During a joint news conference on Wednesday, Franklin and Freeman were asked about how they manage the challenges of the longer college football season in light of the expanded pl

Either Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman or Penn State’s James Franklin will become the first Black coach to compete for a college football national championship.

Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Penn State's James Franklin are aware they are on the brink of making history in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.

The two will meet in the College Football Playoff semifinals with the winner becoming the first Black head coach to reach the college football title game.

One head coach will make history by winning the Orange Bowl on Thursday. When Penn State-Notre Dame goes final in the College Football Playoff semifinal either James Franklin or Marcus Freeman will become the first Black head coach to lead a team into the FBS National Championship game.

College football will see its first Black head coach guide his team to the national championship game at the highest level of the game with either Penn State’s James Franklin or Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman.

Penn State coach James Franklin and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman held their final media availability Wednesday before the Orange Bowl, where they discussed key injuries and preparing for their biggest game of the season so far. Here’s what the coaches had to say as the Orange Bowl approaches.

James Franklin and Marcus Freeman are each enjoying banner seasons leading their respective programs. On Thursday night, Franklin's Penn State team will take on Freeman's Notre Dame squad in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl.