Following a brutal loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday night, Penn State head coach James Franklin seemed to channel his in

Penn State were so close to playing for a national championship. Instead, the Nittany Lions' CFP journey ended in pain at the Orange Bowl.

A look at Penn State football's record and history in the Orange Bowl ahead of Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal matchup vs. Notre Dame.

This was the year and this was the team for Franklin and his Penn State program to prove the doubters wrong, to extinguish the derisive "Big Game James" nickname once and for all. Led by Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren and Nicholas Singleton, Franklin compiled enough elite talent to make a real run at finally breaking through that ceiling.

As Penn State's coach, James Franklin owns an abysmal 3-10 record against opponents ranked in the Associated Press Top 10. It's a mark that saw a small but significant boost with Penn State's resounding 31-14 College Football Playoff quarterfinal win against No.

James Franklin coached the Penn State Nittany Lions to a loss in a big game. Franklin cleared one hurdle this year when Penn State finally made the College Football Playoff semifinal after defeating SMU in the first round and Boise State in the second round.