The first of two College Football Playoff semifinal games kicks off on Thursday evening with the Orange Bowl between sixth-seeded Penn State and seventh-seeded Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN).
It marks the 20th all-time meeting (9-9-1) and first between the two programs since 2007. It’s also their second postseason matchup, as the Fighting Irish knocked off the Nittany Lions, 20-9, in the 1976 Gator Bowl.
Penn State will be considered the home team by virtue of being the higher seed, and will wear its standard home uniforms of white helmets, navy blue jerseys and white pants in South Florida.
The Nittany Lions have worn navy blue jerseys in three of their five previous Orange Bowl appearances (1969-70, 1974), going undefeated…