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.

In line with the 12-team playoff's historic nature, the CFP semifinals feature a matchup that will guarantee more history in the national championship game.

As James Franklin prepares for the Orange Bowl, the Nittany Lions head coach reflected on how two Black head coaches can impact the future.

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.

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.

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.

Penn State’s James Franklin and Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman are the first nonwhite coaches to reach the playoff semifinals. Hiring shifts suggest they won’t be the last.

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 next Thursday.

This championship game also comes with a bit of additional history. Not only is this the first iteration of a 12-team playoff, but no matter what happens, for the first time ever, a Black head coach will lead a team in the National Championship Game.