For the first time in 17 years, Notre Dame and Penn State are set to face off on a football field. This time, there's a lot on the line, as the 7-seed Fighting Irish will play the 6-seed Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl,

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

Notre Dame’s path to defeating Penn State in their CFP clash relies on 5 critical factors. Here’s what the Irish must do to win.