Notre Dame Aims for 12th National Title in Orange Bowl Semifinal

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are one win away from competing for their first national championship since 1988. On Thursday, Notre Dame will face the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, which serves as one of the College Football Playoff semifinals. The winner will advance to the national championship game against the victor of the Cotton Bowl Classic between the Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes.

Notre Dame’s last national title came 36 years ago under head coach Lou Holtz, who led the team to a perfect 12-0 season. The Fighting Irish defeated West Virginia 34-21 in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the championship, with quarterback Tony Rice and linebacker Frank Stams earning co-MVP honors. Notre Dame has 11 claimed national titles, the first of which came in 1924 under legendary coach Knute Rockne.

Despite their storied history, Notre Dame has struggled to reclaim the national spotlight in recent decades. The team has made only three appearances in the College Football Playoff, including this year. Their previous trips in 2018 and 2020 ended in lopsided losses to Clemson and Alabama, respectively. This season, Notre Dame has already defeated Indiana and Georgia in the playoff, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Penn State.

The Fighting Irish’s success on the gridiron has long been intertwined with their identity as a Catholic institution. Notre Dame football helped American Catholics assimilate into mainstream culture in the early 20th century, countering stereotypes and fostering a sense of national pride. Other religious universities, such as Brigham Young, Baylor, and Liberty, have sought to replicate Notre Dame’s model, using football to strengthen their communities and evangelize to non-believers.

As Notre Dame prepares for Thursday’s game, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A victory would not only bring them closer to a 12th national title but also cement their legacy as one of college football’s most enduring powerhouses.