NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

NittanyCentral

NittanyCentral delivers expert analysis from veteran reporters and timely updates on Penn State sports, with in-depth coverage of Nittany Lions Football, Wrestling, Basketball, and more.

Penn State Football, James Franklin

Behind Enemy Lines for Penn State vs Notre Dame

Only 4 teams remain to see who will be heading to Atlanta for the National Championship & Penn State is one of those teams & will be doing battle with Notre Dame in the Semifinals of the College Football Playoff at the Orange Bowl on Thursday, January 9 at 7:30 PM on ESPN.

To better understand Penn State’s Opponent, We spoke to Allison Hayes in Notre Dame, who covers Notre Dame for ABC57/WBND TV and WSBT Radio.

 

1. Your Initial thoughts on Penn State vs Notre Dame in the Semifinals of the CFB Playoff:
Allison: My initial reaction was that, to be honest, I have not given Penn State enough credit this season. I felt like the Nittany Lions may have been overated earlier this season but they have proven to be a very good football team, not JUST a really good defense and the offense has shown it has the ability to score points. PSU has been a force in the playoffs and is a legitimate contender. This is a matchup of two very similar teams with similar strengths, and similarities in overcoming historical narratives that neither team can win the big game. I truly feel it will be the closest game of the playoffs.
2. Who on Offense should Penn State be concerned:
Allison: QB Riley Leonard- I’m sure this seems obvious but enough cannot be said about the “it factor” that he brings to this team. In 14 games, Riley has 3,214 yards, 33 TD (229.6 YPG) but even when the offense is struggling Riley has found a way to make something happen when the team needed it most. The only time he didn’t was against Northern Illinois, but Riley is a much better overall quarterback now than he was at that point and has steadily progressed throughout the season.
And if Riley Leonard is 1A then Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock is 1B-  Denbrock has been stellar with what he has to work with- Leonard is far from perfect but Denbrock has built this offense around Leonard, letting him be him and collectively find ways to win.
WR Jordan Faison is another offensive player to watch out for. He has overcome injuries to emerge as a trust worthy go-to receiver. That is an area the Irish have been lacking but with Faison healthy, he provides a threat in the passing game. His numbers don’t stand out because of how much they spread it around and because of his injuries. He has 27 catches for 325 yards and 1 touchdown but it’s his ability to make a big play when you least expect it. He fights for the ball. And he already knows what it takes to win a National Title. He also plays on the Irish Lacrosse team and is a reigning National Champion.
3. Do you think Penn State and Notre Dame should renew their series-
Allison: Penn State and Notre Dame were two of the most popular independent teams before PSU joined the Big Ten- This is one of those historical matchups that older generations truly appreciate, but younger fans may not understand how big this rivalry was in the 80’s and 90’s.
I would love to see this rivalry renewed, but I’m not sure if/when that can happen because of renewals with Purdue and Michigan State. (two that I could certainly live without)
4. For those who don’t follow Notre Dame what makes this matchup very interesting
Allison: I think the similarities between the teams makes this an interesting matchup. Stout defenses. Similar Quarterbacks: Leonard in 14 games: 3,214 yards, 33 TD (229.6 YPG) Drew Allar in 15 games: 3,477 yards, 30 TD (231.8 YPG)
Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players- Notre Dame: Jeremiyah Love, Penn State: Abdul Carter.
How will Notre Dame’s offense, that relies on the run game, matchup against the best defense the Irish will face all season? Against Georgia, Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams combined for 41 rushing yards. But somehow, along with Leonard’s 80 rushing yards that was enough.
How will Penn State’s defense matchup against a mobile QB at the caliber of Leonard?
Two head coaches of African American decent who are making history in the national semi-final with hopes of becoming the first to play for a National Championship. Both teams have overcome that historical narrative, that I mentioned earlier, that they can’t win the big game but can they keep it going?
5. What is one reason why Notre Dame takes down Penn State
Allison: Notre Dame no longer plays it safe. They take risks and have had a lot of luck on their side. The opposing team has to be ready for anything.

And what could ultimately be the difference is Notre Dame’s secondary. The Irish boast arguably the best secondary in college football, despite losing one of the best corners in the nation in Benjamin Morrison. His replacement, Leonard Moore, is a true freshman and has been killing it this season with 2 INTs, 10 PBUs and 1 QBH. And the defense is allowing the lowest completion percentage in the country at 50.6% (according to cfbstats.com). Also, Notre Dame is tied for 2nd in the nation in turnover margin per game, which might just be one of the most important stats in college football. The Irish have 18 interceptions and have recovered 13 fumbles this season. Turnovers gained: 31 vs Turnovers lost: 13. This leaves little margin for error for the Nittany Lions in an otherwise evenly matched game.

You can check out Allison’s Work on X AlliHayesMedia

Scroll to top