It’s been a long time since either Notre Dame or Penn State reached college football’s mountaintop as national champions.

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.

Which team will earn the first spot into the College Football Playoff title game? Here's three things that could decide Notre Dame vs. Penn State.