Watch: Notre Dame advances to CFP championship with stunning sequence
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are heading to the College Football Playoff (CFP) national championship after a nail-biting 27-24 victory over the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night. The game was marked by dramatic lead changes, intense physicality, and a sequence of events in the final minute that sealed Notre Dame’s ticket to the title game.
The game was a back-and-forth battle with neither team giving an inch. Each time one side gained momentum, the other responded with equal determination, setting the stage for a classic semifinal matchup. The final moments, however, delivered the kind of high-stakes drama that epitomizes college football at its best.
With the score tied at 24-24 and less than a minute remaining, Notre Dame was forced to punt, giving Penn State an opportunity to drive for a potential game-winning field goal. Positioned to capitalize on their opportunity, the Nittany Lions aimed to move the ball into field goal range. However, disaster struck on the second play of their drive. Penn State quarterback Drew Allar threw a costly interception, a critical mistake that shifted the momentum firmly in Notre Dame’s favor.
Notre Dame wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover. The Fighting Irish quickly advanced the ball inside Penn State’s 25-yard line, setting up kicker Mitch Jeter for a career-defining moment. With the game on the line and under 10 seconds to play, Jeter delivered the decisive field goal, securing the 27-24 victory and sending Notre Dame to the CFP national championship game.
This game encapsulated everything a national semifinal should offer: a close contest, moments of tension, and pivotal plays that determined the outcome. While neither team’s quarterbacks delivered stellar performances, both squads demonstrated exceptional physicality and resilience, embodying the toughness and determination required at this stage of the competition.
Notre Dame’s victory sets up their appearance in the championship game, where they will face the winner of Friday’s Cotton Bowl matchup between Ohio State and Texas. The Fighting Irish now have a chance to compete for college football’s ultimate prize, building on the momentum of their thrilling Orange Bowl win.
As Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and head coach Marcus Freeman celebrated their hard-fought victory, the significance of the moment was evident. This victory not only advanced their season but also solidified their standing as one of the nation’s premier college football programs. Fans can only wait in anticipation to see if Notre Dame can carry this momentum into the championship game and claim the title.
