Notre Dame Bowl Projection: Irish to Face Oklahoma State in Orlando’s Camping World Bowl Dec. 28

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Oklahoma State Cowboys will battle for the first time on the football field at the Camping World Bowl, according to the majority of college football analysts.

The game will kickoff at 5:15 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Camping World Stadium (also known as the Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, Fla.

The Cowboys had a remarkably similar season as the Irish in terms of record. They went 9-3 and lost to the two really good teams on their schedule: the TCU Horned Frogs and Oklahoma Sooners.

In terms of style, the Cowboys are remarkably proficient on offense and middling on defense.

NCAA

(Here’s Notre Dame’s for comparison.)

NCAA

While bowl matchups will be solidified later today, almost all analysts believe Notre Dame will end up in Orlando. A few writers still have them in the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl against a SEC opponent (probably the LSU Tigers or Mississippi St. Bulldogs). The Iowa St. Cyclones could be Notre Dame’s opponent if Oklahoma State is not.

The Irish have played once before in the Camping World Bowl. In 2011, they lost, 18-14, to the Florida State Seminoles when it was called the Champs Sports Bowl. Notre Dame has never played in the Citrus Bowl (the game, not the stadium).

The Irish have an extended Cotton Bowl history, having played in that game seven times previously. Their last major bowl win was Jan. 1, 1994 — a game played against the Texas A&M Aggies in the Cotton Bowl (which was then played in Dallas).