Notre Dame and Penn State are set for the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal with a shot at the national title matchup on the line. Here’s the latest prediction for the game from an expert analytical model that projects scores and picks winners.

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.

Call it the Worlds Colliding Bowl for Al Golden, the Notre Dame football defensive coordinator who coached at both Miami and Penn State ahead of Thursday's Orange Bowl in the College Football Playoff.

Jan 2, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) celebrates after a play against Georgia Bulldogs at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images / Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Notre Dame Al Golden hasn’t made this week about him and his connection with Penn State. The 55-year-old Golden played tight end

During Al Golden’s coaching career, he has bounced back-and-forth from the NFL and the college ranks with his latest stop obviously being with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This is his second stint in South Bend,

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden was a Penn State captain and almost its head coach. Now he leads the Fighting Irish's stout defense vs. the Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl.