Notre Dame, Penn State QB’s girlfriends Molly Walding & Emma Bush at Orange Bowl

Notre Dame and Penn State square off in the Orange Bowl Thursday night in Miami. The winners of the College Football Playoff semifinals will be the first to punch their ticket to the national championship game.

The two teams go into the game with different off-field struggles. Notre Dame is reportedly battling the flu, while Penn State has what is believed to be food poisoning. Not ideal for either of them, but they’re going to fight through it.

On paper, there is a lot of pressure on the two quarterbacks heading into the game. Whoever outplays the other is likely to give his team a better chance to advance. Will it be Irish quarterback Riley Leonard or Nittany Lions signal caller Drew Allar?

Before the night is over, we’ll know the answer to that. But they are not the only ones facing the pressure that comes with the bright lights of a semi-final match.

Leonard’s girlfriend, Molly Waldingand Allar’s significant other, Emma Bushundoubtedly have more pressure on them than their boyfriends. While the two quarterbacks have a lot to gain with a win, they know exactly what to expect.

It’s a big night for the Penn State and Notre Dame quarterbacks and their girlfriends

At the end of the day, it’s a football game like the many other games they’ve played in their lives. Walding and Bush, on the other hand, are heading into the night blind. These are uncharted waters for both of them.

The cameras may or may not call during the game. If they do, and social media goes wild with their appearance, it could make for an incredible night for both.

Remember college football legend Katherine Webb? Or more recently, JJ McCarthy’s then-girlfriend Katya Kuropas, who went viral during Michigan’s title run?

Whether it’s during a big game or on Draft Night, like Gia Duddy, show up ready for anything. It’s an underrated pressure.

In the blink of an eye, you can go from relatively unknown to burning up social media. Then turn into a full-fledged influencer with endorsement deals seemingly falling out of the sky.

They both kept a low profile on social media heading into this one. That’s a good sign; no off-field distractions before kickoff.

Walding is a public relations student at Auburn who recently celebrated seven years as the Notre Dame quarterback. Bush, amazingly, is one pre-law student at Ohio Statewho has also been in a long-term relationship with the Nittany Lions quarterback.

Expect them to be ready for anything that takes place.