NEW ORLEANS (AP) — No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 5 Penn State have had rather different experiences in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals as they prepare to meet as semifinalists in the Orange Bowl next Thursday.

The Fighting Irish (13-1, No. 7 CFP) pulled off an opportunistic victory over SEC champion Georgia after an unprecedented delay and under emotionally stressful circumstances stemming from a deadly terrorist attack in the Sugar Bowl host city.

The Nittany Lions (13-2, No. 6 CFP) overwhelmed a non-power conference team that appeared overwhelmed in the Fiesta Bowl, while social media was flooded with football fans – and some analysts – calling for a CFP committee seeding process Question Asked Eighth seed Boise State received a No. 3 seed and a bye.

Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman doesn’t believe a team’s performance in an upcoming game can be predicted by the path it took to get there.

In the case of the Sugar Bowl, Georgia earned a bye by winning the SEC title game against Texas, which still plays Ohio State in the semifinals of the Cotton Bowl. Notre Dame didn’t get as much rest. They had to play in the first round and looked good after a convincing win over Indiana.

“Whatever circumstances are presented to you, you make the best of them,” Freeman said. “And if we had had a bye in the first round, I would have been the first to say, ‘Hey, this is great for us.’

“I don’t think the first game (against Indiana) has anything to do with this one (in the Sugar Bowl),” he added. “It was about the preparation after the first game.”

Similar styles

According to BetMGM Sportsbook, Notre Dame is a 1.5-point favorite. Neither offense broadcasts it regularly. Their yards passing averages are outside the top 50 nationally. But both teams have rushed for more than 200 yards per game this season, and both have played some of the best defenses in the country, with each team allowing fewer than 16 points per game .

Penn State ranks fifth nationally in yards allowed per game (288.8), while Notre Dame ranks eighth (295.3).

“Running game and defense travel; “That will become apparent over the course of a season,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “That will become apparent in bad weather. That will show when you try to (run out the time) at the end of the game.”

In the Fiesta Bowl, Penn State outscored Boise State on the ground, 216 yards to 108. The Nittany Lions largely held Broncos star Ashton Jeanty, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, at bay, limiting him to 104 yards on 30 carries. Penn State also forced four turnovers, including three interceptions.

“Being able to control the offensive line is critical, whether it’s your offensive line or our defensive line,” Franklin said. “It showed (against Boise State). … It really shows all season long.”

Notre Dame was outgained 296 to 244 yards on offense by Georgia, but outgained the Bulldogs 154 to 62 yards. Meanwhile, the Irish defenders forced two crucial fumbles – one inside their own 20-yard line and one inside Georgia’s – and stopped all three of Georgia’s fourth down attempts.

“The red zone defense, the big fourth down stops. “It’s a great group,” Freeman said of his defense. “I have great leadership, great players and they are doing a great job.”

Minority representation

Playing in the Orange Bowl means either James Franklin or Marcus Freeman has a chance to become the first Black coach to win a major college football championship.

Freeman hopes that eventually this will become less relevant. But he is aware that it has some historical significance at the moment.

“It’s a reminder that you are a representative for many others and many of our players who look just like me,” Freeman said.

“Your color shouldn’t matter, and the evidence of your work should,” Freeman continued. “So it’s a great honor. It’s a privilege. But as the head coach of this place, I understand that if everyone in this program doesn’t do their job, we won’t be in this position.”

Everything tied up

Penn State and Notre Dame have played each other 19 times since 1913, separating those meetings with nine wins and a scoreless tie in 1925. They haven’t played since 2007, a 31-10 win by Penn State.

Older fans will remember when Penn State and Notre Dame took on the character of an annual rivalry from 1981 to 1992.

The 12-year stretch ended with the classic Snow Bowl in South Bend, Indiana, which Notre Dame won 17-16 after a late TD and 2-point conversion. Since then they have only played twice.

Welcome (back) to Miami

Notre Dame and Penn State have each played in the Orange Bowl five times.

The Irish’s first appearance came on January 1, 1973, when they lost to Nebraska 40-6. Since then, they have beaten Alabama (1975) and Colorado (1990) before losing to Colorado (1991) and Florida State (1995). Notre Dame also lost a 42-14 BCS national title game to Alabama in Miami in 2013.

Penn State first played in the Orange Bowl in 1969, defeating Kansas. The Nittany Lions then defeated Missouri (1970) and LSU (1974), lost to Oklahoma (1986) and defeated Florida State (2006).

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