The Fighting Irish (13-1) and the Nittany Lions (13-2) will square off Thursday in Miami, proud programs in pursuit of their first national championship since the 1980s.

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.

The Nittany Lions have made it to Miami ahead of Thursday’s Orange Bowl against Notre Dame. The winner of this game punches their ticket to the College Football Playoff National Championship. The Nittany Lions have won their games this season in a variety of ways,