Notre Dame will go to the first College Football Playoff National Championship game of the expanded format era after a 27-24 comeback win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Irish kicker Mitch Jeter kicked the winning 41-yard field goal to cap a back-and-forth battle between the two storied programs.
Notre Dame’s victory may never have materialized had quarterback Riley Leonard not mustered the fortitude 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 just after the game. “It’s an honor to be a part of this with him.”
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The Penn State Nittany Lions face off at the line of scrimmage against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football playoff semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025 at Hard Rock Miami Stadium. Gardens, Florida. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Leonard had to leave the game in the second quarter, forcing substitute Steve Angeli to enter. At that point, Notre Dame was already trailing 10-0. But Angeli helped get the Irish back into action with a field goal to give Notre Dame its first points, as the Irish went into halftime trailing 10-3.
But Leonard returned to the game in the second half and led a touchdown to tie the game. The two teams then traded score for score in a competitive second half.
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Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates a tackle 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 a drive with two minutes remaining, but the Penn State defense made a big sack on third down to force a Notre Dame punt.
Then Allar, with a chance to lead a winning drive with less and possibly enter the conversation for the top quarterback selected 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 a postgame ESPN interview.
Notre Dame’s storybook run continues after achieving a historic victory against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, just one day after a deadly terrorist attack killed 14 innocent people.
The Irish will face the winner of the Cotton Bowl on Friday between Ohio State and Texas.
