INDIANAPOLIS – Mitch Jeter kicked a 41-yard field goal in the final seconds and Notre Dame beats Penn State 27-24 in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Orange Bowl to advance to the National Championship Game.
The game-winning score was set up by cornerback Christian Gray’s interception of Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at the Nittany Lions’ 42-yardline with 33 seconds to play.
Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley made the first big play of the game intercepting Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard at the Nittany Lions’ 42-yardline. Penn State turned the takeaway into a Ryan Barker 20-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
After a Fighting Irish punt, the Nittany Lions put together a 15-play, 90-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown run by running back Nicholas Singleton for a 10-0 advantage.
Desperate for points before the half, Leonard took a big hit from Penn State defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas on an incomplete pass. The senior had to leave to be evaluated in the medical tent for a possible head injury.
Junior back-up Steve Angeli replaced Riley. He completed six out of seven passes and drove the Irish down to the Lions’ 15-yard line. Penn State star defensive end Abdul Carter sacked Angeli late in the half, forcing Notre Dame to settle for a 41-yard Jeter field goal before halftime.
Riley returned at the start of the second half, connecting on a big play to running back Aneyas Williams for 36 yards, then scoring on a three-yard run to tie the game at 10.
The Fighting Irish took their first lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter as running back Jeremiyah Love finished a 10-play, 71-yard drive with a strong two-yard touchdown run.
The Nittany Lions answered right back with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Singleton scored his second TD of the game on a seven-yard run to tie the game at 17.
Penn State kept the momentum as defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepted Leonard. The Lions then regained the lead, 24-17 as Singleton scored from seven-yards out again for his third touchdown of the game.
Leonard shook off the miscue on the previous possession as he hit Jaden Greathouse for a 54-yard touchdown to tie the game for the third time.
Notre Dame will play the winner of the Texas-Ohio State in the CFP National Championship on January 20 in Atlanta.
