Notre Dame will play in the College Football Playoff national championship game for the first time in the expanded format era after a 27-24 come-from-behind victory over Penn State in Thursday's Orange Bowl.
Irish martial arts kicker Mitch Jeter kicked the game-winning 41-yard field goal, ending a back-and-forth battle between two storied programs.
Notre Dame's come-from-behind victory might never have happened if quarterback Riley Leonard hadn't mustered the fortitude to return from injury.
“He's a competitor, and competitors find ways 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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Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinals, Capital One Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, January 9, 2025 The Notre Dame Fighting Irish face off at the line of scrimmage. Gardens of Florida. (Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Leonard left the game in the second quarter and had to be replaced by Steve Angeli. At this point, Notre Dame was already trailing 10-0. But Angeli brought the Irish back with a field goal drive to give Notre Dame its first points and the Irish went into halftime up 10-3.
However, Leonard returned in the second half and completed a touchdown drive to tie the game. Both teams then competed for points in the second half.
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Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter, 11, celebrates his tackle on Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard, 13, during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Iman Images)
Leonard had a chance to lead a winning drive with two minutes left, but a big third-down sack by Penn State's defense forced Notre Dame to punt.
After that, Aller returned to the field for the biggest moment of his career, with a chance to lead the way in a win with little production and potentially joining the conversation among the top quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft. And at that moment, he threw an interception, giving the ball back to Leonard and the Irish.
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Notre Dame Irish quarterback Riley Leonard, 13, celebrates a touchdown with his teammates during the second half of a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Hard Rock Stadium. (Sam Navarro-Iman Images)
Leonard then returned to the field and led the final drive that sealed the deal for Jeter.
“I just believed in Jesus,” Leonard said in a postgame interview with ESPN.
Notre Dame's story continues after its historic victory over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, just one day after a deadly terrorist attack that killed 14 innocent people.
The Irish will face the winner of the Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas on Friday.
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