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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish clinched a berth in the College Football Playoff Final with a 27-24 win against Penn State in the Capital One Orange Bowl Semifinal at Hard Rock Stadium Thursday (January 9) night.
Mitch Jeter connected on a game-winning 42-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining, becoming the first kicker to make a field goal in the fourth quarter of a College Football Playoff game since its inception in 2014. Cornerback Christian Gray intercepted Penn State quarterback Drew Allar to setup the game-winning drive on the opposing 42-yard-line.
Notre Dame rallied back from a 10-3 deficit at halftime with quarterback Riley Leonard returning from injury to lead a drive on the first possession of the third quarter, which was capped off by his own 3-yard touchdown run. Leonard, who was taken out of the game late in the second quarter and evaluated with a concussion, also connected with wide receiver wide receiver Jaden Greathouse on a 54-yard touchdown to tie the game at 24 with 4:38 remaining.
Leonard finished with 223 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions on 15 of 22 passing, while also recording 35 yards and a touchdown on 18 rushing attempts. Notre Dame hasn't appeared in a national championship game since its blowout loss to Alabama in the BCS Championship Game in 2013 and last claimed a national title in 1988.