The Fighting Irish clinched a Championship berth with a late game-winning field goal.
Notre Dame punched their ticket to the national championship game with a thrilling 27-24 win over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl, decided by a last-minute field goal in front of 66,881 fans at Hard Rock Stadium.
In a game that lived up to its billing as a College Football Playoff semifinal showdown, both teams traded defensive stops and missed opportunities before Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter drilled a 41-yard field goal with just seconds remaining.
The pivotal moment came with 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar threw an interception, setting up Notre Dame’s scoring drive.
Allar struggled throughout the night, completing only 12 of 23 passes for 139 yards and failing to connect with his wide receivers. Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard threw for 223 yards and a touchdown while also contributing 35 rushing yards.
Despite the loss, Penn State running back Nick Singleton shone, scoring three touchdowns and rushing for 84 yards. Teammate Kaytron Allen added 82 yards on the ground, while tight end Tyler Warren led the passing attack with six receptions for 75 yards.
Notre Dame showcased resilience, particularly in the second half. After trailing 10-3 at halftime, Leonard orchestrated a game-tying drive early in the third quarter, highlighted by a 36-yard pass to running back Aneyas Williams and capped by Leonard’s own 3-yard touchdown run.
Penn State briefly regained momentum in the fourth quarter, with Singleton scoring his third touchdown to put the Nittany Lions ahead 24-17. A quick response from Notre Dame wide receiver Jaden Greathouse who broke free for a 71-yard touchdown reception tied the game again with under five minutes to play. Cornerback Christian Gray’s late interception sealed the Irish’s victory, giving Jeter the opportunity to deliver the game-winning kick.
Notre Dame now turns its attention to the championship game on January 20th, where they will seek their first title since 1988 in Atlanta where they will face either Texas or Ohio State.
