In an Orange Bowl semifinal that will go down as an instant classic, the No. 7 seed Notre Dame Fighting Irish secured a spot in the College Football Playoff championship with a heart-stopping 27-24 overtime victory against the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions. A diving interception by defensive back Christian Gray set up kicker Mitch Jeter’s winning 41-yard field goal with just 7 seconds left on the clock.
Leonard Leads Irish Despite Injury Scare
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard engineered the thrilling comeback victory after a second quarter hit sent him to the medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion. The gritty signal-caller returned in the second half to lead four Irish scoring drives, finishing with 223 yards passing and accounting for two total touchdowns.
Greathouse’s Clutch Catch Keeps Drive Alive
Facing a critical 3rd & 3 on the final possession, Leonard fired a 10-yard dart to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse to move the chains and position Notre Dame for the winning score. The Irish have made a habit of late-game magic this season.
“I have so much trust in every guy in that locker room. We’ve been in these moments before and have tremendous belief,” Leonard said post-game. “To get this program back to the biggest stage – it’s surreal.”
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame QB
Gray’s Game-Changing INT Turns the Tide
While the offense delivered late, it was Christian Gray’s acrobatic interception of Penn State QB Drew Allar that proved to be the decisive moment. The junior DB’s pick at the Lions’ 42 with 33 seconds left swung the pendulum firmly to the Fighting Irish.
Gray, who also had 6 tackles and 2 pass breakups, earned MVP honors:
“I just read [Allar’s] eyes, trusted my instincts and went up to make a play for my team. We’ve fought so hard to get to this point… Now we have to finish the mission.”
Christian Gray, Notre Dame DB & Orange Bowl MVP
Freeman on Verge of Making History
With the monumental win, 36-year-old head coach Marcus Freeman has Notre Dame on the cusp of its first national title in 37 years. He also has a chance to become the first Black head coach to win the championship at the FBS level – an opportunity he does not take lightly.
“This is for all those who came before me and didn’t get this chance. We still have work to do, but I feel the magnitude of this moment. I’m eternally proud of this group of young men.”
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Head Coach
The Road Ahead: Texas or Ohio State Await
The Irish will meet the winner of the Fiesta Bowl semifinal between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Ohio State for the national championship on Jan 20th. Regardless of opponent, Notre Dame will enter the title tilt as underdogs – a role they have embraced all season long.
- Path to the CFP: Notre Dame earned statement wins over Clemson, USC & UNC
- Freeman’s Rapid Ascent: At 36, he is the youngest coach to reach the CFP finals
- Last Title: Lou Holtz led the Irish to the 1988 championship
The stage is now set for a CFP final for the ages as Notre Dame looks to complete a storybook season under Freeman’s leadership. With their defining trait of resilience, the Irish have proven they will not go quietly – no matter how tall the task.
