Businesses back home prepare for Orange Bowl game

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Local businesses are feeling the playoff perks as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish continue their magical run in the College Football Playoffs.

Thursday night's Orange Bowl game may be in Miami, but business owners from all across the region are eager to welcome college football fans Thursday as the Irish take on the Nittany Lions!

"We have our big screen TV and our surround sound, so we hope to pack this place on Thursday night with that Notre Dame fans we've reached out to the Indiana alumni from Penn State,” said Terrance Patrick Meehan the owner of Fiddler’s Hearth in South Bend.

Over the past two decades, there’s not much the decorated walls of Fiddler’s Hearth haven’t seen, but among the list is a Fight Irish National Championship victory.

Visit South Bend Mishawaka told ABC57 the deep playoff run has been an exciting time for local bars and restaurants, during what is typically a slower time of year.

Fiddler's says they welcome both Penn State and Notre Dame fans Thursday with specials on deck, and cold beer on tap.