Penn State meets Notre Dame in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The all-time series is deadlocked at 9-9-1. One side will claim their 10th victory over the other at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami while also clinching a spot in this season’s title game.

There are only three games left in the college football season. That sucks. There's no way around it. If there's a silver lining to that depressing fact, it's that they're College Football Playoff games.

Drew Allar, Riley Leonard and both defenses will play a key role when Penn State and Notre Dame meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl.

How to watch Orange Bowl College Football Playoff game between Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Penn State Nittany Lions Thursday, with time, TV channel.

Jimmie Kaylor revealed his College Football Playoff semifinal picks for Penn State vs. Notre Dame in the 2025 Orange Bowl on Thursday

While Notre Dame’s win against Georgia was the first win in a big bowl game in more than 30 years, Penn State is still searching for that level of win under James Franklin. The Nittany Lions had the so-called easy path to the semifinals and took advantage with a dominant win against SMU and a comfortable win against Boise State.

After two College Football Playoff games as the favorite, Penn State football returns to the underdog role against Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions probably prefer it that way. Penn State,