Irish Kicks Off Semi-Final Round vs Penn St.

College Football Playoff Semi-Finals

Thursday, January 9, 2025

#7 Notre Dame (13-1) vs #6 Penn St (13-2)

7:30 PM  – ESPN   at the Capital One Orange Bowl
    Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fl

Irish Kicks Off Semi-Final Round vs Penn St.

The CFP semi-final games begin tonight with Notre Dame meeting Penn State in the Orange Bowl with Ohio State facing off vs Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night. All four semi-final winners rank in the top ten on defense and feature strong ground games. Each semi-final contestant beat top clubs who were coming off the bye week.

Notre Dame has been directed by QB Riley Leonard who has improved greatly after a slow start and taken control of this balanced attack. He has provided tough leadership with the playmaking ability to make the big throw and savvy scrambling to move the chains. He has shined on the big stage and has the talent to direct this club in the season’s most important matchups. He beat a recent two-time national champion, Georgia 23-10 executing a sound game plan with balance and ball security, despite throwing for less than 100 yards passing. Runners Jeremyah Love and Jadarian Price provide a consistent duo. Love has provided breakaway speed and big plays on the perimeter which has changed games. The Irish defense is a tough unit which has overcome key injuries to CB Morrison and DT Mills. Safety Xavier Watts has been a instinctive playmaker and leader who directs this unit.

Penn State is remarkably similar to the Irish in many key respects. QB Drew Allar has matured over a long starting career. The Nittany Lions features a strong deep ground game which has been their staple for field position and game management. Penn State is only 4-13 vs top ten clubs in the James Franklin era. Runner Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen form a potent tandem out of the old Nittany Lion tradition. TE Tyler Warren has been outstanding and produced an All-American 2024 performance. He has been the catalyst of an offense which moves the chains and produces big plays from a variety of formations. The Penn State legacy of linebackers continues with Abdul Carter who has been a weekly difference maker. He is a little nicked up for the semi-final matchup, though is expected to start. The Irish offense will have to account for him and safety Jaylen Reed if they expected a consistent attack.

Expect Notre Dame to dictate ball control and allow QB Leonard to control the game with play action and his fine scrambling ability. The Irish beat Penn State in an old time matchup.

Notre Dame 23 – Penn State 13

The new 12- team format and system have been a resounding early success. They have been spread out over a three-week period which gave every club at least half a bye between games. This included a bye week for the top four teams from the power conferences.

Semi-Final Matchups

Thursday, January 9, 2025
Team / Matchup / Time / TV / Location
#7 Notre Dame (13-1) vs #6 Penn State (13-2)
7:30 PM              ESPN   at the Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fl

Friday, January 10, 2025
#8 Ohio State (12-2)  vs #5 Texas (13-2)
7:30 PM              ESPN
at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Tx

College Football Playoff National Championship

Monday, January 20, 2025
7:30 PM            ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Ga

Frank Coyle / Publisher – Draft Insiders’ Digest – 34th Season

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