SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame football has long considered itself a national power, but for the first time since College Football moved to a playoff format, the Irish have been included in the field.

Notre Dame was officially announced as the third seed in the four-team playoff, setting up a meeting with second-seeded Clemson in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29 in Dallas.

Alabama and Oklahoma will meet in the second semifinal game, ranked first and fourth respectfully.

Despite watching other teams complete conference championship games, the Irish sat comfortably at 12-0, the first undefeated regular season since 2012 when Notre Dame met Alabama in the BCS National Championship.

The game against Clemson, which will kick off at 4 p.m. EST, will be the first meeting between the two since 2015. The Irish fell on a failed two-point conversion in a game played under hurricane conditions.