In a game filled with twists, turns, and a dramatic finish, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish earned their first trip to a national title game in over three decades with a 27-24 victory over Penn State in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on Thursday night.
The decisive moment came in the waning seconds when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, under heavy pressure, attempted to throw the ball into the ground to avoid a turnover. Instead, his pass floated across the middle, and Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray made a diving interception at the Nittany Lions’ 42-yard line with just 33 seconds remaining.
Gray’s clutch play set up the game-winning 41-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter, sending the No. 7-seeded Irish (14-1) into the national championship game, where they will face the winner of Friday’s Texas-Ohio State semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.
The Orange Bowl showcased everything fans hoped for in a playoff game after a lackluster postseason so far. The lead changed hands three times, and 31 points were scored in a frenetic fourth quarter. Notre Dame’s comeback was fueled by the resilience of quarterback Riley Leonard, who returned to action after a second-quarter injury to lead four second-half scoring drives.
Leonard passed for 223 yards and a touchdown and added 35 rushing yards and another score. His 54-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse with 4:38 left tied the game at 24 and set the stage for the dramatic conclusion.
“This team doesn’t quit,” Leonard said after the game. “We’ve fought all year, and to come back like this, on this stage, is incredible. But we’ve got one more to go.”
Gray’s interception will go down in Notre Dame lore. Allar, a projected first-round NFL Draft pick, had been erratic all evening, completing just 12 of 23 passes for 135 yards. With the game tied and Penn State seemingly poised to force overtime, Allar’s ill-advised throw across his body proved costly.
“I was just trying to throw it into the dirt,” Allar explained. “But I didn’t get enough on it. That’s on me.”
Gray capitalized, diving to secure the interception and sealing Notre Dame’s place in the national title game for the first time since 1988.
The Irish might not have been in position to win without Leonard’s gutsy performance. After being evaluated for a potential concussion late in the first half, Leonard returned to spark the Notre Dame offense, throwing a 10-yard dart to Greathouse on a critical third-and-3 during the final drive.
Leonard’s poise stood in stark contrast to the slow, uninspired start by both teams. The first half ended with Notre Dame trailing 10-3, but Leonard’s leadership fueled touchdown drives of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter to take a 17-10 lead.
Backup quarterback Steve Angeli also contributed during Leonard’s absence, completing 6 of 7 passes and setting up a field goal before halftime to stop the bleeding.
Penn State’s season, which saw the Nittany Lions earn the No. 6 seed with a 13-3 record, ended in heartbreak. Running back Nick Singleton carried the offense with 84 yards and three touchdowns, but Allar’s struggles and the team’s inability to capitalize on opportunities proved too much to overcome.
The loss dropped head coach James Franklin’s record against top-10 teams to 4-20, a statistic that will loom large as the Nittany Lions head into the offseason.
For Notre Dame, the victory also marked a milestone for head coach Marcus Freeman. In his second season at the helm, Freeman is now one win away from becoming the first Black head coach to win a national title at the FBS level. Freeman, whose mother is South Korean, is also the first coach of Asian heritage to reach the championship game.
“This is for everyone who believed in us,” Freeman said. “We’re not done yet. This program has been waiting a long time to bring another title back to South Bend, and we’re going to give it everything we’ve got.”
Notre Dame will play for its 12th national title and first since 1988 on Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Their opponent will be determined when No. 3 Texas faces No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
Penn State, meanwhile, will look to regroup as it opens the 2025 season at home against Nevada on Aug. 30.
In a game that delivered unforgettable moments, Notre Dame’s resilience and Gray’s game-saving interception defined an Orange Bowl classic. Now, the Irish stand one win away from making history.
