By EDDIE PELLS
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — A diving interception off an ill-advised go arrange Notre Dame’s journey to play for this system’s twelfth nationwide title after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night time within the Orange Bowl.
Defensive again Christian Grey snared Drew Allar’s go throughout the center on the Nittany Lions 42 with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to arrange Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard winner with 7 seconds left.
The sport featured three ties, three lead modifications and 31 factors within the fourth quarter alone.
Notre Dame (14-1), seeded seventh on this, the primary 12-team faculty playoff, may have an opportunity to carry its first title since 1988 again below the Golden Dome with a sport Jan. 20 in Atlanta in opposition to the winner of Friday night time’s Texas-Ohio State semifinal within the Cotton Bowl.
Within the last, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will attempt to grow to be the primary Black coach to win the title in school soccer’s highest stage.
“We’ve been right here in this position before, and they believed and got the job done, and I’m proud of them,” Freeman stated.
No. 6 seed Penn State (13-3) fell agonizingly brief in a sport it managed whereas taking a 10-0 lead over the primary 28 minutes. Coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions in opposition to groups ranked within the AP Prime 10.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard shook off a success late within the second quarter that despatched him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He got here again and led the Irish on 4 scoring drives within the second half, together with the final one.
“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does,” Freeman stated. “That’s what this team does.”
Leonard completed with 223 yards passing, together with a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to transform third-and-3 on the final drive. Leonard additionally had 35 yards dashing, and handed and ran for a rating every. With 4:38 left within the sport, Leonard hit Greathouse for a 54-yard rating to tie the sport at 24 after a Penn State defender slipped.
The sport began sluggish (and boring), however Riley’s harm injected life into issues. He led Notre Dame on TD drives of 75 and 72 yards within the third quarter to take a 17-10 lead.
At that time, the sport was simply getting began.
Penn State had its probabilities, and Allar, together with all these Nittany Lions followers, will spend the offseason reliving that final throw — or making an attempt to overlook it.
Penn State compelled a Notre Dame punt and appeared assured of not less than going to extra time after they took over at their 15 with 33 seconds left.
After a achieve of 13, Allar dropped to go and had strain coming. He threw throughout his physique to the center of the sphere, the place Grey dove for the decide.
“Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” Grey stated. “That was going through my mind and I knew I was going to make a play.”
Allar stated he appeared on the first two choices on the play and noticed neither have been open, then was making an attempt to throw the ball into the bottom.
“Honestly, I was trying to throw it at his feet,” Allar stated. “I should’ve thrown it away when I saw the first two progressions were not open. I didn’t execute.”
Officers reviewed confirmed it was a catch, and the Irish have been onto the subsequent step on a highway that appeared all however unimaginable after they fell 16-14 to Northern Illinois again in September.
Off beam for a lot of the day, Allar completed 12 for 23 for 135 yards with the interception. Nick Singleton ran for 84 yards and all three Penn State touchdowns.
Chilly Orange Bowl
The kickoff temperature was 56 levels, unseasonably cool for South Florida — and making it the second-coldest Orange Bowl ever, subsequent to the Georgia Tech-Iowa sport in 2010 that began at 49 and felt just like the higher 30s.
Meyer, Leinart booed
Evidently, Notre Dame and Penn State followers nonetheless don’t like former USC quarterback Matt Leinart and former Ohio State and Florida coach City Meyer.
They have been launched earlier than the sport as new members of the Orange Bowl Corridor of Fame and have been roundly booed — Meyer getting the worst of it.
Additionally launched as a Corridor of Famer: former Miami lineman Vince Wilfork, whose reception was far hotter.
Up subsequent
Notre Dame will face both Ohio State or Texas within the CFP nationwide championship sport on Jan. 20. Penn State opens its 2025 season at residence in opposition to Nevada on Aug. 30.
Initially Revealed: January 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM PST
