NCAA
College football bowl games: Who plays today, Thursday Jan. 9? Times and matchups
The NCAA’s bowl season is approaching its climax, with the 2024-25 College Football Playoff semi-finals to be played this week.
After a four-day hiatus, bowl season is back: in Florida today, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish go head to head in the Orange Bowl, in the first of the 2024-25 College Football Playoff semi-finals.
Orange Bowl: Notre Dame vs Penn State game preview
In the first ever Orange Bowl to feature two teams led by Black coaches, the game’s 91st edition will witness the 20th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Penn State. In the teams’ 19 previous matchups, the teams have earned nine wins apiece, with one game tied.
The 13-2 Nittany Lions, who defeated the No. 3 seed Boise State in the quarter-finals, are four-time winners of the Orange Bowl. However, they head into Thursday’s game as the +100 underdogs; indeed, Penn State has the longest championship odds of all four teams remaining in the College Football Playoff.
Winners of the Orange Bowl on two occasions, the 13-1 Fighting Irish are rated at -118 to beat Penn State, having reached the semi-finals by beating the two-seeded Georgia Bulldogs in the last eight.
“We couldn’t be more excited”
“It’s been a crazy college football season, not only for Penn State but really across the board,” Penn State head coach James Franklin told reporters on Wednesday. “We couldn’t be more excited to be here and playing in the Orange Bowl, such a historic game. Penn State and Notre Dame got great history together, as well, two storied programs.”
Meanwhile, Notre Dame boss Marcus Freeman said: “I’m looking forward to a great opportunity tomorrow night versus an extremely good football team. I have a lot of respect for Coach Franklin and the job he’s done in college football.”
Notre Dame vs Penn State: start time, how to watch
Held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, Thursday’s Orange Bowl is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. Viewers in the US can watch the CFP semi-final on ESPN, and can stream the network’s coverage on the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free trial.
Who will Notre Dame/Penn State play in the National Championship Game?
The winner of the opening last-four clash will face the Texas Longhorns or the Ohio State Buckeyes in the National Championship Game, to be held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 11 days' time. The Buckeyes, who are the bookmakers’ favorites for the title, take on the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.
Bowl season 2024-25: full remaining schedule
Thursday, January 9:
Orange Bowl, CFP semi-finals: Penn State vs Notre Dame
Friday, January 10:
Cotton Bowl, CFP semi-finals: Texas vs Ohio State
Monday, January 20:
National Championship Game: Penn State/Notre Dame vs Texas/Ohio State
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