Notre Dame is headed to the first College Football Playoff National Championship game of the expanded format era after a comeback 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
Fighting Irish kicker Mitch Jeter kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal to end a back-and-forth battle between the two storied programs.
Notre Dame’s comeback win might never have happened if quarterback Riley Leonard hadn’t summoned the courage to return to the game from 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 stand on 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 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 leave the game in the second quarter, forcing backup Steve Angeli in. At that point, Notre Dame was already behind 10-0. But Angeli helped get the Irish back in the game with a field goal drive to give Notre Dame the first points as the Irish went into halftime up 10-3.
But Leonard returned to the game in the second half, leading a touchdown drive 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 on Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard (13) during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Photos)
Leonard had a chance to lead a go-ahead drive with two minutes left, but the Penn State defense came up with a big third-down sack to force a Notre Dame punt.
Then Allar, with a chance to lead a game-winning drive with less and possibly put himself in the conversation for the top quarterback taken in the NFL Draft, returned to the field for the biggest moment of his career. And in 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 Photos)
Leonard then came back on the field and led the final drive that put Jeter in position to seal the deal.
“I just trusted Jesus,” Leonard said in an ESPN interview after the game.
Notre Dame’s history book continues after it came away with a historic win 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.
