Notre Dame clinched its spot in the College Football Playoff final Thursday, beating Penn State 27-24 in a down-to-the-wire thriller.
Fighting Irish kicker Mitch Jeter hit a 41-yard field goal with eight seconds left for the winning score. The kick was set up after an interception of Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar on the previous possession gave Notre Dame the ball in Penn State territory.
The semifinal, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, started quite slow. The teams were scoreless after the first quarter and combined for only 13 points in the first half before they combined to score 31 in the fourth quarter alone.
After three punts to start the game, the Nittany Lions intercepted Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard in the first quarter to set up the game’s first score. Penn State picked up 55 yards on 14 plays after the pick, getting as close as the 1-yard line before ultimately settling for a short field goal.
After another punt, the Nittany Lions put together a bruising, 15-play drive of 90 yards for a touchdown, giving them a 10-0 lead in the second quarter. Though Leonard had to leave to get checked for a possible concussion, Notre Dame would answer the touchdown with a field goal, thanks to a drive largely led by backup QB Steve Angelli.
Leonard came out to start the second half and tied the game by spearheading an eight-play, 75-yard drive that ended with him running for a short score.
Three drives later, the Fighting Irish would move 71 yards for another score early in the fourth, which that began the game’s frantic finish. Trailing 17-10, Penn State put together a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game, then intercepted Riley and scored once more to take a 24-17 lead.
But Notre Dame answered quickly, tying the game less than four minutes later courtesy of a 54-yard touchdown catch by Jaden Greathouse.
After the teams traded punts, the Nittany Lions had the ball with two timeouts and 47 seconds to go to mount a game-winning drive, but Allar was intercepted on the second play of the possession. That led to Jeter’s go-ahead kick 26 seconds later.
The Fighting Irish will play in the national championship game Jan. 20 against the winner of Ohio State and Texas on Friday.
Final: Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24
What a game!
Notre Dame is headed to the College Football Playoff final after a thrilling win over Penn State. The Fighting Irish came back from a 24-17 deficit in the fourth quarter to clinch a championship berth.
The Nittany Lions’ season ends after a brutal late-game interception by Drew Allar set up the game-winning kick.
Notre Dame now awaits the winner of Ohio State and Texas.
Notre Dame hits go-ahead field goal
The Fighting Irish capitalize on the Drew Allar interception, hitting a go-ahead field goal with nine seconds remaining to take a 27-24 lead.
The winding kick by Mitch Jeter just snuck in the right upright from 41 yards out.
Interception, Notre Dame!
Oh no!
Drew Allar just made his worst play of the night, throwing the ball back over the middle on a 1st-and-10 and right into the hands of Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray.
Very poor decision by Allar, who was scrambling left as he threw back to his right.
The Fighting Irish will have the ball on the Nittany Lions 42 with all three of their timeouts and 33 seconds to go.
Penn State forces a punt
The Nittany Lions will have another chance to win this game in regulation after Riley Leonard was sacked on 3rd-and-5 from the Penn State 44.
Notre Dame picked up 28 yards in six plays on the drive, but couldn’t get into field goal range.
The Nittany Lions will take over on their own 15 with two timeouts and 47 seconds remaining.
Penn State goes three-and-out
Great stop by the Notre Dame defense, which stuffed Penn State on 3rd-and-3 to force a punt after three plays. The Fighting Irish will take over from their own 24 with 2:34 to go and the game tied at 24.
Touchdown, Notre Dame!
This game is turning into a certified classic as a wild fourth quarter continues.
Notre Dame has tied the game after a 54-yard pass from Riley Leonard to Jaden Greathouse, who left multiple defensive backs on the ground en route to the end zone. Penn State safety Jaylen Reed is especially going to have a hard time watching the replay as he got completely crossed over by Greathouse after the catch.
It’s now a 24-24 game with 4:38 to go.
Touchdown, Penn State!
Two plays after the interception that wasn’t, Penn State has taken the lead.
Nick Singleton had another bruising touchdown run, this one from seven yards, for his third score of the night.
After 17 straight Notre Dame points, the Nittany Lions have scored 14 straight to take a 24-17 lead with 7:55 left in the fourth.
Notre Dame has another interception wiped out by penalty
Drew Allar threw deep to Tyler Warren and was picked off...but the play was nullified due to a pass interference penalty. ESPN Rules Analyst Matt Austin agreed with the call, which seemed pretty obvious.
That’s the second Notre Dame interception taken away by penalty.
Interception, Penn State!
What a play!
Dani Dennis-Sutton dropped into coverage from the defensive line and picked off Riley Leonard, the Notre Dame quarterback’s second interception of the night.
The Nittany Lions now have the ball inside Notre Dame territory in a 17-17 game.
Touchdown, Penn State!
We are seeing some TOUGH runs tonight.
This time it’s Nicholas Singleton bullying his way into the end zone from seven yards out for the game-tying touchdown. Penn State went 75 yards in seven plays to knot things back up in Miami.
It’s 17-17 with 10:20 to go.