FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Running the football is part of each program’s history for Penn State and Notre Dame.
It’s also a large part of the current teams’ identities and a large reason why they’re in the College Football Playoff semifinal in the Orange Bowl.
“It’s what we do well and what we have to do to have success with this current team,” Fighting Irish coach Marcus Freeman said Wednesday. “As you look at the course of our season, our ability to run the football and our ability to stop the run has been a big indication of the outcome of the game.
“It’s a mentality. It’s a mindset.”
The Nittany Lions (13-2) and the Irish (13-1) expect a physical game when they collide at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (TV-ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium.
They have two of the best rushing attacks in the country, Notre Dame averaging 217.5 yards per game and Penn State 202.2.
“It’s a credit to all 11 players on the offense knowing what the heck is going on,” Lions offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. “I know if you can’t stop the run, it’s a really long day. It’s a lot easier to call games when you can run the ball well and really well.”
Both teams have run it well during the CFP. Notre Dame outrushed Indiana 193-63 in the first round and then Georgia 154-62 last week in a quarterfinal in the Sugar Bowl.
Penn State outgained SMU 189-58 on the ground in the first round and then Boise State 216-108 in a quarterfinal in the Fiesta Bowl.
“Running the ball at Notre Dame is just kind of what we do,” Irish quarterback Riley Leonard said. “We take a lot of pride in that. That’s always our No. 1 key to victory, winning the line of scrimmage. If we can establish ourselves in the run game early, it gets our offense going.”
Leonard poses an added problem for the Lions. He’s rushed for 831 yards and 15 touchdowns and is one of three Notre Dame backs with at least 700 yards.
Jeremiyah Love leads the Irish with 1,076 yards, 16 TDs and a 7.3 per-carry average. Bothered by a knee injury, he left midway through the Sugar Bowl and did not return. His status for the Orange Bowl was uncertain.
Jadarian Price took on a greater role against Georgia; he has rushed for 720 yards and seven scores.
“Their backfield is extremely talented and has our respect,” Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen said. “They’re as good as anybody we’ve played. Then you mix in the quarterback. Leonard can run. He makes it really challenging. He’s so effective.
“We have to do a great job up front. We have to do a great job with our numbers. They rely on their run game to set things up. We have to do a great job of playing team defense.”
So does Notre Dame, which will face the two-headed monster of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, both 1,000-yard rushers.
In three postseason games, Allen and Singleton have combined to rush for 610 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries.
“I’m super proud of Kaytron and Nick,” Kotelnicki said. “Kaytron has run like a wild man in the month of December. He’s running people over. He has some legitimate big boy carries and it’s fun to watch.”
Both teams believe their chances of reaching the national championship game depend on running the football.
“This is going to be a four-quarter game,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “Stopping the run is priority No. 1.”
Rich Scarcella’s pick
Penn State 24, Notre Dame 21
The Fighting Irish rely on their ground game and their outstanding turnover margin. The Nittany Lions have done a terrific job of stopping the run and protecting the football all season, which is why they have a slight edge.
