Last Updated 11:35 PM, January 09, 2025
NCAA.com

Notre Dame defeats Penn State in Orange Bowl thriller, advances to title game

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4:28
4:21 am, January 10, 2025

🏆 Irish win 27-24, advance to title game

In a battle of top-five defenses, No. 5 Notre Dame rallied late to defeat No. 4 Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl CFP semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium. The Fighting Irish overcame a 10-3 halftime deficit thanks to quarterback Riley Leonard's impressive second half.

Penn State opened the scoring on a 20-yard Ryan Barker field goal, then extended its lead to 10-0 on a Nicholas Singleton touchdown run. Leonard briefly exited after a hard tackle but returned, orchestrating a pair of touchdown drives. His three-yard draw tied the game early in the third quarter before Notre Dame grabbed its first lead in the fourth when Jeremiyah Love powered across the goal line.

Singleton, who finished with three rushing touchdowns, gave the Nittany Lions a 24-17 advantage midway through the final quarter. But the Irish responded again, tying it on a 54-yard bomb to Jaden Greathouse after Penn State’s secondary slipped. Following a costly Drew Allar interception, Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter drilled a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining to seal the victory.

Notre Dame (14-1) advances to face the winner of the Ohio State-Texas matchup for the national championship, while Penn State finishes its season at 13-3 after falling just short of a title opportunity.

 

4:12 am, January 10, 2025

☘️ Notre Dame takes late lead on Jeter’s clutch kick

Mitch Jeter buries a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds left, putting the Irish ahead 27-24 after Riley Leonard and Jaden Greathouse set up the short attempt. Penn State now faces a desperate final play.

4:08 am, January 10, 2025

Allar’s late mistake hands Notre Dame a chance

Penn State opts to be aggressive, but Drew Allar’s throw across the field is intercepted by Notre Dame’s Christian Gray at the Nittany Lions’ 42. The Irish now have 33 seconds to try for a game-winning score.

3:47 am, January 10, 2025

😳 Irish even it up

Riley Leonard finds a wide-open Jaden Greathouse after a Penn State defender slips, leading to a 54-yard touchdown. The Fighting Irish mimicked the Nittany Lions’ “no-fly zone” celebration as they leveled the score at 24-24 late in the fourth.

3:36 am, January 10, 2025

🏈 Penn State pounces on turnover, takes lead

Dani Dennis-Sutton’s leaping interception sets up Drew Allar and Nicholas Singleton, who capitalizes with his third rushing touchdown. The Nittany Lions go up 24-17 midway through the fourth quarter.

3:31 am, January 10, 2025

😱 Leonard picked off on first play

 On Notre Dame’s first snap, Riley Leonard attempts a lob pass but Dani Dennis-Sutton makes a leaping interception at the Irish 39-yard line.

3:24 am, January 10, 2025

‼️ PSU answers behind Singleton’s second score

Nicholas Singleton rumbles seven yards for the touchdown, capping a red-zone drive powered by Kaytron Allen’s key runs. The extra point evens the score at 17-17 in the fourth quarter.

3:17 am, January 10, 2025

😱 Irish pull ahead

Jeremiyah Love powers across the goal line after a 19-yard burst from Jayden Thomas and a pass interference penalty on Penn State. Notre Dame takes a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.

2:41 am, January 10, 2025

☘️ Leonard back, hits big play for Irish

Riley Leonard returns from injury and immediately sparks the offense with a 36-yard strike to Aneyas Williams. That sets up Notre Dame's game-tying drive and the extra point makes it 10-10 early in the third quarter.

2:15 am, January 10, 2025

🫡 Penn State leads 10-3 at the break

Penn State leads 10-3 behind 141 rushing yards and Nicholas Singleton’s 6-yard touchdown. The Irish lost quarterback Riley Leonard to a possible head injury, but backup Steve Angeli managed a late field-goal drive. Notre Dame has to respond to the Nittany Lions’ ground game to stay alive in the second half.

Orange Bowl Penn State - Notre Dame
2:03 am, January 10, 2025

Leonard exits with apparent injury

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard took a hard hit and appeared dazed, leaving the field for evaluation. He immediately went into the medical tent.
1:54 am, January 10, 2025

🤝 Singleton strikes for six

Nicholas Singleton powers in from six yards out, capping a drive with a clutch fourth-down conversion. The Nittany Lions now lead 10-0 late in the second quarter.

1:35 am, January 10, 2025

🦁 Nitts strike first

Penn State settles for a 20-yard field goal after Drew Allar misses a wide-open Nick Singleton. The kick puts the Nittany Lions up 3-0 early in the second quarter.

1:17 am, January 10, 2025

💥 Penn State defense strikes early

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard misfires on third down, throwing an interception to Zakee Wheatley near midfield. The Nittany Lions take over at their own 42-yard line.