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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled off a thrilling 27-24 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl to secure their spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship. This marks Notre Dame’s first championship appearance since the 2013 season, and they are chasing their first title since 1988.
Dramatic Comeback Victory
Notre Dame (14-1) faced a tough challenge, trailing 10-0 in the first half. Backup quarterback Steve Angeli stepped up when starting QB Riley Leonard was briefly sidelined in concussion protocol, helping the team secure a 41-yard field goal to end the half at 10-3.
In the second half, Leonard returned and led Notre Dame to two touchdowns: a 3-yard QB run and a 2-yard run by Jeremiyah Love, putting the Irish ahead 17-10. Penn State’s Nick Singleton, who tied the Orange Bowl record with three rushing touchdowns, helped the Nittany Lions stay in the game.
With 4:38 left, Leonard threw a stunning 54-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse, tying the game 24-24. A clutch interception by Christian Gray in the final minute set up Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard game-winning field goal with just seven seconds remaining.
Remarkable Season Turnaround
Notre Dame’s path to the championship was far from easy. They started the season with an upset loss to Northern Illinois but responded by winning their final 10 regular-season games. In the playoffs, they defeated No. 10 seed Indiana and No. 2 seed Georgia before their victory over Penn State.
What’s Next
Notre Dame will face the winner of the Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State in the national championship game on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Coach Marcus Freeman, the first Black head coach to compete for a college football national title, expressed pride in his team: “These guys are built different. I’m so proud of them.”
Key Highlights
- Riley Leonard’s leadership and Steve Angeli’s crucial contributions.
- Nick Singleton’s three touchdowns tied the Orange Bowl record.
- Christian Gray’s game-changing interception with 33 seconds left.
Notre Dame now stands just one win away from ending a 36-year title drought. Fans are eagerly awaiting their final showdown in Atlanta.
