This season, when Penn State has gone against a tougher defense in Ohio State and Oregon, scoring 13 against the Buckeyes and 37 against the Ducks. Notre Dame defense is more statistically similar to OSU’s, so expect an output closer to two scores, which is exactly what the Irish have averaged all year.

Penn State was unable to corral Oregon’s offense in the Big Ten Championship though, allowing 496 total yards while dropping a 45-37 decision to the then undefeated Ducks. The Nittany Lions eviscerated SMU in the first round of the CFP Playoff,

As a result, Ohio’s best sportsbooks now favor the Buckeyes to win the national championship. Oddsmakers were high on Ohio State after the regular season, giving OSU the third-best odds to win the title. No CFP team has been more impressive than the Buckeyes, and sportsbooks responded accordingly.

The paths of Notre Dame football and Penn State cross Thursday for the first time since 2007 with a spot in the national championship game at stake

Will the Texas football season end at the hands of Ohio State in the CFP? Here's the case for a Buckeyes win in the Cotton Bowl.

Micah Shrewsberry is one of the few college coaches who can say he's worked at both Notre Dame and Penn State as those teams get set to meet in a CFP semifinal

Notre Dame and Penn State playing in a college football game with national title implications? What decade is it? Neither classic power won a game in the four-team era of the College Football Playoff,