HIGHLIGHTS: Penn State football comes up short of national title, falls to Notre Dame

Penn State football has come to an end, falling to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl, 27-24. The Nittany Lions finish the season 13-3, ultimately coming just short of a shot at the National Championship.

Methodical first half put Penn State football in striking distance of a title

As it has all season, the Penn State defense made its presence known. After a pair of three-and-outs, the Nittany Lion pass rush forced Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard into a hurried throw, which was ultimately picked off by safety Zakee Wheatley.

ZAKEE WHEATLEY INTERCEPTION!!! ABDUL CARTER APPLYING PRESSURE pic.twitter.com/VyDkntFfqF

— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) January 10, 2025

Pounding the rock before mixing in receptions to Tyler Warren and Luke Reynolds, the Penn State offense moved the ball 55 yards down the field on 10 plays. But the stout Irish defense stood up inside the 10-yard line, forcing a Ryan Barker field goal for the game’s first points.

Penn State 3 – Notre Dame 0

After forcing another Irish three-and-out, the Nittany Lions offense turned up the temperature on Notre Dame with a 15-play, 90-yard touchdown drive that ate up 7:17 of game clock. A commanding drive with 86 yards coming on the ground, the possession was capped with a five-yard rush from Nicholas Singleton.

Holding the ball for over half of the second quarter at the time, Penn State football went into the two-minute warning up 10-0.

© Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Penn State 10 – Notre Dame 0

The night didn’t get any easier for Notre Dame. Three plays into the next possession, the Irish lost Leonard following a hurry from Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas.

However, backup quarterback Steve Angeli didn’t fling off the bench. The junior quarterback came into the game going 6-7 for 44 yards, leading the Irish to a 41-yard field goal as time in the second quarter expired. After a methodical two quarters, James Franklin and Penn State football went into the locker room up seven and thirty minutes away from a National Championship

© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

After exiting the game, Leonard went into the Notre Dame injury tent and was given a concussion test on the sideline. However, the senior quarterback was seen jogging into the locker room with his helmet on his head.

Penn State 10 – Notre Dame 3

Lions fall short in second-half scoring blitz

Following a reprieve in the locker room, Leonard returned to the lineup for the Fighting Irish. Unleashing a perfect 36-yard bomb in his first throw back from injury, Leonard capped off an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a three yard rush to knot the game up at 10.

Penn State 10 – Notre Dame 10

Controlling the first half, Al Golden and Notre Dame defense completely flipped the script on the Nittany Lions to start the second half. Rushing the ball for 5.4 yards per carry in the first half, the Penn State offense was stifled to a meager 0.6 yards per run on its first two possessions of the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions defense looked like a shell of its first half self. Now, it was the Notre Dame offense controlling the ball and the clock, marching 72 yards down the field in nearly five and a half minutes. After being contained during the first half, star Irish running back finally make his mark with a two-yard touchdown run.

For the first time all night, Penn State football found itself behind on the scoreboard.

Notre Dame 17 – Penn State 10

In a complete reversal, it was now Penn State facing its own injury scare when Tyler Warren exited the game following after opening the series with a 27-yard reception. However, the star tight end quickly returned to the field after a brief examination.

Meanwhile, the Nittany Lions offense marched down the field, going 75 yards in seven plays. Penn State found the response it desperately needed when Nicholas Singleton forced his way into the end zone for the second time to tie the game at 17.

Penn State 17 – Notre Dame 17

And just as it has for the last four months, the Penn State defense found a way to make a play in the most critical moments. The Nittany Lions flipped the moment on the second play of the series, when Dani Dennis-Sutton leaped into the air to pick off Riley Leonard.

DANI DENNIS-SUTTON INTERCEPTION pic.twitter.com/HhN2Ayp0j1

— LandonTengwall (@landon_tengwall) January 10, 2025

Bailed out by a pass interference call on a Drew Allar interception, Andy Kotelnicki went back to his reliable star running back. Rushing for his third touchdown of the night, the Nittany Lions reclaimed the lead with 7:55 to play.

© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Penn State 24 – Notre Dame 17

But Notre Dame refused to go down without a fight. After opening the drive with two first downs, Leonard found Jaden Greathouse for a 54-yard touchdown. The score was sprung after cornerback Cam Miller slipped and left the Irish receiver wide open for the score.

Penn State 24 – Notre Dame 24

Setback by a false start on first down, the Nittany Lions offense couldn’t take advantage of its opportunity, quickly going three and out.

Beginning its drive with 2:34 remaining, Notre Dame began its march down the field, getting to the Penn State 44-yard line. But the Nittany Lions stood strong when it needed to, with Coziah Izzard sacking Leonard to force a punt.

After starting with a 13-yard run by Singleton, Drew Allar threw an ill-advised pass to Omari Evans, instead finding Irish defender Christian Gray.

Allar’s first turnover of the night gave Notre Dame the ball at at the Penn State 42 with 37 seconds to play. Moving the ball up to the 35, Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter nailed a 41-yard field goal to send the Fighting Irish to the National Championship.

Notre Dame 27 – Penn State 24

Final Stats

Penn State:

• Total yards – 343
• Rushing yards – 204
• Passing yards – 139
• Average yards per play – 5.3

Individual leaders:

• Passing – Drew Allar: 12-23, 139 yards, 1 interception
• Rushing – Nicholas Singleton: 15 caries, 84 yards, 3 touchdowns
• Receiving – Tyler Warren: 6 receptions, 75 yards, 
• Tackles – Zakee Wheatley: 16 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception

Notre Dame:

• Total yards – 383
• Rushing yards – 116
• Passing yards – 267
• Average yards per play – 5.2

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