When the College Football Playoff expanded to 12 teams, 6-seed Penn State was held up as a shining example of a team that would've benefitted the most from an expanded field the e

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.

This week, they will need more of the same, as they travel down to Miami to take on the 13-2 Penn State Nittany Lions. Head coach James Franklin is riding high off of two double digit wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs.