COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Before Ohio State and Texas meet Friday at the Cotton Bowl in a playoff semifinal, two historic Midwest programs will kick off their semifinal round outside Miami.
Notre Dame and Penn State face off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Orange Bowl for a spot in the national championship game in Atlanta on Jan. 20. The Fighting Irish enter the matchup with the nation’s best winning streak, and the Nittany Lions aim to gain national respect among the top-tier programs.
Here is what to know ahead of Thursday’s semifinal:
Notre Dame enters on hot streak
Thanks to Ohio State’s Rose Bowl win over Oregon, the Fighting Irish have the longest winning streak among the semifinalists. A Week 2 loss to Northern Illinois 16-14 sent Notre Dame fans in a panic that a playoff spot would be tough to come by. But other upsets across the nation and running the table gave the Irish an at-large bid.
Notre Dame enters the Orange Bowl on a 12-game winning streak that includes a mix of offensive dominance and stout defense, highlighted by wins over Navy (51-14), Army (49-14), and USC (49-35).
As the seventh seed, the Fighting Irish earned a home game in the first round against Indiana, cruising to a 27-17 win at Notre Dame Stadium. Coach Marcus Freeman’s team then took advantage of a depleted Georgia team, playing without starting quarterback Carson Beck, winning 23-10 in a quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl.
The win ended ending a 10-game losing streak in major bowl games for Notre Dame. Now the Irish seek a win over Penn State to make their first national final in over a decade (2012) and search for college football’s top prize for the first time since 1988.
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 07: Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins (5) runs with the football in action during a game between the Northern Illinois Huskies the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on September 7, 2024, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 28: Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks on against the Louisville Cardinals during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 26: Leonard Moore #15 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leaps to make an interception in the fourth quarter against the Navy Midshipmen at Met Life Stadium on October 26, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Edward Diller/Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 23: Riley Leonard #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish looks to pass the ball during the first half of the Shamrock Series against the Army Black Knights at Yankee Stadium on November 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 30: Notre Dame Fighting Irish team singing Notre Dame Victory March during a game between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and University of Southern California at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/Getty Images) 
SOUTH BEND, IN – DECEMBER 20: Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) runs past Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) during the CFP first round game between the Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 2: Xavier Watts #0, Riley Leonard #13, Jack Kiser #24, and Howard Cross III #56 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish lift the Sugar Bowl Trophy after a win over the Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome on January 2, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Penn State seeks return to top-tier status
While Penn State is still considered among the best programs in college football history, its place amongst the top-tier schools has been slipping in the past few decades. It’s been nearly 40 years since the Nittany Lions won a national championship, and this 12-team playoff format might be the reason the drought ends.
Coach James Franklin’s team took advantage of a below-average Big Ten schedule to go 11-1. Penn State was unable to conquer Ohio State at home, but a Michigan upset of the Buckeyes on Nov. 30 sent the Nittany Lions to the Big Ten championship game.
Despite a 45-37 loss to Oregon, Penn State earned the sixth seed and eased to a first-round win over Southern Methodist 38-10 at home. In the Fiesta Bowl, Boise State fell prey to the Lions 31-14, with the offensive firepower from quarterback Drew Allar and tight end Tyler Warren too difficult to stop.
A win over Notre Dame would put Penn State into its first national championship game since a dedicated final was introduced in 1997. A trip to Atlanta could become a one-of-a-kind chance for Penn State to get revenge on the Buckeyes.
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – SEPTEMBER 28: Penn State Nittany Lions Running Back Kaytron Allen (13) runs with the ball against Illinois Fighting Illini Defensive Lineman Alex Bray (11) during the second half of the College Football game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Penn State Nittany Lions on September 28, 2024, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 12: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin congratulate his players coming off of the field during a college football game between the Penn State Nitty Lions against the USC Trojans on October 12, 2024, at United Airlines Field at The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – NOVEMBER 02: Penn State Nittany Lions Cornerback A.J. Harris (4) and Penn State Nittany Lions Linebacker Tony Rojas (13) tackle Ohio State Buckeyes Running Back TreVeyon Henderson (32) during the second half of the College Football game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions on November 2, 2024, at Beaver Stadium in University Park, PA. (Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks to pass as Taizse Johnson #40 of the Maryland Terrapins applies pressure during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) 
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – DECEMBER 07: Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Cam Miller (5) and Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) bring down Oregon Ducks running back Noah Whittington (6) during the Big Ten Championship Game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Oregon Ducks on December 07, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – DECEMBER 21: Tyler Warren #44 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs with the ball during a game between SMU and Penn State at Beaver Stadium on December 21, 2024 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images) 
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 31: Dvon J-Thomas #91 of the Penn State Nittany Lions holds up the Fiesta Bowl trophy after defeating the Boise State Broncos at State Farm Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
Matchup history
Thursday will mark the 20th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Penn State, who have won a combined 1,914 games. Thursday’s Orange Bowl will be a true rubber match with each school beating the other on nine occasions and tying once.
The first meeting was in 1913, with Notre Dame winning 14-7 on the road. That was followed by a scoreless tie in 1925 at New Beaver Field. Penn State didn’t win any of the first five meetings but broke through 24-21 in 1981.
The two played a home-and-home series in 2006 and 2007. Notre Dame crushed Penn State in South Bend, Indiana, 41-17 behind three touchdown passes from Dublin native Brady Quinn. The Nittany Lions got revenge in 2007 with a 31-10 win in the team’s most recent meeting.
ND head coach Charlie Weis and PSU coach Joe Paterno shake hands at midfield before the Nittany Lions 31-10 win over the Irish at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA, USA. (Photo by Tom 
STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 8: Austin Scott #33 of the Penn State Nittany Lions leaps over the defense against the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Beaver Stadium on September 8, 2007 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images) 
Sep 09, 2006; South Bend, IN, USA; Penn State against Notre Dame BRADY QUINN In South Bend Ind., on Sept. 9, 2006. Notre Dame won 41-17. (Photo by Jay Drowns/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images) 
Bryan Flannery #92 Defensive Lineman for the Penn State Nittany Lions and Tim Ryan #52 Offensive Lineman for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during their NCAA Independent college football game on 19 November 1988 at the Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Notre Dame won the game 21 – 3. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Allsport/Getty Images)
