The semifinals of the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff begin Thursday with a blockbuster Orange Bowl matchup between (6) Penn State and (7) Notre Dame. Both teams have leaned heavily on their defenses and run games to reach the doorstep of the College Football Playoff National Championship.

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

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions are set to square off in the Orange Bowl, with the winner advancing to the National Championship game. Scheduled for Thursday, January 9th at 4:30 p.