Notre Dame edged out Penn State 27-24 in a thrilling College Football Playoff semifinal. The Fighting Irish are now 60 minutes away from their first national title since 1988.

A Tale of Two Halves

In the first half, both teams showcased dominant defenses. Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley made a key interception, setting up a field goal for a 3-0 lead. Later, Nicholas Singleton powered through defenders to score, extending Penn State’s lead to 10-0.

Notre Dame’s offense struggled early. Riley Leonard left briefly due to a hard hit, but backup quarterback Steve Angeli steadied the ship. A field goal before halftime narrowed the deficit to 10-3.

Second Half Sparks Irish Revival

Leonard’s return energized Notre Dame. He tied the game 10-10 with a quarterback keeper for a touchdown. Shortly after, Jeremiyah Love’s incredible touchdown run gave Notre Dame a 17-10 lead.

Penn State responded with a passing drive capped by Singleton’s touchdown, tying the game at 17-17. A pivotal interception by Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton shifted momentum, leading to another Singleton score. Penn State led 24-17.

Notre Dame’s Late Heroics

Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for a game-tying touchdown after a defender slipped. In the final minutes, Notre Dame’s Christian Gray intercepted Drew Allar, giving the Irish a chance to win.

Mitch Jeter kicked a 41-yard field goal with seven seconds left, securing Notre Dame’s victory.

Historic Achievement for Coach Freeman

Head Coach Marcus Freeman becomes the first Black coach to lead a team to the national championship. He praised his players for their perseverance and teamwork.

Notre Dame will face the winner of Texas vs. Ohio State on January 20 for the title.

SOURCE: CNN