Notre Dame is battling more than just Penn State on Thursday night.
They now have to beat an illness as well.
Hours before Notre Dame’s biggest game in decades, they are reportedly having to deal with the flu.
On3’s Tyler Horka reported that the illness has spread amongst the team.
“Been told the flu is going around the Notre Dame locker room,” Horka posted on X.
“Those who have it have it bad, but it sounds like that’s mostly backups and special teams players.
“Still something to monitor for the Fighting Irish going into the Orange Bowl vs. Penn State tonight.”
The good news for Notre Dam is that it sounds like the starters have managed to avoid catching the illness.
The bad news is that it’s still the flu, and it’s highly contagious, especially in a locker room setting.
The Irish are set to face off against the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, with a trip to the national championship on the line.
Notre Dame beat Indiana in the first round, and defeated Georgia in the quarterfinals to set up a massive title against James Franklin and Penn State.
This is the program’s biggest game in a very long time.
Sure, they played in the 2013 BCS National Championship game against Alabama, but the Tide rolled the Irish to the tune of 42-14.
They never stood a chance.
They were outmatched, out talented and outmanned.
Everyone knew that going into the game.
Fast forward 12 years later, this Irish team can go toe to toe with anyone in the country, especially with the other three teams left.
Those teams being the aforementioned Penn State, along with Ohio State and Texas, who face off in the Cotton Bowl on Friday night.
Head coach Marcus Freeman will be hoping that the flu has little impact on his team.
Or that his entire squad goes full Michael Jordan flu game on Penn State.
This is where legends are made.
And the Fighting Irish have a chance to stamp their mark.
Flu be damned.