Overview:
Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., a Cameroonian and Haitian American defensive lineman, has been instrumental in Notre Dame’s run to the Faculty Soccer Playoff. Because the group prepares for the Orange Bowl semifinal in opposition to Penn State, Oben and the Combating Irish are simply two wins away from a nationwide championship. Regardless of current challenges, together with a terrorist assault earlier than the Sugar Bowl, Oben’s efficiency and management stay essential to the group’s success.
On Thursday evening, the College of Notre Dame’s Combating Irish will face off in opposition to the Penn State Nittany Lions within the Capital One Orange Bowl at Arduous Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The sport, a semifinal matchup for the 2025 Nationwide Faculty Soccer Championship, will characteristic standout defensive lineman Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., No. 9, of Haitian and Cameroonian heritage as a key participant to observe for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame enters the sport with much less relaxation than their opponents, following a harrowing incident on New 12 months’s Day in New Orleans. A terrorist assault involving a pickup truck ramming right into a crowded space on Bourbon Road left 15 lifeless, inflicting heightened safety considerations for the Sugar Bowl, the place Notre Dame was set to play the Georgia Bulldogs on the Superdome.
The tragedy compelled the Sugar Bowl to be postponed by 24 hours, however regardless of the unsettling circumstances, Oben delivered a powerful efficiency. He recorded his first sack of the season, serving to the Combating Irish safe 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 College of Notre Dame Combating Irish’s success this season. After starting his collegiate profession at Duke College, the place he excelled as a relentless move rusher, Oben transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate pupil.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 262 kilos, Oben has introduced his physicality and soccer IQ to the Combating Irish, beginning all 12 video games within the 2024 season and recording 16 tackles, together with 9 solo tackles, together with a sack and a compelled fumble.
The son of Roman Oben Sr., a former NFL left deal with and the league’s vice chairman of soccer improvement, RJ has soccer in his blood and has made his personal mark in faculty soccer. His journey, from his roots at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey Metropolis to competing for a nationwide title, underscores his dedication and flexibility as he builds on his household’s soccer legacy.
There are solely 4 groups omitted of the over 100 groups within the NCAA Division that will likely be competing for the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship title with solely two Bowl video games left happening on Jan. 9 and Jan 10, 2025 with one group making it to the championship sport on Jan. 20.On Thursday evening, the College of Notre Dame’s Combating Irish will face off in opposition to the Penn State Nittany Lions within the Capital One Orange Bowl at Arduous Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. The sport, a semifinal matchup for the 2025 Nationwide Faculty Soccer Championship, will characteristic standout defensive lineman Roman “RJ” Oben Jr., No. 9, of Haitian and Cameroonian heritage as a key participant to observe for Notre Dame.
Notre Dame enters the sport with much less relaxation than their opponents, following a harrowing incident on New 12 months’s Day in New Orleans. A terrorist assault involving a pickup truck ramming right into a crowded space on Bourbon Road left 15 lifeless, inflicting heightened safety considerations for the Sugar Bowl, the place Notre Dame was set to play the Georgia Bulldogs on the Superdome.
The tragedy compelled the Sugar Bowl to be postponed by 24 hours, however regardless of the unsettling circumstances, Oben delivered a powerful efficiency. He recorded his first sack of the season, serving to the Combating Irish safe 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 College of Notre Dame Combating Irish’s success this season. After starting his collegiate profession at Duke College, the place he excelled as a relentless move rusher, Oben transferred to Notre Dame as a graduate pupil.
Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 262 kilos, Oben has introduced his physicality and soccer IQ to the Combating Irish, beginning all 12 video games within the 2024 season and recording 16 tackles, together with 9 solo tackles, together with a sack and a compelled fumble.
The son of Roman Oben Sr., a former NFL left deal with and the league’s vice chairman of soccer improvement, RJ has soccer in his blood and has made his personal mark in faculty soccer. His journey, from his roots at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey Metropolis to competing for a nationwide title, underscores his dedication and flexibility as he builds on his household’s soccer legacy.
There are solely 4 groups omitted of the over 100 groups within the NCAA Division that will likely be competing for the Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship title with solely two Bowl video games left happening on Jan. 9 and Jan 10, 2025 with one group making it to the championship sport on Jan. 20.
“You need to be keen to adapt based mostly off the unpredictable that may occur. That’s what we now have been capable of do. I really feel like our guys will likely be bodily able to roll.” stated Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman at a joint press convention forward of the semi remaining sport on Wednesday, Jan 8.
On the opposite aspect of the sphere, Penn State defensive finish Abdul Carter, No. 11, suffered an upper-body damage through the second quarter of the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Projected as a prime NFL draft choose within the first spherical this April, Carter’s availability for Thursday’s semifinal sport stays unsure, leaving many to invest whether or not he will likely be able to take the sphere.
Carter has been posting cryptic messages utilizing clips from Star Wars and Darth vader on his instagram and X web page leaving many to marvel if he’s alluding to his return.
“We anticipate Abdul enjoying; he’s doing every part he presumably can to play. His strategy has been superior. He has lived within the coaching room. Will probably be a sport time resolution,” stated James Franklin, the pinnacle coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 2014.
The successful group will compete in opposition to Friday’s Cotton Bowl Basic champion happening in Arlington, Texas the place Ohio State College Buckeyes and the College of Texas Longhorns battle it out.
Catch the Capital One Orange Bowl sport at 7:30 p.m. ET Thursday on ESPN.