MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Drew Allar, the quarterback for Penn State, revealed that he intended to throw the football into the ground. However, Notre Dame’s defensive back, Christian Gray, made a spectacular dive for the pass which landed fortuitously in his possession. This pivotal moment set the stage for Notre Dame’s thrilling 27-24 triumph in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night, securing their place in the national title game.
Gray’s interception occurred at the Penn State 42-yard line with just 33 seconds left, positioning the Irish for a 19-yard drive that culminated with Mitch Jeter’s decisive 41-yard field goal. With a record of 14-1, Notre Dame, seeded seventh in this inaugural 12-team college playoff format, will have an opportunity to win their 12th title, and first since 1988, in Atlanta on January 20. They will face the winner of the Cotton Bowl semifinal between Texas and Ohio State.
Reflecting on his interception, Gray stated, “Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” emphasizing his determination to make a significant play.
Allar admitted that he saw his initial receiving options covered and aimed to simply throw the ball away, but his attempt was neither firm enough to reach the ground nor effective enough to find an open teammate. “Honestly, I was trying to ‘dirt’ it at his feet,” he confessed. “I should’ve thrown it away when I saw the first two progressions were not open. I didn’t execute.”
The match itself was an exhilarating contest, arguably the highlight of what had been a lackluster few weeks of playoff football. It was marked by three ties and three lead changes, with an impressive 31 points scored in the final quarter alone.
As Notre Dame advances to the championship game, head coach Marcus Freeman, who has made history as both the first Black coach to reach this level in college football and the first coach of Asian descent to do so, aims to lead his team to victory. Freeman remarked, “We found a way to make a play when it mattered the most. In my opinion, great teams, great programs, find a way to do that.”
On the other side, Penn State’s coach James Franklin faced disappointment, noting that his record against teams in the AP Top 10 had now dropped to 4-20. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions finished their season with a 13-3 record. “Everyone wants to look at a specific play,” Franklin mentioned. “But there are probably eight to 12 plays in that game that could have made a difference. I’m not going to call out specific plays or specific players. There are a ton of plays where we could have done better.”
Earlier in the game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard had to shake off a hit late in the second quarter that momentarily took him out for concussion evaluation. Upon his return, he guided the Irish through four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one that led to victory. “He’s a competitor, and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does,” Freeman praised. Leonard finished the game with 223 passing yards and also contributed a rushing touchdown.
The game started off slowly, but Leonard’s injury seemed to invigorate the contest. He led an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive and later another 72-yarder to give the Irish a lead.
Penn State had opportunities to extend the game when they took possession at their own 15 with only 47 seconds remaining. After advancing the ball, Allar faced pressure and made a fateful throw across the field, resulting in Gray’s interception which ultimately sealed their fate.
Reflecting on the journey this season, linebacker Jack Kiser expressed pride, stating, “To see how far we’ve come after the hiccup early on, just to know that we have one more guaranteed, one last one guaranteed, it’s just so exciting.”
In the final analysis, running back Nick Singleton had a strong performance with 84 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Allar, despite being projected as a potential first-round NFL draft pick, will likely replay the pivotal moment of his final throw in his mind throughout the offseason. “We didn’t win the game, so it wasn’t good enough, it’s plain and simple,” he said after the game, reflecting on the loss.
The backup quarterback for Notre Dame, Steve Angeli, stepped in effectively when Leonard was sidelined and contributed significantly to their scoring efforts, completing six of his seven attempts for 44 yards.
The match, played under unusually chilly conditions—the kickoff temperature was recorded at 56 degrees—left both teams eager for the opportunity to play again.
Looking ahead, Notre Dame will be preparing for their matchup against either Ohio State or Texas in the College Football Playoff national championship game on January 20, while Penn State is set to begin their 2025 season at home against Nevada on August 30.
