vishal kumar
Notre Dame vs. Penn State: First-Quarter Analysis
The Irish and Nittany Lions will meet for the first time since 2007 in a College Football Playoff semifinal
Seventh-seeded Notre Dame and sixth-seeded Penn State will square off in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night in the first of two College Football Playoff semifinal games. Both programs are vying for their first national championship in over four decades, and a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship is at stake.
This will be the two teams’ first encounter since 2007 and only their 20th meeting overall. From 1981 until 1992, Penn State and Notre Dame played each other annually, most famously matching up famed coaches Lou Holtz of Notre Dame and Joe Paterno of Penn State. With the current record at an even 9-9-1, the outcome of Thursday’s game will tip the scales in favor of one team.
This season, Penn State has benefited greatly from the new 12-team College Football Playoff structure. After hosting a superior SMU team in the opening round, the Nittany Lions faced Boise State in the quarterfinals, where they were able to capitalize on a sizable talent advantage to win 31–14. This is not to diminish Penn State’s accomplishments this season; the Nittany Lions forced Oregon to the very end in the Big Ten Championship Game and won 11 games in a challenging Big Ten conference.
In the meantime, Notre Dame has dominated almost every team that has faced it since, putting a strange early-season setback to Northern Illinois in the past. This comprises
Follow along with LIVE updates from Penn State vs. Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl semifinal.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State live
Date: Thursday, Jan. 9 | Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami, Florida
Notre Dame vs. Penn State: Need to know
Significant injuries to watch: As kickoff draws near, there are significant injuries to watch on both participating teams. During Notre Dame’s victory over Georgia, running back Jeremiyah Love worsened a knee injury. He was seen on the team’s sideline with a heavy brace. With 148 carries for 1,112 yards and 16 touchdowns, he is the top rusher for the Irish.
The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Abdul Carter, an edge rusher for Penn State, missed three quarters of the game against Boise State due to what seemed to be an arm or shoulder injury. One of the top defensive players in college football this season, Carter was named an All-American by CBS Sports. Carter has recorded 11 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles in 15 games.
Late in the second quarter, Riley Leonard, the quarterback for Notre Dame, was driven to the ground and had to leave the Orange Bowl for a short while.
When Leonard tossed the ball, he was struck, and the back of his head struck the ground. An official saw that Leonard was a little unsteady when he stood up and motioned for him to be checked out on the sidelines. The quarterback was led right away into the medical tent at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State live updates, score: Follow College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl
Leonard was substituted by Steve Angeli when the Irish were behind 10-0. But after being assessed for a concussion, Leonard was cleared to return at the beginning of the third quarter. ESPN said on the sidelines that Leonard was “aysmptomatic” and allowed to go back.
Leonard left while training staff attended to Rocco Spindler, an offensive tackle for Notre Dame. After starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp was rolled up and appeared to have a left ankle injury, Spindler became the second offensive lineman to leave the game due to injury. Knapp had not returned to the game since his injury and was cautiously making his way along the sidelines.
Will Notre Dame’s defense shut it down, like it did in the first two rounds of the playoffs, or will the passing game carry the Nittany Lions, especially with all-around talent TE Tyler Warren? And how will Leonard and the Notre Dame ground game be contained by Penn State? Who makes it to the final game could depend on the answers to those questions.
The College Football Playoff semifinal between Notre Dame and Penn State will determine the first participant in the national title game on Thursday night in Miami. On Friday night in Arlington, Texas, Ohio State will play Texas in the second semifinal.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State
With four teams still vying for a national championship, the first 12-team College Football Playoff has returned to its familiar location. They clearly had to play to get here, but only this time.
There are two semifinals games on Thursday and Friday to decide which of the four remaining teams progress to the national championship game.
No. 6 seed Penn State will play No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Thursday in the opening match of the CFP semifinals. On January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the Orange Bowl champion will play the winner of the national championship game between No. 5 seed Texas and No. 8 seed Ohio State.
Notre Dame vs. Penn State live updates, score: Follow College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl
