For Penn State and Notre Dame, the stakes have never been higher. Both storied programs aim to end over three decades of national championship droughts in a high-stakes College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal showdown at the Orange Bowl on Thursday night. The winner will earn a coveted spot in the CFP national championship game on January 20 in Atlanta, facing either Texas or Ohio State, who clash in the Cotton Bowl Friday night. This marks a historic year for college football with the debut of a 12-team CFP bracket. Sixth-seeded Penn State (13-2) enters the semifinals after dominant wins over SMU (38-10) in the first round and Boise State (31-14) in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State is chasing its third

The No. 16 Michigan State Spartans (12-2, 3-0 Big Ten) are set to defend their seven-game winning streak—the longest in the Big Ten—against conference newcomer Washington (10-5, 1-3) on Thursday night in East Lansing, Michigan. With both teams boasting dynamic rosters and unique challenges, this matchup promises intense competition as each squad seeks to assert dominance in conference play. The Spartans have been on a tear, winning seven consecutive games through a team-first approach. In their latest victory, a 69-62 road win over Ohio State, 7-footer Szymon Zapala led the team with 15 points, becoming the eighth different player to top Michigan State in scoring this season. Michigan State’s leading scorer, Jaden Akins, averages 13.6 points per game, but no

When junior guard Braden Smith is in attack mode, No. 20 Purdue transforms into a formidable force, capable of taking down any opponent. As the Boilermakers prepare to face Rutgers on Thursday night in Piscataway, N.J., Smith’s brilliance will be at the forefront of their strategy. Smith, the Big Ten Conference’s preseason Player of the Year, has been on an incredible run. Over Purdue’s three-game winning streak, he has averaged 25.3 points, 9.7 assists, and contributed across the board. In the Boilermakers’ commanding 79-61 victory over Northwestern last Sunday, Smith posted 22 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. This season, Smith is averaging 15.4 points, 8.6 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game, living up to the preseason hype. Purdue head

Betting on today’s Blue Demons and Pirates game? Catch the action at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, as the Pirates hosts this showdown at 6:30 ET on PEAC. This Big East conference matchup has an over/under of 133.5 points, and Seton Hall is favored to win by -3 at home vs. DePaul. DePaul’s season record dropped to 9-6 after a tough 100-56 road loss to Villanova on Saturday. The Blue Demons entered the game as +9.5 underdogs but couldn’t cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 156, surpassing the O/U line of 146.5. DePaul trailed 48-32 at halftime and struggled even more in the 2nd half, scoring just 24 points while allowing 52. DePaul’s offense struggled in