The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions are set to square off in the Orange Bowl, with the winner advancing to the National Championship game. Scheduled for Thursday, January 9th at 4:30 p.

The semifinals of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff begin Thursday with a blockbuster Orange Bowl matchup between (6) Penn State and (7) Notre Dame. Both teams have leaned heavily on their defenses and run games to reach the doorstep of the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Notre Dame is a slim favorite over the Nittany Lions, but the teams enter the Orange Bowl evenly and uniquely matched.

Carter, who accumulated 11 sacks on the year is looking to return after suffering an an upper-body injury in Penn State’s quarterfinal match against Boise State

Marcus Freeman and James Franklin provided one final injury update ahead of Thursday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal.

Devyn Ford spent four years at Penn State before transferring to Notre Dame in 2023. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said Nittany Lions fans "should be excited to watch him."

As kickoff for the Orange Bowl nears, questions about two stars in the game and their health loom large for both teams.

Penn State is hopeful that star pass-rusher Abdul Carter will be able to play in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame.

The Nittany Lions arrived in south Florida on Tuesday ready to take on the Fighting Irish for a spot in the College Football Playoff championship game.

The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are gearing up for a semifinal matchup in the College Football Playoff against the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions, set to

Penn State head coach James Franklin gave another update on injured star defender Abdul Carter the day before the playoff Orange Bowl vs. Notre Dame.