Our Lady is headed to the first College Football Playoff National Championship game of the extended season after a 27-24 comeback win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Fighting Irish quarterback Mitch Jeter kicked a 41-yard field goal to end the latest battle between the two storied programs.
Notre Dame's comeback win might not have happened if quarterback Riley Leonard hadn't summoned the courage to come back into the game. after the accident.
“It's a rivalry and contenders find a way to win,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in a postgame interview on ESPN immediately 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 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/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Leonard had to come out of the game in the second quarter, forcing a save on Steve Angeli. At that point, Notre Dame trailed 10-0. But Angeli helped bring the Irish back into it with a field goal to give Notre Dame its first points, as the Irish went into halftime 10-3.
But Leonard came back into the game in the second half, and led the way to tie the game. After that, the two teams traded points in the second half of the competition.
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter (11) celebrates tackling Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) in the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. (Photos by Sam Navarro-Imagn)
Leonard had a chance to take the lead with two minutes left, but the Penn State defense came up with a big sack on third down to force a Notre Dame punt.
Then Allar, who had a chance to lead the winning streak and possibly put himself in the conversation for the top quarterback taken in the NFL Draft, returned to the field for a big moment by the best of his career. And at that moment, he threw a knife to return the ball to Leonard and the Irishman.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) celebrates a touchdown with teammates in the second quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. (Photos by Sam Navarro-Imagn)
Leonard returned to the field and led off the final drive that put Jeter in position to seal the deal.
“I just trusted Jesus,” Leonard said in an ESPN post interview.
Notre Dame's storybook streak continues after it secured a historic win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans just one day after a deadly terrorist attack killed 14 people. innocent.
The Irish will meet the winner of the A cup of cotton on Friday between Ohio State and Texas.
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