A trip to the College Football Playoff title game awaits for the winner between Penn State and Notre Dame in the semifinals of the first year of the expanded 12-team format.

Notre Dame’s path to defeating Penn State in their CFP clash relies on 5 critical factors. Here’s what the Irish must do to win.

Irish Breakdown makes predictions for the upcoming matchup between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman (R) reacts on the sidelines in the final minute against the Georgia Bulldogs during the fourth quarter at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

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

Which team will earn the first spot into the College Football Playoff title game? Here's three things that could decide Notre Dame vs. Penn State.

For Penn State and Notre Dame, the Orange Bowl is the latest stop in the "One and Done" tour that college football has become.

In an era that is now long gone, a trip to the Orange Bowl meant a break from the rough weather up north and the capper to a successful season that might even end with a championship trophy in the cas

For Notre Dame, their path to the Orange Bowl has given the program a lot of redemption for sins committed over the past 31 years. The win over Georgia in particular, has granted