MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A diving interception on an ill-advised pass led to Notre Dame’s trip to the program’s 12th national title with a thrilling 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night at the Orange Bowl.
Tackling the Irish defender Christian Gray snare Drew Allerpass over the middle to the Nittany Lions’ 42 with 33 seconds left, then the Irish moved 19 yards to set up Mitch Jetera 41-yard winner with 7 seconds left.
Only in the fourth quarter there were three ties, three lead changes and 31 points.
Notre Dame (14-1), seeded seventh in this first 12-team playoff, will have a chance to win its first title since 1988 back under the Gold Dome in a Jan. 20 game against the winner of Friday’s game in Texas – Ohio State Semifinals.
During this championship, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will attempt to become the first Black head coach to win a title at the highest level of college football.
No. 6 seed Penn State (13-3) suffered a heartbreaking loss in a game it controlled for the first 28 minutes. Coach James Franklin dropped to 4-20 in the Nittany Lions’ play against AP Top 10 teams.
Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard late in the second quarter, he recovered from a hit that sent him to the medical tent to be evaluated for a concussion. In the second half, he led the Irish to four point attacks, including the last one.
He finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart Jaden Big House to convert third and 3 on the last disk. Leonard also ran for 35 yards, passed and ran for one point each.
The match started slowly, but Riley’s injury spruced things up. He led Notre Dame on runs of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter, turning a 10-0 deficit into a 17-10 lead.
At this point the game was just starting.
