Penn State, Notre Dame Face Off in Historic Orange Bowl Playoff Showdown
In a crucial playoff matchup, two football giants meet as No. 6 Penn State takes on No. 7 Notre Dame at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The semifinal begins Thursday (January 9, 2025) at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Notre Dame comes in red hot – riding 12 straight wins and an impressive 10 straight games covering the spread. Their run included beating Indiana and taking down Georgia in the playoffs.
Penn State powered through SMU and Boise State to get here. Their tough defense has shut down opponents, with seven teams unable to score 20 points in their last nine games.
After running 10,000 computer simulations, experts expect scoring to go over Vegas’s 45.5-point total.
Penn State & Notre Dame History
This game adds another chapter to a rivalry that began in 1913. The all-time series stands even – nine wins each and one tie. Penn State owned the 1980s and early 90s, winning eight times during their yearly meetings from 1981-1992. Plus, the two teams haven’t met on the gridion in 17 years.
Keep an eye on the battle between NFL prospect Abdul Carter, Penn State’s fierce edge rusher, and Notre Dame’s dynamic back Jeremiyah Love, who’s been running wild all season.
Ohio State or Texas awaits in next week’s championship game – but first, one of these powerhouses must lose.
Additional sources: cbssports.com