The College Football Playoff Semifinals will begin on Thursday night with Penn State and Notre Dame.

This is a matchup between two teams that have not won a National Championship since 1988. This is when Notre Dame last hoisted the trophy. Penn State was on top just two years prior in 1986.

This is set to be a defensive battle between two of the Top 10 defenses in the nation.

Why Notre Dame Will Win?

Notre Dame has finally found an identity. This is a team that has struggled to get to this point in previous years due to the fact that it played outside of its comfort zone.

This season, Riley Leonard and an elite duo of running backs has aided the offense to go with one of the top defenses in the nation.

Marcus Freeman has helped create an identity around the Irish as a whole. Al Golden has led this incredible, attacking defense and it led the way against Georgia in the second round.

If this is a game that is played to 20, Notre Dame has a chance to get there using turnovers and the ground game.

Why Penn State Will Win?

If there is one team and coach that needs a big win, it is James Franklin and Penn State.

Yes, they won two games in the playoff already but both were as double-digit favorites. The Nittany Lions were expected to get here when looking as their path. Now, this would be a big win against Notre Dame as money begins to swing toward the Irish.

Penn State has the defense and ground game to compete with Notre Dame. There are two 1,000-yard backs in Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton to go with an elite defense. This sounds a lot like the Irish. Penn State also carries a weapon in Tyler Warren that no other team has.

The coaching edge goes to Freeman. Franklin has been unable to win a big game in close to a decade and needs to advance here. If he is going to do that, it will be thanks to the defense.