A trip to the College Football Playoff National Championship will be on the line when (7) Notre Dame faces (6) Penn State in the Orange Bowl semifinal game on Thursday. It also will mark the 19th meeting between the programs with the all-time series deadlocked at 9-9-1.

Notre Dame is a slim favorite over the Nittany Lions, but the teams enter the Orange Bowl evenly and uniquely matched.

It’s been a long time since either Notre Dame or Penn State reached college football’s mountaintop as national champions.

Penn State coach James Franklin and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman sat side-by-side Wednesday morning well aware of the significant moment that awaits them. It goes far beyond football.

Orange Bowl coaches James Franklin of Penn State and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame discuss key injuries to Jeremiyah Love and Abdul Carter ahead of the game.

The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are gearing up for a semifinal matchup in the College Football Playoff against the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions, set to

ESPN will devote multiple channels to coverage of the Orange Bowl between the Nittany Lions and the Fighting Irish.

Penn State head coach James Franklin gave another update on injured star defender Abdul Carter the day before the playoff Orange Bowl vs. Notre Dame.

Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter will be a "game-time decision" for the Orange Bowl on Thursday night, coach James Franklin said Wednesday. Carter suffered an apparent left arm/shoulder injury in the Nittany Lions' Fiesta Bowl win over Boise State on Dec.

Penn State is hopeful that star pass-rusher Abdul Carter will be able to play in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame.