In a surprising turn of events, Notre Dame's path to a conference championship reunion was rerouted, leading them to face off against Oregon State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on December 29th. The convoluted journey began when former Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees and Alabama defeated No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately reshaped the bowl matchups.

Originally, there was speculation of a potential ReliaQuest Bowl showdown between LSU, led by coach Brian Kelly, and Notre Dame, now under Coach Marcus Freeman. However, Rees' victory prevented Notre Dame or any ACC team from securing a spot in the ReliaQuest Bowl against an SEC opponent. As a result, a Big Ten team was presented as an alternative option.

To Notre Dame's surprise, their initial fallback, the Pop-Tarts Bowl, was also replaced in their bowl path. Instead, the Irish found themselves selected for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl, where they will face the 19th-ranked Oregon State Beavers. This matchup marks the third-ever meeting between the two teams, with neither encounter occurring during the regular season.

Notably, Oregon State had previously triumphed over Notre Dame in both of their prior bowl matchups. In 2000, the Beavers dominated the Irish with a 41-9 victory in the Fiesta Bowl, while in 2004, they secured a 38-21 win in the Insight Bowl. Interestingly, both contests came after significant changes within the Irish coaching staff.

Oregon State enters this year's Sun Bowl with an interim coach, Kefense Hynson, following Jonathan Smith's acceptance of the head coaching job at Michigan State. The Beavers' starting quarterback, DJ Uiagalelei, will not be participating as he has re-entered the transfer portal. Aidan Chiles, a talented freshman, will step in as their top backup.

Despite some close losses to Washington State, Arizona, and conference champion Washington, Oregon State has shown strength on both sides of the ball. They rank 32nd in total offense and 35th in total defense, while Notre Dame ranks 29th and eighth in those respective categories.

The Sun Bowl holds significance for Notre Dame, as they previously emerged victorious in their only appearance in 2010 under coach Brian Kelly. In wintry conditions, they defeated Miami 33-17.

Kickoff for the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST and will be broadcasted on CBS. Although the bowl journey took unexpected twists and turns for Notre Dame, their matchup against Oregon State presents an opportunity for redemption and a chance to end the season on a high note.