The GIST: And just like that, one half of January 20th’s college football National Championship is set after No. 7 Notre Dame clinched their spot with last night’s 27–24 Orange Bowl win over No. 6 Penn State.
- Here’s how the Fighting Irish got the job done and a preview of tonight’s 7:30 p.m. ET Cotton Bowl before No. 5 Texas takes on No. 8 Ohio State for the second spot in the title game.
Notre Dame victorious after back-and-forth fourth quarter, will play for first national title since 1988: Penn State’s ferocious defense had the Fighting Irish in the first half, limiting ND to just three points — but quarterback (QB) Riley Leonard can’t be silenced for long.
- The Orange Bowl dub didn’t come easy though, especially with a relentless rushing attack from Nittany Lions running back (RB) Nick Singleton, who scored three touchdowns, and a Penn State defensive line that sacked Leonard five times.
- Now, Notre Dame head coach (HC) Marcus Freeman is on the brink of making history, with the chance to become the first Black HC to win a football natty. How’s that for a birthday present?
Explosive offense expected in tonight’s Cotton Bowl: In contrast to last night’s initially slow affair, Texas vs. Ohio State could be a touchdown fiesta from the jump, pitting dynamic Longhorns QB Quinn Ewers (who transferred out of Ohio State back in 2022) against ever-consistent Buckeyes QB Will Howard.
- Both teams have excelled under the playoff pressure, but only one has absolutely dominated their competition in the postseason — and that’s Ohio State, the squad that routed then–undefeated No. 1 seed Oregon 41–21 in the quarter-final.