Notre Dame will play in the first College Football Playoff national championship game of the expanded format era after a 27-24 comeback victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Fighting Irish kicker Mitch Jeter kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal to cap a back-and-forth between the two storied programs.
Notre Dame’s victory may never have happened if quarterback Riley Leonard hadn’t found the courage to return to the game after an injury.
“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in a postgame interview on ESPN right after the game. “It’s an honor to be a part of this with him.”
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The Penn State Nittany Lions compete at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish College football Playoff semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Gardens, Florida. (Joe Robbins/Sportswire Icon via Getty Images)
Leonard had to leave the game in the second quarter, forcing replacement Steve Angeli. At that point, Notre Dame was already down 10-0. But Angeli helped the Irish get back in the game with a basket to give Notre Dame its first points, as the Irish went into halftime up 10-3.
But Leonard returned to the game in the second half and led a touchdown drive to tie the game. The two teams then exchanged score for score in a competitive second half.
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Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates a play against Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) in the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Leonard had a chance to lead the go-ahead drive with two minutes remaining, but the Penn State defense came up with a big sack on third down to force a Notre Dame punt.
Then Allar, with a chance to have a winning campaign with less and possibly jump into the conversation for best quarterback in the NFL Draft, returned to the field for the biggest moment of his career. And at that moment, he threw an interception to give the ball back to Leonard and the Irish.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates a touchdown with teammates in the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
Leonard then returned to the field and led the final drive that put Jeter in position to seal the deal.
“I just trusted Jesus,” Leonard said in an interview with ESPN after the game.
Notre Dame’s run continues after a historic victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, just one day after a deadly terrorist attack killed 14 innocent people.
The Irish will meet the winner of the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas on Friday.
