CFP Quarterfinals - Penn State vs Notre Dame: Stats Comparison

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Published Jan 7, 2025

College Football Playoffs - Penn State vs Notre Dame: Stats Comparisons

Dylan Callaghan-Croley • Happy Valley Insider

Editor

@RivalsDylanCC

The Penn State Nittany Lions and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will face off on Thursday in the Orange Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals. How do the two teams compare statistically on offense and defense? Take a look below.

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OFFENSIVE STATS

Explosive Play Rate = Plays of 20+ Yards / Total Plays

Penn State	STAT	Notre Dame	Advantage

33.8	Scoring Offense	39.1	Notre Dame
202.20	Rushing Offense	217.50	Notre Dame
234.1	Passing Offense	189.1	Penn State
436.3	Total Offense	406.6	Penn State
46.99%	3rd Down Conversion %	38.71%	Penn State
69.57%	4th Down Conversion %	73.08%	Notre Dame
19 (1.27 pg)	Sacks Allowed	18 (1.29 pg)	Penn State
7.29%	Explosive Play Rate	6.57%	Penn State
14	Turnovers	13	Notre Dame
88.71%	Red Zone Conversion %	81.82%	Penn State
	ADVANTAGE		Penn State (6-4)

DEFENSIVE STATS

Explosive Play Rate = Plays of 20+ Yards / Total Plays

Penn State	STAT	Notre Dame	Advantage

15.6	Scoring Defense	13.6	Notre Dame
100.8	Rushing Defense	127.9	Penn State
187.9	Passing Defense	167.4	Notre Dame
288.8	Total Defense	295.4	Penn State
34.8%	3rd Down Conversion %	29.9%	Notre Dame
55.5%	4th Down Conversion %	33.3%	Notre Dame
39.0 (2.6 pg)	Sacks	37.0 (2.64 pg)	Notre Dame
111 (7.4 pg)	Tackles For Loss	80 (5.7 pg)	Penn State
5.98%	Explsoive Play Rate	5.06%	Notre Dame
24	Turnovers Forced	31	Notre Dame
68.4%	Red Zone Conversion %	68.5%	Penn State
	ADVANTAGE		Notre Dame (6-4)