ESPN voice Paul Finebaum is notorious for backing the SEC, but in this Orange Bowl matchup doesn't have a team from that conference to pick between, seeing as Notre Dame knocked out Georgia. So who does Finebaum have winning the showdown and heading to Atlanta?

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to start Thursday in the Orange Bowl against sixth-seeded Penn State, enabling the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish and their trademark ground game to operate at — or near — full capacity in the first College Football Playoff semifinal.

The Athletic beat writers Pete Sampson (Notre Dame) and Audrey Snyder (Penn State) share their thoughts on the CFP semifinal.

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen has been the Nittany Lions' best postseason player and now has his sights on Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl.

Penn State coach James Franklin thinks there's a chance defensive star Abdul Carter will be back for College Football Playoff semifinals against Notre Dame.

The Nittany Lions are one win away from playing for the College Football Playoff Championship. Next up: the Orange Bowl.

Notre Dame star RB Jeremiyah Love is expected to start against Penn State in the first CFP semifinal after injuring his knee.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to start Thursday in the Orange Bowl against sixth-seeded Penn State, enabling the seventh-seeded Fighting Irish and their trademark ground game to operate at — or near — full capacity in the first College Football Playoff semifinal.