Croke Park

Croke Park is one of two potential destinations for a Penn State-UCF matchup in 2014, according to the Orlando Sentinel. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, 2009)

A team of UCF administrators returned from Ireland today after a four-day trip to do "due diligence" on a potential future game against Penn State, the Orlando Sentinel reported this afternoon.

According to the Sentinel report:

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien said today the university is "really close" to finalizing the Ireland trip, but has yet to comment on the opponent.

UCF was added to the Nittany Lions' 2013 schedule and was likely to land on the '14 and '15 schedules, as well. Logistical issues are being worked out now, and the trip is inching closer to reality.

The topic of an Ireland game was first introduced in January. Banned from a bowl game for the next three seasons, O'Brien mentioned the Ireland trip as a bowl-like destination. Earlier this month, it was reported that UCF could be the opponent in 2014.

"Logistically, it's not easy," David Hansen, UCF senior associate athletics director for internal operations, told the Sentinel at the time.

UCF is a match because of O'Brien's relationship with coach George O'Leary. Both men are also of Irish heritage.