In a thrilling College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal clash at the Orange Bowl, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish clinched a narrow 27-24 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions. The electrifying encounter, held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, featured a last-second game-winning field goal by Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter. The win sends the Fighting Irish to the CFP National Championship in Atlanta, where they will face either Ohio State or Texas on January 20.
This victory marks Notre Dame’s first semifinal win in the CFP era, having fallen short in its previous two attempts. The team now has a shot at securing its 12th national championship and its first since 1988.
Game Highlights and Key Moments
The game showcased high-intensity football with momentum swings, standout performances, and a dramatic finale. Penn State took control early, building a 10-0 lead in the first half. Running back Nicholas Singleton was a key player for the Nittany Lions, scoring all three of their touchdowns and finishing with 84 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Notre Dame’s offense struggled early, with quarterback Riley Leonard throwing an interception on his second drive, allowing Penn State to maintain their defensive dominance. However, backup quarterback Steve Angeli stepped in after Leonard briefly left the field due to a potential injury. Angeli helped the Irish get on the scoreboard with a 41-yard field goal by Jeter just before halftime, cutting Penn State’s lead to 10-3.
The Fighting Irish came out energized in the second half, with Leonard returning to the field. Notre Dame evened the score early in the third quarter with Leonard capping an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown. The team gained its first lead early in the fourth quarter when running back Jeremiyah Love powered into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown, putting Notre Dame ahead 17-10.
Back-and-Forth Final Quarter
The fourth quarter was a showcase of resilience and grit as both teams exchanged blows. Penn State responded to Love’s touchdown with a determined 75-yard drive, highlighted by Singleton’s seven-yard rushing score to tie the game at 17-17.
Shortly after, Penn State’s defense made a game-changing play when Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepted Leonard’s pass, setting up Singleton’s third touchdown of the night. This gave the Nittany Lions a 24-17 lead with under eight minutes left.
Undeterred, Notre Dame answered with a brilliant 54-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse. Greathouse’s play, where he took advantage of a defensive slip by Penn State’s Jaylen Reed, tied the game at 24-24 with just over four minutes remaining.
The Decisive Play
With less than a minute left, Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray made a pivotal interception, picking off a pass by Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at the Penn State 42-yard line. This set the stage for a measured drive by Leonard and the Irish offense, who advanced the ball to the Penn State 24-yard line.
Jeter stepped up under immense pressure and delivered a 41-yard field goal with just seven seconds remaining. The kick was a historic moment, as it marked the first successful game-winning field goal in a CFP semifinal.
Post-Game Reflections
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman praised his team’s resilience, emphasizing their ability to come back after trailing 10-0 in the first half. “This was a true test of our character,” Freeman said. “We’ve been building toward this moment, and our guys showed they’re ready for the next step.”
Leonard finished the game with 223 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, while Greathouse led all receivers with seven catches for 105 yards and a score.
Penn State’s Drew Allar had a quieter game, completing 12 of 23 passes for 135 yards and one interception. Despite the loss, Penn State head coach James Franklin commended his team’s effort, noting the contributions of Singleton and the defensive unit.
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Looking Ahead
Notre Dame now turns its attention to the championship game, where it will face a tough opponent in either Ohio State or Texas. The Fighting Irish will aim to break their decades-long title drought and etch their name in college football history once again.
For Penn State, the focus shifts to regrouping and building on this season’s success as they look toward future playoff opportunities.
