Marcus Freeman and the Irish tame the Lions? Or will Penn State halt the Irish’s dominance in the playoffs?

Next Man Up Irish

Notre Dame has been overcoming the injury bug all season long. They have lost top offensive linemen, cornerbacks and defensive linemen earlier in the season. Since the playoff began they have lost another top DL in Rylie Mills and top running back Jeremiyah Love sustained a knee injury in Notre Dame's quarterfinal win against Georgia. Love is cleared to play but certainly is not 100 percent. The defensive line is deep and talented, but also inexperienced and will be facing a talented Penn State OL. The Irish must continue to overcome injuries and backups at key positions will have to play great football.

Notre Dame’s Game Keys

Jadarian Price, RB

Price has been electric all season as the counter to Love and the two have driven defenses mad. Price will be called on a few more times this game as Love plays through a knee injury. Price’s ability to pick up the tough extra yard will be vital to the Irish’s success.

Riley Leonard, QB

Leonard is just the gutsy and fearless leader the Irish need in a game like this. He too will be expected to pick up some slack in the running game, but his ability to complete third downs will determine many Notre Dame drives. Whether with his legs or his arm Leonard must keep the offense on the field and prevent the game from becoming a series of three-and-outs.

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard — © Stephen Lew - Imagn Images

Level Up Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions have experienced back-and-forth seasons since head coach James Franklin took the helm in 2014. Since 2022 the Lions have found their rhythm and with a win over the Irish and a berth to the National Championship, they and their coach can overcome the stigma of never being able to win “the big game.” Their two losses this season were against top-ranked teams in Ohio State and Oregon. The Lions need to outplay the Irish in all three phases of the game to change the national media narrative.

Penn State Game Keys

Abdul Carter, DE

Carter is a defensive menace. He led the Big Ten Conference this season with 11 sacks, which also made him top 10 in the nation for sacks. His ability to create pressure and get sacks will be essential to the Lions’ success. Keeping the Irish in third-and-long will give the Penn State defense the constant upper hand.

Penn State DE Abdul Carter — © Matthew O'Haren - Imagn Images

Drew Allar, QB

Big players make big plays in big games. Allar must continue to play turnover-free football against one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. Allar has been a surgeon to secondaries all year. His ability to find holes in the Notre Dame defense will ease up the linebackers and give their backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton a chance to be their most dynamic.

Orange Bowl Preview

This Orange Bowl is full of storylines and history to be made. Penn State has not played in a National Championship game since winning it in 1986, while the Irish have not playing for a title since the 2012 season and having won a National Championship since 1988. The teams share a head-to-head record of 9-9-1 and no matter which team breaks this series tie, a Black man will coach in the FBS National Championship game for the first time.

Undoubtedly, this game will be a battle of two defenses trying to impose their wills and set the pace of this football game. Both defenses ranked nationally in the top 10 and will be a strength of both teams early in the game. The offense that can find its footing first will give themselves the slight advantage they will need to win what should be a closely contested and exciting football game.

Expect the team that runs the ball best to come out victorious and expect that team to be the Irish, winning 24-20.