On Thursday night, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State Nittany Lions met in the Orange Bowl. Both teams were one win away from qualifying for the National Championship. Penn State led 10-3 at halftime. But the momentum was on Notre Dame’s side.
They kicked a field goal late in the second quarter to get on the board before halftime. Notre Dame made the right adjustments in the second half and dominated Penn State. The game was tied 24-24 with less than 40 seconds left and Penn State had the ball. If there had been a field goal, the team would have won the game. Junior QB Drew Allar held on to the ball too long and attempted a difficult throw. The pass was intercepted by Notre Dame, which set up the game-winning field goal. Marcus Freeman and the Irish walked away with a 27-24 win. Notre Dame is playing in its first national championship since 2013.
Can Ireland win their first national championship since 1988?
Notre Dame is headed to the National Championship ☘️🏆 pic.twitter.com/5KKypQ0yTO
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 10, 2025
It’s been 36 years since Notre Dame topped the college football mountain. Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish last won in 1988. Notre Dame last appeared in the national championship in 2013. They lost 42-14 to Alabama in their final year of the BCS National Championship. Since the College Football Playoff era began in 2014, Notre Dame has appeared in the postseason three times. This includes entering the full game in 2024.
The Fighting Irish last appeared in the playoffs in 2021. Notre Dame lost 31-14 to Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Thursday night’s matchup with Penn State was an instant classic and the game could have gone either way. Riley Leonard threw two interceptions against the Nittany Lions, but his team still found a way to win. Notre Dame’s defensive unit was crucial in some of the game’s most important moments. Cornerback Christian Gray intercepted Drew Allar, which set up the Irish’s game-winning field goal. On Monday, January 20, Notre Dame will play in the national championship. They will face the winner of Ohio State vs. Texas in the Cotton Bowl on Friday.
