Notre Dame players and staff members are dealing with a "flu or a virus" ahead of Thursday night's College Football Playoff semifinal against Penn State, a school official confirmed in a statement to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello.

Don't miss a second of tonight's Orange Bowl with breaking news & real time scoring updates from NBC Sports throughout the game!

Drew Allar and Penn State lost to Notre Dame, 27-24, in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl.

Penn State was unable to corral Oregon’s offense in the Big Ten Championship though, allowing 496 total yards while dropping a 45-37 decision to the then undefeated Ducks. The Nittany Lions eviscerated SMU in the first round of the CFP Playoff,

Notre Dame will play for the program's 12th national title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.

Wake up the echoes, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are once again going to play on college football’s biggest stage.

Notre Dame knocked off Penn State with a late field goal in the Orange Bowl to reach the College Football Playoff championship game.

Xavier Watts and Notre Dame's fierce defense will be tasked with smothering Penn State on Thursday in the Orange Bowl, launching the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Irish are slight favorites to advance.