Flu Outbreak Hits Notre Dame Football Team Ahead of Orange Bowl

Several Notre Dame football players are battling the flu ahead of Thursday night’s Orange Bowl against Penn State, according to reports. On3’s Tyler Horka revealed that the illness has spread through the locker room, primarily affecting backups and special teams players. The timing is less than ideal for the Fighting Irish, who are set to compete in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

“Been told the flu is going around the Notre Dame locker room,” Horka posted on Twitter. “Those who have it have it bad, but it sounds like that’s mostly backups and special teams players. Still something to monitor for the Fighting Irish going into the Orange Bowl vs. Penn State tonight.”

Notre Dame reached the semifinals by defeating Clemson and Alabama, and a win against Penn State would propel them to the national championship game. The winner of the Orange Bowl will face the victor of the Cotton Bowl between Georgia and Ohio State.

Despite the flu outbreak, star running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to play. Head coach Marcus Freeman provided an update on Love’s condition, stating, “He’s had a good week of practice. We have to be smart about how much we’re asking him to do in practice. No one is 100-percent right now. He’ll be good to go.”

Love, who has rushed for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, is a critical component of Notre Dame’s offense. His performance, along with contributions from quarterback Sam Hartman and wide receiver Chris Tyree, has been instrumental in the team’s 11-game winning streak.

Notre Dame has faced adversity before, including illnesses affecting key players. The team famously rallied around quarterback Joe Montana during the 1979 Cotton Bowl, where he overcame the flu to lead the Irish to victory. More recently, Love himself played through the flu to score a 98-yard touchdown against Indiana earlier this season.

As the Fighting Irish prepare for their showdown with Penn State, the flu outbreak adds an unexpected challenge. However, the team remains focused on securing a spot in the national championship game.