Notre Dame is a slim favorite over the Nittany Lions, but the teams enter the Orange Bowl evenly and uniquely matched.

Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter will be a "game-time decision" for the Orange Bowl on Thursday night, coach James Franklin said Wednesday. Carter suffered an apparent left arm/shoulder injury in the Nittany Lions' Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State on Dec.

The Nittany Lions arrived in south Florida on Tuesday ready to take on the Fighting Irish for a spot in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Penn State star Abdul Carter is expected to play vs. Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal, James Franklin said.

Which team will earn the first spot into the College Football Playoff title game? Here's three things that could decide Notre Dame vs. Penn State.

No. 7 seed Notre Dame and No. 6 seed Penn State will face off in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night in the first of two College Football Playoff semifinal matchups. On the line is a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship as both programs are hunting for their first national title in almost 40 years.

In an era that is now long gone, a trip to the Orange Bowl meant a break from the rough weather up north and the capper to a successful season that might even end with a championship trophy in the case.

ESPN will devote multiple channels to coverage of the Orange Bowl between the Penn State Nittany Lions and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Fighting Irish's showing on offense against Georgia may not have been pretty, but it was effective. Find out why Riley Leonard & Co. has Douglas Farmer bullish on the Over ahead of Thursday's CFP semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium.

Notre Dame won't score 20 points in regulation, but neither will Penn State. Yes, Georgia was playing their backup quarterback, but the Fighting Irish were locked in on defense in the Sugar Bowl, and they completely shut down Indiana as well. Penn State is going to have a lot of trouble getting anything going on offense.