Penn State football team members are battling flu ahead of their semifinal match against Notre Dame, according to a report.

The Orange Bowl commences at 7:30 pm ET on Thursday.

Penn State football team members are battling flu ahead of their semifinal match against Notre Dame, according to a report.
Penn State football team members are battling flu ahead of their semifinal match against Notre Dame, according to a report.

On Thursday, some Notre Dame Fighting Irish may need to channel their inner Michael Jordan.

The team is facing the flu just hours before their College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State.

According to On3 Sports, "those who possess it are struggling, but it seems like this mainly applies to backup and special teams players."

Notre Dame logo
A detail view of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo is seen at the 50-yard line on the field in action during a football game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sept. 23, 2023 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Recent reports suggest that the illness has improved, but players are not completely safe yet.

The Georgia Bulldogs were defeated by the Fighting Irish in the quarterfinal last week, propelling them into the Orange Bowl with confidence on Thursday.

Although Notre Dame was the seventh seed in the bracket, they still managed to host a home game against No. 10 Indiana. However, their toughest challenge may come on Thursday.

Go Irish flags
Notre Dame Fighting Irish cheerleaders run down field bearing the Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo in action during a game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Stanford Cardinals on Oct. 12, 2024 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Last week, Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty was held by Penn State to only 104 rushing yards, which was his lowest of the season. This news may not be positive for the Irish, as Riley Leonard had just 90 yards passing against the Bulldogs.

The Nittany Lions are the sixth seed in the bracket.

Despite losing at home to Northern Illinois in the second week of the season, Notre Dame has since won 12 consecutive games and is now one victory away from their second national title game in the last 15 years.

If they can overcome what appeared to be a program-changing loss at first, a bug is now just a minor bump in the road.

The Fighting Irish have lost in the semifinals in their third consecutive playoff appearance, having fallen in 2018 and 2020.

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by Ryan Morik

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