Cameroonian and Haitian American RJ Oben is two wins away with Notre Dame from the national title ahead of Thursday’s Orange Bowl

On Thursday night, the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The game, a semifinal matchup for the 2025 National College Football Championship, will feature standout defensive lineman Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., No. 9, of Haitian and Cameroonian heritage as a key player to watch for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame enters the game with less rest than their opponents, following a harrowing incident on New Year’s Day in New Orleans. A terrorist attack involving a pickup truck ramming into a crowded area on Bourbon Street left 15 dead, causing heightened security concerns for the Sugar Bowl, where Notre Dame was set to play the Georgia Bulldogs at the Superdome.

The tragedy forced the Sugar Bowl to be postponed by 24 hours, but despite the unsettling circumstances, Oben delivered a strong performance. He recorded his first sack of the season, helping the Fighting Irish secure a victory over Georgia and advance to the Orange Bowl. 

Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., a standout defensive lineman from Montclair, New Jersey, has been pivotal to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s success this season. After beginning his collegiate career at Duke University, where he excelled as a relentless pass rusher, Oben transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate student. 

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 262 pounds, Oben has brought his physicality and football IQ to the Fighting Irish, starting all 12 games in the 2024 season and recording 16 tackles, including 9 solo tackles, along with a sack and a forced fumble. 

The son of Roman Oben Sr., a former NFL left tackle and the league’s vice president of football development, RJ has football in his blood and has made his own mark in college football. His journey, from his roots at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City to competing for a national title, underscores his dedication and adaptability as he builds on his family’s football legacy.

There are only four teams left out of the over 100 teams in the NCAA Division that will be competing for the College Football Playoff National Championship title with only two Bowl games left taking place on Jan. 9 and Jan 10, 2025 with one team making it to the championship game on Jan. 20.On Thursday night, the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish will face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The game, a semifinal matchup for the 2025 National College Football Championship, will feature standout defensive lineman Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., No. 9, of Haitian and Cameroonian heritage as a key player to watch for Notre Dame.

Notre Dame enters the game with less rest than their opponents, following a harrowing incident on New Year’s Day in New Orleans. A terrorist attack involving a pickup truck ramming into a crowded area on Bourbon Street left 15 dead, causing heightened security concerns for the Sugar Bowl, where Notre Dame was set to play the Georgia Bulldogs at the Superdome.

The tragedy forced the Sugar Bowl to be postponed by 24 hours, but despite the unsettling circumstances, Oben delivered a strong performance. He recorded his first sack of the season, helping the Fighting Irish secure a victory over Georgia and advance to the Orange Bowl. 

Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., a standout defensive lineman from Montclair, New Jersey, has been pivotal to the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s success this season. After beginning his collegiate career at Duke University, where he excelled as a relentless pass rusher, Oben transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate student. 

Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 262 pounds, Oben has brought his physicality and football IQ to the Fighting Irish, starting all 12 games in the 2024 season and recording 16 tackles, including 9 solo tackles, along with a sack and a forced fumble. 

The son of Roman Oben Sr., a former NFL left tackle and the league’s vice president of football development, RJ has football in his blood and has made his own mark in college football. His journey, from his roots at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City to competing for a national title, underscores his dedication and adaptability as he builds on his family’s football legacy.

There are only four teams left out of the over 100 teams in the NCAA Division that will be competing for the College Football Playoff National Championship title with only two Bowl games left taking place on Jan. 9 and Jan 10, 2025 with one team making it to the championship game on Jan. 20.

“You have to be willing to adapt based off the unpredictable that can happen. That’s what we have been able to do. I feel like our guys will be physically ready to roll.” said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman at a joint press conference ahead of the semi final game on Wednesday, Jan 8. 

On the other side of the field, Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter, No. 11, suffered an upper-body injury during the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Projected as a top NFL draft pick in the first round this April, Carter’s availability for Thursday’s semifinal game remains uncertain, leaving many to speculate whether he will be ready to take the field.

Carter has been posting cryptic messages using clips from Star Wars and Darth vader on his instagram and X page leaving many to wonder if he’s alluding to his return.

“We anticipate Abdul playing; he’s doing everything he possibly can to play. His approach has been awesome. He has lived in the training room. It will be a game time decision,” said James Franklin, the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 2014. 

The winning team will compete against Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic champion taking place in Arlington, Texas where Ohio State University Buckeyes and the University of Texas Longhorns battle it out.

Catch the Capital One Orange Bowl game at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN.

The post Cameroonian and Haitian American RJ Oben is two wins away with Notre Dame from the national title ahead of Thursday’s Orange Bowl appeared first on The Haitian Times.

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Cameroonian and Haitian American RJ Oben is two wins away with Notre Dame from the national title ahead of Thursday’s Orange Bowl was first posted on January 9, 2025 at 5:18 pm.