Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame’s head coach, demonstrated his team’s ability to “find a way” to overcome obstacles and secure a spot in the national title game by sending Mitch Jeter onto the field with just seven seconds remaining. Jeter faced a daunting task: to become the first kicker to make a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter of a College Football Playoff game.
The odds were stacked against him, as kickers had failed in all four previous attempts in such a high-pressure situation. All eyes were on Jeter, the senior place kicker, who stood at a crossroads of glory and blame.
Freeman likely understood the weight of the moment. Approaching his 39th birthday, he is one of only 16 Black coaches in college football and the second-ever Black head coach at Notre Dame. While Jeter sought to etch his name in history, Freeman aimed to be the first Black head coach to lead his team to the national championship game.
With poise, Jeter focused on the goalposts at Hard Rock Stadium, executing a perfect 41-yard kick that propelled the Fighting Irish to a 27-24 victory over Penn State in the Orange Bowl, marking a significant milestone.
Freeman’s journey now leads him toward becoming the first Black head coach to win a national championship, a challenge he will face in just 11 days. This achievement did not come without a fierce battle against James Franklin’s Penn State squad.
From the very first kickoff, Penn State’s defense asserted its dominance. Despite an injured Abdul Carter on the field, the Nittany Lions relentlessly pressured a Notre Dame offense that had yet to prove itself capable of winning a CFP game through quarterback Riley Leonard.
In a previous game against SEC champion Georgia, Leonard had thrown for only 90 yards, prompting Penn State’s defensive coordinator, Tom Allen, to create a game plan focused on forcing the Notre Dame QB to make challenging downfield passes.
As the game progressed, Penn State’s defense dictated Leonard’s rhythm. Struggling with his footwork and mechanics, he threw two interceptions, including one resulting from a mechanical error.
The loss of starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp to an ankle sprain in the first half further complicated matters for Notre Dame. Knapp had been a key protector for Leonard.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Leonard took a hard hit and was forced to leave the game for a concussion evaluation. He completed only 6 of 11 passes for 63 yards and rushed for 7 yards on five carries before backup QB Steve Angeli entered the fray.
Angeli struggled initially, fumbling and taking two sacks, but he managed to complete 6 of 7 passes for 44 yards, leading Notre Dame’s only scoring drive of the first half, while the team’s rushing attack was stifled, gaining just 15 yards on 13 carries against a fierce Nittany Lions defense.
On the opposite sideline, Penn State’s rushing duo, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, matched their defense’s intensity. Their ground game amassed 141 yards in the first half, capped by Singleton’s 5-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left before halftime, accounting for the only touchdown in that period.
At halftime, Freeman acknowledged the struggle, saying, “They’re rushing better than we’re tackling.” Meanwhile, Franklin remained optimistic, knowing the score was only 10-3 and that Notre Dame would receive the ball to start the second half.
“We’re gonna have to finish,” Franklin stated, emphasizing the need for a complete performance.
As the second half commenced, Leonard returned to the field, cleared of concussion symptoms. He quickly led a scoring drive, connecting with freshman tailback Aneyas Williams for a 36-yard pass, followed by a 15-yard rush, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown run that tied the game at 10-10.
The Fighting Irish defense stepped up, limiting Penn State to just 25 yards in total offense during the third quarter. Notre Dame mounted a 10-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run from Jeremiyah Love, marking the first lead of the game for the Irish and a remarkable 17 unanswered points.
However, Penn State was not finished. With 10:20 left in the game, Singleton scored again, this time on a 7-yard run, following a crucial 27-yard pass from QB Drew Allar to Tyler Warren.
After Leonard was intercepted by Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State responded with a swift five-play, 39-yard drive, capped by Singleton’s second touchdown, extending their lead to 27-17 with under eight minutes remaining.
Leonard and the Fighting Irish quickly regrouped, as Leonard completed all four passes on their next drive, including a pivotal 54-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse, tying the game at 24-24. Greathouse’s performance was outstanding, with a career-high seven catches for 105 yards.
After both teams exchanged punts, Allar had a chance to win the game but was intercepted by Christian Gray with just 33 seconds left. This turnover handed Notre Dame the opportunity they had been fighting for.
Freeman reflected on the moment, stating, “We found a way to make a play when it mattered the most. In my opinion, great teams, great programs, find a way to do that.”
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