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Urban Meyer booed as he’s inducted into Orange Bowl Hall of Fame

Penn State and Notre Dame fans who packed inside Hard Rock Stadium Thursday night for the Orange Bowl will be cheering passionately for different teams, with a spot in the College Football Playoff championship game on the line.

While they’re wearing different colors and are hoping for drastically different results, they’re apparently united by at least one thing: a strong distaste for Urban Meyer.

In the hour leading up to kickoff of the playoff semifinal, Meyer, the former Ohio State and Florida coach, was recognized on the field for his recent induction into the Orange Bowl hall of fame.

The assembled crowd wasn’t in a celebratory mood, loudly booing Meyer, who chuckled and waved to the audience.

Meyer and his teams were a persistent roadblock to Penn State during his seven seasons at Ohio State, going 6-1 against the Nittany Lions from 2012-18, including Buckeye victories in 2017 and 2018 in which both teams were ranked in the top 10 at the time of the matchups.

Unlike Penn State, Meyer actually has connections to Notre Dame, having served as the Fighting Irish’s wide receivers coach from 1996-2000 under Lou Holtz and Bob Davie. Meyer, who is Catholic, repeatedly referred to Notre Dame as his dream job, including in 2008 while he was coaching a Florida team that went on to win that season’s national championship. 

He had the opportunity to be the Irish coach after the 2004 season, but opted instead to accept the job at Florida, where he won two national championships.

Meyer faced off against Notre Dame just once in his head-coaching career, a 44-28 Ohio State victory in the Fiesta Bowl in 2016.

Meyer’s unpopularity among segments of college football fans goes beyond on-field results.

While outrageously successful, players on his Florida teams regularly got into legal trouble. He was placed on administrative leave at Ohio State in 2018 as the school conducted an investigation into claims that people close to Meyer knew of a domestic violence allegation against his former wide receivers coach, Zach Smith. Meyer ultimately retired after that season. Most recently, he had an ill-fated 13-game tenure with the Jacksonville Jaguars marred by a series of incidents, including alleged verbal and physical abuse of players and coaches.

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Lee Corso almost falls while doing jig after making Orange Bowl pick

The final moments leading up to ESPN’s broadcast of the Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame came with a scare.

While making his long-standing helmet pick for the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between the Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish, “GameDay” analyst Lee Corso nearly fell backwards to the ground in front of the show’s desk while doing a jig to show he was predicting a Notre Dame victory.

The 89-year-old Corso, who was dressed as a leprechaun, was thankfully caught by the Notre Dame mascot he was dancing alongside before he hit the ground.

Corso has traditionally done the jig with the Notre Dame mascot when picking the Fighting Irish, including earlier this season, when he correctly predicted Notre Dame would beat Texas A&M in a Week 1 matchup.

Corso has been a mainstay of ESPN’s college football coverage since joining the network in the late 1980s, with his colorful personality and memorable catchphrases helping make “GameDay” one of the most popular and awarded pregame shows in broadcast history.

His role on the program has been reduced in recent years, with Corso sometimes unable to make the trip for the show certain weeks.

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‘Almost doesn’t feel real’: Rams, Chargers impacted by deadly wildfires

The Los Angeles Rams are attempting to focus on a playoff game amid multiple deadly wildfires that have scorched the Los Angeles area.

At least five fires were active in Los Angeles County, devastating more than 40 square miles across the region, according to Cal Fire. Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents have been forced to evacuate their homes.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Thursday some members in the organization have been impacted by the fires, including a couple staff members who had their homes affected.

“My thoughts and prayers are with everybody that’s been affected by these fires,” McVay said. “It’s one of those deals that almost doesn’t feel real, but it certainly is real to the people that are affected. Praying that as many people are okay. You just see the amount of people that are affected, it’s one of those deals that, you know, it gives you perspective. So hopefully get this stuff under control. It’s been a unique week. Unfortunately for us, there’s been some people that have been affected — in regards to power outages (and) recommended evacuation. A couple of our staff members did have their homes affected. But fortunately, to my knowledge, nobody has been injured and you know for that we’re grateful.”

A few hours after McVay spoke to reporters, the NFL officially moved the Rams’ wild-card playoff game versus the Minnesota Vikings to Glendale, Arizona.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

‘In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL announced today,’ the NFL said in a statement. ‘The decision was made in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA.’

NFL BRACKET: Complete 2025 playoff schedule and odds for this weekend’s games

Before the NFL’s announcement, the Rams were operating under the assumption the playoff game will would place at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium. However, the team had to cancel post-practice media availability to let players get home as new wildfire broke out in West Hills, which is near the team’s practice facility in Woodland Hills.

‘Every time we suit up, we’re the Los Angeles Rams. We play for the people in this community, the people that support us, and this week will be another example of that,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “Hopefully it’ll be a great escape for people who’ve been going through a lot of tough times here the last couple days.”

Glendale’s State Farm Stadium is approximately 385 miles from Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium.

The Los Angeles Chargers adjusted their practice schedule this week to limit outdoor exposure for players and staff ahead of their road playoff contest versus the Houston Texans. Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman told reporters Wednesday that Chargers wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal had an ‘intense night’ as his Calabasas home was impacted by the fires.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Kings postponed their hockey game versus the Calgary Flames. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers postponed their game against the Charlotte Hornets. According to reports, Lakers head coach JJ Redick lost his home in the raging wildfires that have impacted the Los Angeles area.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

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Taiwan FM hails importance of US relationship, says group visits ‘contribute to peace and stability’

The United States should increase and promote both official and unofficial contacts with Taiwan’s government and the Taiwanese military during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, regardless of the inevitable Beijing response of ‘anger’ and ‘hurt feelings,’ analysts say. 

Exchanges between U.S. officials, scholars, as well as members of think tanks, foundations, and institutes, will be crucial for accurate information to be relayed to both the American and Taiwanese public and their respective governments, say experts.

On Thursday, a delegation from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute met with Taiwan President William Lai, Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung. 

‘We deeply appreciate the bipartisan support from our American friends and welcome delegations from the U.S. and like-minded nations,’ Lin told Fox News Digital in exclusive comments. 

The foreign minister added, ‘These visits demonstrate concrete support for Taiwan and contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, essential for global security and prosperity.’ 

Speaking from Taipei, David Trulio, president and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, told Fox News Digital, ‘We met with the President, Vice President, Foreign Minister, and other government leaders to advance President Reagan’s legacy and our shared values of freedom and democracy, economic opportunity, and peace through strength.’ 

Describing Taiwan as ‘a vibrant democracy and key economic partner of the United States,’ Trulio added that visits to Taiwan – by U.S. civil society groups, foundations, think tanks, and official U.S. government officers – serve as ‘valuable opportunities to maintain relationships with Taiwan’s leaders, address challenges and opportunities, and visibly promote shared values.’ 

The Reagan Foundation, comprised of national security and business leaders, met with representatives from all three of Taiwan’s main political parties, as well as top Taiwanese government officials, during a weeklong visit to Taiwan, a self-ruled island that has never been governed by Communist China. Beijing claims Taiwan as its territory and never misses a chance to make bombastic statements against what it calls ‘secessionist forces.’ 

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2024 New Year’s address included claims that ‘reunification’ was a ‘historical inevitability,’ despite the two sides being separately ruled for more than 70 years. Beijing has refused to pledge to seek only peaceful options for ‘unity’ and says it reserves the option of using military force.

While Foreign Minister Lin did not directly reference pre-U.S. election comments by then-Republican candidate Trump that ‘Taiwan should pay us for defense,’ he did not sidestep the issue. In comments to Fox News Digital, Lin said, ‘Taiwan has increased its defense spending by over 80% since 2016, reaching US$20 billion U.S. dollars in 2024. In 2025, if the special budget for military procurement is included, Taiwan’s total military spending is expected to account for 20% of the central government’s annual budget—higher than that of the U.S.’

This is the Reagan Foundation’s second time leading a delegation to Taiwan in as many years. A recent poll conducted by the foundation showed roughly 70-75% of Americans – Democrats and Republicans alike – would support strong measures should China make the ill-advised choice to use military force against Taiwan. For example, a significant majority agreed that should there be an attack, the U.S. should immediately recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. 

The current reality is that China faces significant domestic challenges and is not in a position of strength. In 2022, despite threats of ‘dire consequences,’ then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, and the Chinese response was hardly ‘dire.’ The following year, after Republicans took control of the House, the then President Tsai Ing-wen met with then-Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy during a stop in California, a historic first meeting between a Taiwanese president and a U.S. House speaker on U.S. soil. 

China responded with three days of war games and a simulated blockade of the island, but those exercises and maneuvers demonstrated no new capabilities that the U.S. or Taiwanese defense departments were not aware of already. Speaking after meeting with McCarthy in 2023, President Tsai told the media, ‘To preserve peace, we must be strong,’ clearly paraphrasing former President Ronald Reagan. 

‘China can and will huff and puff over visits, especially ones involving in-office U.S. government personnel,’ Liam Keen told Fox News Digital via email. ‘But we cannot allow the theatrics of mock blockades and firing rockets into the sea to in any way deter closer U.S.-Taiwan exchanges.’ Keen, who is part of the U.S.-based NGO Formosan Association for Public Affairs, noted his organization strongly supported and was instrumental in helping the Taiwan Travel Act get passed in Congress and signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2018. 

The Taiwan Travel Act – which China predictably harshly criticized – removed many previous restrictions on travel to Taiwan by U.S. officials. Keen noted that ‘The act passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate. I think China calling it a ‘red line’ only emboldened sponsors of the law such as Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and [former] Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio., which is exactly the right way to respond to bullying by the Chinese Communist Part.’

Foreign Minister Lin told Fox News Digital that Taiwan’s government looked forward to working with the new U.S. administration. ‘Strengthening economic partnerships is also crucial,’ he said. ‘Taiwanese businesses, such as TSMC with its $65 billion investment in Arizona, are increasingly investing in the U.S.’ Lin noted that Taiwanese President Lai has emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s global role, with Lin quoting Lai as saying, ‘The more secure Taiwan is, the more secure the world will be.’ 

War between the U.S. and China over Taiwan would be catastrophic for both superpowers and the globe. Aside from horrific human losses, Bloomberg Economics estimated in 2024 that the ‘price tag’ of such a war could be around $10 trillion; 10% of global GDP – ‘dwarfing the blow from the war in Ukraine, COVID pandemic and global financial crisis.’ Increased contact between the United States and Taiwan to build trust, and transmit accurate, bias-free information is a major key to ensuring such a conflict never happens. 

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Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood’s friendship with President Carter spanned years: ‘They’ve inspired us’

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood paid their respects to former President Carter and honored their friendship with the American leader Thursday.

Brooks and Yearwood dressed in all black while singing John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ at the end of Carter’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral Jan. 9. The couple maintained a friendship with the former president throughout the years.

‘President Carter, the legacy you and Rosalynn have left us is as beautiful as the life you lived,’ Brooks said in a statement shared shortly after Carter’s death. 

‘Thank you for your lifetime of service to our country and the world. You inspired us not just by what you said, but by what you built. We love you.’

The former president had reportedly requested that Brooks and Yearwood perform the song at the funeral. Fox News Digital reached out to the Carter Center for comment.

Brooks and Yearwood performed the same duet at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral in November 2023. Rosalynn’s service was held at Emory University’s Glenn Memorial Church in Atlanta. The couple dressed in all black for the somber occasion.

At the time, Brooks spoke highly of Rosalynn and shared how close the former first lady and his wife had become over the years.

‘They were inseparable,’ he explained at a press conference, according to ‘Today.’ ‘Miss Yearwood called her ‘quiet warrior.”

He shared his own admiration for Carter’s wife, telling reporters, ‘If you ever got to hang around her, President Carter always steals the show, and then when it comes time for her to speak, she’ll walk to the mic. What she says is very quiet but yet very powerful.’

Brooks and Yearwood met the Carters working for Habitat for Humanity. The former president and his wife first began working with the charity in 1984. The couple led a renovation project on a 19-unit apartment building in New York City.

The country music stars became involved with Habitat for Humanity years later, after Hurricane Katrina left destruction in New Orleans.

‘After Katrina in ’07, we fell in love with Habitat for Humanity. We knew we loved the Carters, and we fell more in love with them just getting a chance to work alongside them,’ Yearwood told People magazine in 2023. ‘We love what Habitat for Humanity is about — spreading love. It is about creating community.

‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’ she added. ‘We’ll never fill their shoes, but we’re doing the best we can.’

Brooks and Yearwood were also ‘inspired’ by Carter and Rosalynn’s 77-year marriage.

‘They’ve inspired us in a lot of ways, in the ways you expect — humanity, humbleness, work ethic. But they’ve also inspired us by their example as husband and wife,’ Brooks told People in 2023.

‘We worked beside them for the last 15 years, and you notice right away they bicker back and forth about the right way to do things. That kind of works for us too!’

In 2019, Brooks and Yearwood performed at the Grand Ole Opry with Carter as part of a Habitat for Humanity project. Carter and his wife were in Nashville to build houses with the organization.

‘We get more out of Habitat than we’ve ever put into it,’ the former president said during the closing ceremony at the Opry, according to Opry.com. It was one of Carter’s last visits to the legendary Ryman Auditorium.

Carter wasn’t only close with Brooks and Yearwood. The former leader of the United States had a handful of celebrity confidants. He spent time with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Greg Allman, Johnny Cash and Jimmy Buffett, to name a few.

‘They’ve inspired us in a lot of ways, in the ways you expect — humanity, humbleness, work ethic. But they’ve also inspired us by their example as husband and wife.’

— Garth Brooks

Brooks and Yearwood recently attended the 2024 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Week Project to celebrate Carter’s 100th birthday in St. Paul, Minnesota. Habitat for Humanity hosted the week-long event, which focused on building houses and raising awareness for affordable housing.

‘He definitely wants to know that we’re working, and this is why we’re here. He has a legacy of service, and he never stopped serving,’ Yearwood told People magazine in October. 

‘He’s not physically standing here building, swinging a hammer. But we feel his presence and Ms. Rosalynn’s presence strongly. We’re just two volunteers, but everybody who’s on this site feels that responsibility to make them proud.’

Carter entered hospice care in February 2023 and died Dec. 29, 2024.

The former president died surrounded by his family roughly 22 months after entering hospice care at his home in Georgia. Carter battled metastatic melanoma in 2015. His skin cancer was treated with surgery, radiation and immunotherapy at the age of 90.

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Trump’s victory could give boost to Brazil’s Bolsonaro’s re-election hopes amid court ban on him running

President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in November’s election has given hope to Brazil’s former leader Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently barred from running for public office until 2030 due to a ruling by Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court. 

Known as the ‘Trump of the Tropics,’ the court decision stemmed from his alleged abuse of power and ‘unfounded attacks on the country’s electronic voting system.’

Despite the prohibition, Bolsonaro and his supporters are actively seeking avenues to overturn the ruling. The expected legal challenges and political strategies pin a lot of hope on Trump. Furthermore, Bolsonaro is counting on the president-elect to exert pressure on the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula) so he can challenge for the presidency in 2026.

‘Trump’s victory goes far beyond being positive for democracy in Brazil and the world; it is good news for global peace,’ Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, told Fox News Digital. 

He noted how ‘President Lula, days before the election, had expressed support for Kamala Harris and suggested that a new Trump administration would be ‘Nazism in another form.’ However, after Trump’s victory, Lula congratulated the president-elect and tried to downplay his earlier, widely criticized statement.’

Nonetheless, key Lula allies, including the leader of the Workers Party, Gleisi Hoffmann, along with Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Agriculture Minister Paulo Teixeira, have lambasted the incoming Trump administration.

Bolsonaro believes Trump’s victory will put the present government in a bind.

‘Lula and his team know they will not be able to control Trump, so their only option is to try to destroy him by aligning themselves even further with China. The result is the continued political polarization and debates far removed from the true concerns of the population, which seeks solutions for issues like healthcare, education, security, employment, and basic sanitation. This disconnect from ordinary citizens strongly resembles the reasons behind the Democratic Party’s defeat in the last American election – it’s almost a ‘déjà vu.’’

Lula and BRICS countries have discussed ways to combat the dominance of the dollar in global financial markets, but Bolsonaro argues that such a strategy will be counter-productive. 

‘Trump announced on his social media that countries adopting this stance would face a 100% tariff on their exports to the U.S. Such a conflict never occurred during Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, whether under Trump or Biden,’ he said, adding, ‘This situation will create significant pressure on Lula’s business base. A large portion of these entrepreneurs maintain substantial trade relations with the U.S. and are often the largest donors to the socialist’s electoral campaigns. Despite ideological alignment in some areas, these businesspeople prioritize economic pragmatism.’

The BRICS countries include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Bolsonaro also views the Bolsonaro/Trump ideological alignment on freedom of speech issues as a key component to a potential return of Bolsonaro to the political realm.

In March 2022, Minister of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil Alexandre de Moraes ordered the suspension of the messasging app Telegram in Brazil, and in 2024, he ordered X to block accounts allegedly spreading false information. Elon Musk publicly criticized these orders as censorship. The dispute escalated when de Moraes imposed fines and threatened legal action, leading to a temporary suspension of X’s operations in Brazil. The platform resumed services after complying with court mandates. 

The last opinion polls conducted in May 2024 indicated that Bolsonaro would secure 39% of the vote in a hypothetical matchup against current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who polled at 47%. However, experts consider these figures to be hypothetical, given Bolsonaro’s current ineligibility. At the same time, Bolsonaro’s popularity has been rising again in recent months. 

The relationship between some Republicans and Lula’s administration has been characterized by limited direct engagement, primarily due to differing ideological stances and policy priorities. Historically, the Republican Party has maintained closer ties with right-leaning Brazilian leaders, notably President Bolsonaro, who shared similar conservative viewpoints.

Political analyst Sandra Bronzina told Fox News Digital, ‘Not long ago Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar sponsored a measure to deny visas to members of the Brazilian Supreme Court for abuse of power. At the time, the measure was not approved, but now that the Republicans will have a majority, it could be revisited. We cannot forget that Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Brazilian Supreme Court, was in direct confrontation with Elon Musk, even removing X from Brazil. It turns out that now Elon Musk will be part of the Trump government.’

Bronzina said, ‘The fact that Trump has returned with a resounding electoral win does not bode well for the Lula administration. In a very short time, Lula’s economic policies have been a disaster, the dollar has risen a lot, inflation has increased, the country’s debt already exceeds 9 trillion reals, and all of this impacts the voter daily. I think that just like in the U.S., where bad economic policies made them miss Trump, the Brazilians right now are also missing Bolsonaro and his Economy Minister, Paulo Guedes.’

Analysts consider that while Bolsonaro enjoys a significant support base and is actively seeking to overturn his political ban, his chances of being re-elected president remain uncertain due to existing legal constraints.

‘The Supreme Court disqualified Jair Bolsonaro in a very unfair decision…but the right will be strengthened now since Donald Trump’s victory gave the right in Brazil new hope in 2026. The 2024 elections were favorable for right-wing candidates. Lula’s popularity is also very low, which means that in 2026 the right’s options are enormous’, Congressman Marcel van Hattem told Fox News Digital.

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Notre Dame vs. Penn State highlights: Fighting Irish win Orange Bowl

The Notre Dame football team is back in the national championship game.

The No. 7 Fighting Irish knocked off No. 6 Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl Thursday on a game-winning field goal by kicker Mitch Jeter with 7 seconds remaining. The College Football Playoff semifinal victory at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami sends Notre Dame to Atlanta, where it will play either No. 8 Ohio State or No. 5 Texas in the title game on Jan. 20.

Notre Dame is searching for its 12th national championship, but first since 1988. Texas and Ohio State meet in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

Notre Dame won its first CFP semifinal game after losing in its first two appearances. The Fighting Irish last played in the national championship in 2013.

Sophomore cornerback Christian Gray set up Notre Dame’s game-winning drive when he intercepted a pass from Penn State’s Drew Allar with 33 seconds remaining on the Penn State 42-yard line. Riley Leonard and the offense drove down to the Penn State 24-yard line to set up the game-winning field goal.

The Fighting Irish won after trailing 10-0 in the first half and 10-3 at halftime. Notre Dame scored 17 straight points before the Nittany Lions responded with 14 points to retake the lead. A 54-yard pass from Leonard to Jaden Greathouse tied the game at 24. Leonard finished with 223 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, while Greathouse had seven catches for 105 yards and a score.

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton finished with 15 rushes for 84 yards and three touchdowns. The Nittany Lions attempted a couple of lateral passes near the end of the game to try and score, but Allar’s errant out-of-bounds lateral ended the game.

Here are updates and highlights of Thursday’s CFP semifinal game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 6 Penn State:

Notre Dame vs. Penn State highlights

Orange Bowl score highlights

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Final: Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24

Notre Dame-Penn State final stats

Here’s a look at the quarterback comparison: 

Riley Leonard: 15 of 23 passing, 223 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions; Steve Angeli 6 of 7 passing, 44 yards
Drew Allar: 12 of 23 passing, 135 yards, one interception

Some stats of notes:

Total yards: ND 383, PSU 343
Rushing yards: ND 116, PSU 204
Passing yards: ND 267, PSU 139
First downs: ND 23, PSU 20
Time of possession: ND 30:04, PSU 29:49 
Penalties: ND 4-31, PSU 5-44
Turnovers (points off turnovers): ND 2 (10), PSU 1 (3)

Notre Dame headed to national championship following 27-24 win over Penn State

Notre Dame knocks off Penn State 27-24 to head to the national championship on Jan. 20 vs. the winner of Ohio State-Texas. The Fighting Irish will be going for their 12th national championship in program history.

Mitch Jeter hits go-ahead field goal for Notre Dame

Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter connects on a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining to give the Fighting Irish a 27-24 lead.

According to the ESPN broadcast, kickers had been 0-for-4 in previous game-winning kick attempts in the CFP.

Christian Gray intercepts Drew Allar

Christian Gray intercepts Drew Allar at the Penn State 42-yard line on a pass intended for Omari Evans. The Fighting Irish will have 33 seconds and all three timeouts for a chance at a game-winning field goal.

The play is under review, but should be confirmed as an interception.

Coziah Izzard sacks Riley Leonard to force punt

Coziah Izzard got to Leonard Riley for a sack, forcing Notre Dame to punt it away with 52 seconds left.

Penn State will start at its own 15-yard line with 47 seconds left and two timeouts remaining.

Notre Dame forces three-and-out

Notre Dame will start on its own 24 after forcing a three-and-out on the Penn State drive. Bryce Young and Drayk Bowen stuffed Drew Allar on a scramble to force the punt. The Fighting Irish have the ball with 2:34 left.

Riley Leonard connects with Jaden Greathouse to tie Orange Bowl

Riley Leonard and Jaden Greathouse connect for a 54-yard touchdown to even the game at 24-24 with 4:38 remaining. Greathouse got wide open after Penn State’s Jaylen Reed appeared to slip in coverage.

The Notre Dame scoring drive goes seven plays for 81 yards and takes 3:11 off the clock. Greathouse has six catches for 95 yards and the touchdown.

Nicholas Singleton scores third TD of Orange Bowl

Nicholas Singleton ends a second straight drive with a 7-yard touchdown to give Penn State a 24-17 lead with 7:55 remaining. It’s Singelton’s third touchdown of the evening. The Nittany Lions were aided by a defensive pass interference on an interception to move the ball inside the 10-yard line.

The drive began on the Notre Dame 39-yard line following defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton picking off Riley Leonard on the preceding Notre Dame drive. The drive is five plays for 39 yards and takes 2:20 off the clock.

Dani Dennis-Sutton picks off Riley Leonard

On the first play following the scoring drive for Penn State, defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepts a pass from Riley Leonard to give the Nittany Lions the ball at the Notre Dame 39-yard line. It was Leonard’s second interception of the game.

Nicholas Singleton, Penn State respond to tie Orange Bowl

Nicholas Singleton punches in the ball from 7 yards out to even the Orange Bowl with 10:20 left in the game. Quarterback Drew Allar completed all three of his passes for 48 yards on the drive to set up the score.

The drive goes seven plays for 75 yards in 3:47 game time. Of note, tight end Tyler Warren left the game following a hit on the sideline after a 27-yard gain to open the drive. He, however, returned to the game.

Jeremiyah Love gives Notre Dame first lead of Orange Bowl

Jeremiyah Love powers his way into the end zone, breaking a couple of tackles on the way for a 2-yard touchdown to give Notre Dame its first lead of the game at 17-10 with 14:07 remaining in the game.

The drive goes 10 plays for 72 yards and takes 5:19 off the game clock. Love has scored in 14 of the 15 games this season for the Fighting Irish.

End of third quarter: Penn State 10, Notre Dame 10

Notre Dame driving to begin fourth quarter

Following a great catch by receiver Jaden Greathouse on a third-and-9, Notre Dame is into Penn State territory to open the fourth quarter. Greathouse made a leaping grab on a throw from Riley Leonard to convert a key third down.

The Fighting Irish will face a third-and-2 from the Penn State 35-yard line to start the final quarter in a 10-10 game.

Notre Dame forces three-and-out on first Penn State drive

Notre Dame’s defense responded to a touchdown drive from the offense by forcing a three-and-out on the Penn State offense. Christian Gray tackled Kaytron Allen for no gain on a third-and-2 to force the punt.

Notre Dame will begin its second drive of the second half from its own 30-yard line.

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame even Orange Bowl in third quarter

Returning from an injury on the final drive of the first half, Riley Leonard caps off a touchdown drive for Notre Dame with a 3-yard rushing touchdown to even the score at 10-10 with 10:46 left in the third quarter.

The scoring drive lasted eight plays and 75 yards, taking 4:14 off the game clock for the Fighting Irish. Jeremiyah Love had 24 rushing yards on the drive, while Aneyas Williams had 15 yards rushing and 36 rushing.

Riley Leonard back on field for second half for Notre Dame

Following a touchback on the opening kickoff for the second half, quarterback Riley Leonard is on the field for Notre Dame after he was tested for a concussion and deemed asymptomatic. He’s back to open the second half.

Halftime: Penn State 10, Notre Dame 3

Notre Dame-Penn State halftime stats

Here’s a look at the quarterback comparison: 

Riley Leonard: 6 of 11 passing, 63 yards; Steve Angeli 6 of 7 passing, 44 yards
Drew Allar: 5 of 13 passing, 53 yards

Some stats of notes:

Total yards: ND 122, PSU 194
Rushing yards: ND 15, PSU 141
Passing yards: ND 107, PSU 53
First downs: ND 8, PSU 12
Time of possession: ND 12:47, PSU 17:13 
Penalties: ND 2-11, PSU 2-10
Turnovers (points off turnovers): ND 1 (3), PSU 0 (0)

Steve Angeli leads Notre Dame to scoring drive to end first half

Following the injury to Riley Leonard, backup QB Steve Angeli leads Notre Dame to a field goal to end the first half. Mitch Jeter hits a 41-yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-3 at halftime. Notre Dame goes 13 plays for 52 yards in the final 2:18 to cut the lead to a touchdown.

Marcus Freeman did not have an update on Leonard going into halftime.

Riley Leonard heads to injury tent

Notre Dame starting quarterback Riley Leonard heads to the injury tent with a potential injury following a hit on an incomplete pass. Backup Steve Angeli is in the game for the Fighting Irish.

Lee Corso nearly falls while doing a jig

The final moments leading up to ESPN’s broadcast of the Orange Bowl between Penn State and Notre Dame came with a scare.

While making his long-standing helmet pick for the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between the Nittany Lions and Fighting Irish, “GameDay” analyst Lee Corso nearly fell backwards to the ground in front of the show’s desk while doing a jig to show he was predicting a Notre Dame victory.

The 89-year-old Corso, who was dressed as a leprechaun, was caught by the Notre Dame mascot he was dancing alongside before he hit the ground.

-Craig Meyer

Nicholas Singleton scores to put Penn State up 10-0

Penn State running back Nicholas Singleton is in for a 5-yard touchdown to push the Penn State lead to 10-0 with 2:18 left in the first half. The Nittany Lions go 15 plays for 90 yards on the drive, taking over seven minutes off the clock with a dominant rushing attack.

Tight end Tyler Warren provided a spark for the offense with two rushes for 21 yards while lining up as the quarterback and a fourth-down reception on the drive. Penn State already has 141 rushing yards.

Penn State strikes first with field goal

The Nittany Lions strike first on a 20-yard field goal from Ryan Barker. Nicholas Singleton drops a low throw from Drew Allar, which would have resulted in a Penn State touchdown.

The scoring drive goes 14 plays for 55 yards and takes 10:09 off the game clock.

End of first quarter: Penn State 0, Notre Dame 0

Notre Dame-Penn State play scoreless first quarter in Orange Bowl

The first quarter ends without a score, but Penn State will have a third-and-goal from the Notre Dame 3-yard line when the second quarter begins.

Zakee Wheatley picks off Riley Leonard

Facing a third-and-15 from his own 15-yard line, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard tries to force a throw into the secondary and Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley intercepts it. Penn State will begin its third drive from its own 42-yard line. Nittany Lion star edge Abdul Carter’s pressure forced the errant throw.

Notre Dame first drive ends in punts 

Despite a big catch on a back shoulder throw from Riley Leonard to tight end Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame’s first drive stalls at the Penn State 41-yard line following back-to-back incomplete passes to Evans. AJ Harris makes the third-down pass breakup for Penn State.

Zion Tracy fair catches the ball at the 2-yard line. The Nittany Lions begin their second drive backed up.

Penn State punts away on first possession

Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton provides a big play to help get the Nittany Lions into Notre Dame territory, but a false start helped stall the opening drive of the Orange Bowl semifinal. They punt from the Irish 44-yard line, and Notre Dame begins its first drive on its own 11-yard line.

Notre Dame wins the toss, Penn State with ball first

Notre Dame won the toss and deferred to the second half. Penn State will receive the opening kickoff.

Pregame

ESPN ‘College Gameday’ picks

Here’s who ESPN’s ‘College Gameday’ picked to win tonight’s CFP Orange Bowl semifinal:

Desmond Howard: Penn State
Nick Saban: Notre Dame
Pat McAfee: Penn State
Lee Corso: Notre Dame
Kirk Herbstreit: Notre Dame

Former Penn State stars LaVar Arrington, Micah Parsons at Orange Bowl

Former Penn State football stars LaVar Arrington and Micah Parsons are in attendance for tonight’s Orange Bowl. Parsons currently plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

Abdul Carter’s shoulder heavily wrapped, expected to play

Notre Dame edge Abdul Carter is expected to play tonight, but his shoulder is heavily wrapped. Carter could be used situationally tonight, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Officials for Orange Bowl

Umpire: Sheldon Davis
Head Line Judge: John Braun
Line Judge: Keith Garmond
Field Judge: Joseph Martinez
Side Judge: JB Garza
Back Judge: Daniel Young
Center Judge: Marvel July

Drew Allar leads Penn State onto the field to warm up

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar leads Penn State onto the field to warm up nearly an hour before the 7:45 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium.

Marcus Freeman, James Franklin join ‘GameDay’ to talk Orange Bowl 

Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman and Penn State coach James Franklin joined ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ to preview Thursday’s CFP Orange Bowl semifinal. 

Penn State arrives at Hard Rock Stadium

While Notre Dame players are already warming up, Penn State players just arrived at Hard Rock Stadium for today’s semifinal matchup. The Nittany Lions arrived nearly 30 minutes after the Fighting Irish. 

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love warming up

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is warming up ahead of the Orange Bowl against Penn State. Love is trending toward playing in today’s semifinal but will not be 100% due to a knee sprain.

Orange Bowl time today

Date: Thursday, Jan. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Fla.)

The Orange Bowl between Notre Dame and Penn State is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

What channel is Orange Bowl today?

TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
Radio: ESPN Radio

The Fighting Irish’s game against the Nittany Lions will air on ESPN. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Greg McElroy (analyst) will be on the call.

Streaming options include the ESPN App and Fubo, the latter of which offers potential subscribers a free trial.

Notre Dame vs Penn State history

Series record: Series tied 9-9-1
Penn State’s last win: 2007 (31-10)
Notre Dame’s last win: 2006 (41-17)

Orange Bowl predictions

Here’s a look at some predictions for Thursday’s CFP semifinal between Notre Dame and Penn State:

Frank Bodani, York Daily Record: Notre Dame 21, Penn State 17
Bill Bender, The Sporting News: Notre Dame 23, Penn State 20
ESPN analytics: Penn State has a 41.4% chance of winning

Orange Bowl betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 7

Spread: Notre Dame (-1.5)
Over/under: 45.5 points
Moneyline: Notre Dame (-125) | Penn State (+105)

Orange Bowl injury updates

This section will be updated once both teams release injury reports

Orange Bowl weather update

According to The Weather Channel, the high temperature in Miami Gardens on Thursday will be 68 degrees, and the low will be 50 degrees. There is currently a 0% chance of rain.

Penn State football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 31: at West Virginia (W, 34-12)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Bowling Green (W, 34-27)
Saturday, Sept. 14: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Kent State (W, 56-0)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. No. 19 Illinois (W, 21-7) *
Saturday, Oct. 5: vs. UCLA (W, 27-11) *
Saturday, Oct. 12: at USC (W, 33-30, OT) *
Saturday, Oct. 19: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 26: at Wisconsin (W, 28-13) *
Saturday, Nov. 2: vs. No. 4 Ohio State (L, 20-13) *
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Washington (W, 35-6) *
Saturday, Nov. 16: at Purdue (W, 49-10) *
Saturday, Nov. 23: at Minnesota (W, 26-25) *
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Maryland (W, 44-7) *
Saturday, Dec. 7: vs. No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten championship game) (L, 45-37)
Saturday, Dec. 21: vs. No. 11 SMU (CFP first round) (W, 38-10) **
Tuesday, Dec. 31: vs. No. 3 Boise State (CFP Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal) (W, 31-14)**
Thursday, Jan. 9: vs. No. 7 Notre Dame (CFP Orange Bowl semifinal)
Record: 13-2 overall, 8-1 in Big Ten play

* Denotes Big Ten game

** Denotes CFP seed

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Notre Dame football schedule 2024

Saturday, Aug. 31: at No. 29 Texas A&M (W, 23-13)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Northern Illinois (L, 16-14)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Purdue (W, 66-7)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Miami, Ohio (W, 28-3)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. No. 17 Louisville (W, 31-24)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Stanford (W, 49-7)
Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Georgia Tech (W, 31-13)
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. No. 24 Navy (W, 51-14)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida State (W, 52-3)
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Virginia (W, 35-14)
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. No. 17 Army (W, 49-14)
Saturday, Nov. 30: at USC (W, 49-35)
Friday, Dec. 20: vs. No. 10 Indiana (CFP first round) (W, 27-17) *
Thursday, Jan. 2: vs. No. 2 Georgia (CFP Sugar Bowl quarterfinal) (W, 23-10) *
Thursday, Jan. 9: vs. No. 6 Penn State (CFP Orange Bowl semifinal) *
Record: 13-1

* Denotes CFP seed

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Has NFL ever moved a playoff game before?

For just the second time in NFL history, a playoff game is on the move. With deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area, the league is opting for safety first to wrap up wild-card weekend.

There will be no true home-field advantage for the Rams Monday night as the NFL relocated their playoff game vs. the Minnesota Vikings from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Arizona.

The NFL has long been at the mercy of Mother Nature, forced to move games because of weather-related incidents. Hurricanes, snow storms and more have caused a change of venue or, more commonly, postponement for a day — as we saw last year with the Steelers-Bills wild card game.

But changing venues in the playoffs is a rarity.

Here’s everything to know about the history of venue changes in the NFL playoffs:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Has an NFL playoff game ever been moved before?

The NFL’s decision to move the Rams-Vikings game marks just the second time the league’s moved a playoff game in its 105-season history. While Monday’s game is being moved for safety concerns, that wasn’t the case in the only other instance, which occurred in 1936.

The 1936 NFL championship game, between Boston (now the Washington Commanders) and the Green Bay Packers, was the first one to be held on a neutral field, something that has become commonplace in today’s game. Still more than 30 years before the Super Bowl, the championship game was played on one the team’s home fields.

That year’s game was moved from Boston’s Fenway Park to New York’s Polo Grounds because of poor ticket sales. Boston owner George Preston Marshall decided to move the game with the lack of fan support and then relocated the team to Washington, D.C., the following season, which they’ve represented since.

The Packers went on to win, 21-6, for their fourth NFL championship and first in the playoff format.

Why did the NFL move the Vikings-Rams game?

The NFL decided to move the Vikings vs. Rams game for safety reasons as a result of the deadly wildfires in the Los Angeles area.

‘In the interest of public safety, Monday’s Vikings-Rams Wild Card game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA to State Farm Stadium, the home of the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL announced today,’ the NFL said in a statement. ‘The decision was made in consultation with public officials, the participating clubs and the NFLPA.’

At least five wildfires have decimated the area, forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate as flames ripped through homes and buildings, tearing down everything in their path.

Between worsening air quality and the danger the community still faces, moving the game felt like an obvious outcome.

The sports world has, rightfully, taken a back seat to the ongoing fire concerns, with the NBA and NHL postponing games in recent days. Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick was among the many who have lost their homes, while the Lakers and NHL’s Kings have seen postponements in the wake of the tragedy.

Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that some of the team’s personnel were directly affected as well.

Now the team will have to try and collect themselves to prepare for a possible playoff run, which begins on Monday night.

Where is the Vikings vs. Rams game being played?

The Vikings vs. Rams game has been moved from SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. It’s a venue that has hosted multiple Super Bowls, most recently in 2023, and is the home of the NFL’s Cardinals.

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CFP championship schedule: Who Notre Dame plays after Orange Bowl win

Notre Dame football is one step closer to winning its first ever College Football Playoff national championship.

The seventh-seeded Irish secured the first spot in the CFP national title game on Thursday at Hard Rock Stadium by taking down sixth-seeded Nittany Lions 27-24 in the CFP Orange Bowl semifinal.

Notre Dame will face the winner of Friday night’s Cotton Bowl semifinal No. 5 Texas and No. 8 Ohio State in the CFP championship game on Monday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Irish punched their ticket to Atlanta on a 41-yard field goal from kicker Mitch Jeter in the winding seconds of the fourth quarter. Jeter’s game-winning field goal was set up by a game-changing interception from Notre Dame’s Christian Gray of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar.

Here’s what to know about who Notre Dame will play in the CFP national championship, and a look at the full CFP schedule:

Who will Notre Dame play in CFP national championship?

With its Orange Bowl win, Notre Dame will now advance to the CFP national championship on Monday Jan. 20 in Atlanta.

The Irish, however, won’t know who they will go up against in the national championship game until late Friday night, as Texas and Ohio State have yet to play in the CFP Cotton Bowl semifinal. The Longhorns and Buckeyes are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

If Texas beats Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, it will be the first meeting between Notre Dame and the Longhorns since 2016 — when Texas beat Notre Dame 50-47 at home at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. Both the Irish and Longhorns, who have met three times in the postseason, announced in November that they will play a home-and-home series across the 2028 and 2029 seasons.

However, if Ohio State beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl, it will be the first meeting between Notre Dame and the Buckeyes since last year’s top-10 showdown in South Bend. Ohio State, of course, came out with the win on a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive from former Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord. One of the bigger storylines for that potential matchup is Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman coaching against his alma mater again. Freeman was a two-time All-Big Ten second team selection at Ohio State, where he finished with 268 career tackles.

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College Football Playoff schedule

All times Eastern

CFP first round

Friday, Dec. 20

No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17

Saturday, Dec. 21

No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24
No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17

CFP quarterfinals

Tuesday, Dec. 31

Fiesta Bowl: No. 6 Penn State 31, No. 3 Boise State 14

Wednesday, Jan. 1

Peach Bowl: No. 5 Texas 39, No. 4 Arizona State 31 (2OT)
Rose Bowl: No. 8 Ohio State 41, No. 1 Oregon 21

Thursday, Jan. 2

Sugar Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 23, No. 2 Georgia 10

CFP semifinal

Thursday, Jan. 9

Orange Bowl: No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 6 Penn State 24

Friday, Jan. 10

Cotton Bowl: No. 5 Texas vs No. 8 Ohio State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo, free trial)

CFP championship

Monday, Jan. 20

CFP championship game: No. 7 Notre Dame vs. Cotton Bowl winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo, free trial)

Updated CFP 12-team bracket

With its loss Thursday, Penn State became the latest team to be eliminated from the CFP bracket. Here’s a look at what the CFP bracket looks like after Notre Dame’s win:

Oregon (13-1)
Georgia (11-3)
Boise State (12-2)
Arizona State (11-3)
Texas (13-2)
Penn State (13-3)
Notre Dame (14-1)
Ohio State (12-2)
Tennessee (10-3)
Indiana (11-2)
SMU (11-3)
Clemson (10-4)

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Riley Leonard injury: Notre Dame QB returns to Orange Bowl after concussion scare

(This story was updated with new information).

Notre Dame football finds itself in an early deficit in the first half of the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal to No. 6 Penn State.

The Irish also briefly found themselves without their starting quarterback. Quarterback Riley Leonard exited the game in the final minutes of the first half following a quarterback hurry from Penn State defensive players Dvon J-Thomas and Zane Durant that sent him to the ground. He then returned in the start of the second half after being declared ‘asymptomatic.’

Leonard, who walked off the field and went into the medical tent, attempted to walk back onto the field after the hit but eventually was escorted to the injury tent.

Prior to exiting the game, the Notre Dame quarterback was 6 of 11 passing for 63 yards with an interception. He also had seven rushing yards on five carries. Replacing Leonard on the field was backup quarterback Steve Angeli, who led the Irish down the field for a 41-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 10-3 going into the second half.

Here’s the latest on Leonard’s injury:

Riley Leonard injury update

According to The Athletic’s Pete Sampson, Leonard came out from the locker room with his helmet on and was seen warming up with Angeli on the sidelines at Hard Rock Stadium.

Shortly after, ESPN’s Molly McGrath reported that Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said that Leonard was tested for a concussion during halftime and is asymptomatic. He was cleared to play the second half as well.

ESPN’s Sean McDonough noted that Leonard was entering the concussion protocol. Angeli came in for Leonard to finish the second half.

Freeman told McGrath in a halftime interview that he hasn’t heard any information on Leonard’s health and status yet.

‘I haven’t heard (anything). They are going to check him out right now,’ Freeman said. ‘They told me just before the field goal that they don’t have an answer right now on what it is going to be.’

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Leonard jogged off the field at Hard Rock Stadium with his helmet on his head, as he came out of the medical tent.

This story will be updated.

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