Penn State coach James Franklin said 'everybody should be in a conference' ahead of his team's College Football Playoff semifinal game vs Notre Dame

Penn State is one win away from playing for the national championship — and ultimately two wins away from its first national title since 1986. But first, the Nittany Lions have to beat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl.

The Capital One Orange Bowl will feature the Notre Dame Fighting Irish against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Here is what to know before the game.

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 will face Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinal in Miami, the sixth time the Fighting Irish have played in the Orange Bowl.

Penn State is one win away from its first appearance in a national championship game since 1986, and its head coach has a chance to become the first coach of color to lead a team to the Bowl Championship Series title game.