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.

Notre Dame is a slim favorite over the Nittany Lions, but the teams enter the Orange Bowl evenly and uniquely matched.

The No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish are gearing up for a semifinal matchup in the College Football Playoff against the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions, set to

The Fighting Irish star ranks among the top 10 nationally in rushing yards and touchdowns by a quarterback this season.

The Nittany Lions arrived in south Florida on Tuesday ready to take on the Fighting Irish for a spot in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard, 22, majored in public policy at Duke with a minor in markets and management studies.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has been on a hot streak in the postseason with the Fighting Irish and he has a chance to continue growing his narrative as the team prepares to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions at the Orange Bowl in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs.

Notre Dame starting quarterback Riley Leonard has proven to be a difficult quarterback to prepare for as the Irish sit one game away from a national championship appearance. While Leonard doesn't always jump off the page with his arm talent,

When Notre Dame went into a transfer portal at the end of last season for another quarterback, there were mixed reactions from Irish fans. While many were thrilled that Marcus Freeman was doing everything he can to put the best team he can assemble out on the field by bringing in Riley Leonard,

Notre Dame football relied on defense and the legs of Riley Leonard to keep their season alive on Jan. 2. The Fighting Irish are now positioned to clinch their first national championship game appearance since the 2012 season.