The College Football Playoff semifinal round is just days away, featuring two highly anticipated matchups. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes clashing with the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.
Penn State advanced to the semifinals after defeating the Boise State Broncos, while Texas edged out Arizona State in a dramatic double-overtime thriller. Ohio State demonstrated their dominance with a commanding 41-21 victory over the previously unbeaten Oregon Ducks, solidifying their status as the national title favorites. Notre Dame secured their semifinal spot with a solid 23-10 win over Georgia, setting up a showdown with Penn State.
Ahead of the semifinals, ESPN’s updated Football Power Index (FPI) ranks three of the four remaining teams among the top three spots. Ohio State leads the FPI, followed by Texas and Notre Dame. Penn State, however, is ranked seventh, behind Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia.
The FPI gives Penn State the lowest odds to win the title at 15.6%, while Notre Dame holds the highest at 29.1%. Ohio State is close behind with 28.4%, and Texas has a 26.9% chance. The Notre Dame vs. Penn State game kicks off Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Ohio State and Texas following on Friday night, both games airing on ESPN.
