In a bygone era, a trip to the Orange Bowl symbolized a respite from harsh northern weather and the culmination of a successful season, potentially crowned with a championship trophy. However, for Penn State (13-2) and Notre Dame (13-1) this season, it marks another stop in the current trend of college football's 'One and Done' scenario.
Both iconic programs have descended upon South Florida to prepare for the Orange Bowl, which serves as the College Football Playoff semifinal this year. The winner of Thursday's game will earn a ticket to Atlanta to compete for the national title on January 20. The other semifinal, featuring Ohio State and Texas, is scheduled for Friday at the Cotton Bowl.
