Penn State is not the one factor standing in Notre Dame’s manner because it seeks a visit to the School Soccer Playoff nationwide championship recreation.
Notre Dame reporter Tyler Horka of On3 Sports activities notes that the workforce has been hit with a flu outbreak.
Horka famous that the outbreak has been contained to “largely backups and particular groups gamers,” nevertheless it’s nonetheless a hurdle for Combating Irish head coach Marcus Freeman to navigate earlier than Notre Dame performs Penn State within the Orange Bowl on Thursday night (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Per ESPN Bet, the Irish are a one-point favourite in opposition to the Nittany Lions, who had two further days of relaxation after Notre Dame’s quarterfinal on the Sugar Bowl was postponed a day following the New 12 months’s terrorist assault in New Orleans.
Notre Dame (13-1) floor out a 23-10 win over Georgia (11-3) to achieve the semifinals. The Irish solely threw for 90 yards, their eighth-fewest in a win since 2000 (h/t Stathead), whereas dashing for 154 yards.
Particular groups performed a major position in Notre Dame’s win, so the flu outbreak might be particularly regarding for the Irish.
Kicker Mitch Jeter was 3-of-3 on his kicks, all from over 40 yards.
Huge receiver Jayden Harrison scored a 98-yard landing on the opening kickoff of the second half to present Notre Dame a 20-3 lead.
The punt unit additionally contributed to the win when Freeman rushed it off the sector on a fourth down within the fourth quarter, and Georgia’s protection jumped offside following the mad scramble to maintain the Irish drive alive.
Penn State (13-2) defeated Boise State (12-2) 31-14 on New 12 months’s Eve on the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions protection compelled 4 turnovers, they usually rushed for 216 yards to maneuver two wins away from their first soccer nationwide championship since 1986.
If the flu would not take out Notre Dame, Penn State would possibly.
