Historic Semifinal Ensures Black Coach in Championship

In a historic College Football Playoff semifinal, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman and Penn State's James Franklin will face off in the Orange Bowl, guaranteeing that a Black head coach will advance to the national championship for the first time. Freeman, who is also of South Korean descent, and Franklin have acknowledged the significance of this moment, drawing parallels to past milestones in sports diversity, such as Super Bowl XLI featuring Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. Both teams reached the semifinals by defeating highly-ranked opponents, with Notre Dame beating Georgia and Penn State overcoming Boise State. The playoff format has expanded to include 12 teams, adding a new dynamic to the competition. Despite Franklin's past struggles against top-ranked teams, Penn State focuses on one game at a time, while Freeman emphasizes representation and the importance of performance over race. This matchup is a pivotal moment in football history and a step towards greater diversity and representation in coaching at the collegiate level.