The Blue Blood Bowl: A Historic Showdown
The 91st edition of the storied Orange Bowl began as the second-coldest on record, with a kickoff temperature of 56 degrees. While the chill seemed to stifle both offenses early, it set the stage for a historic College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinal matchup between two African American head coaches: James Franklin of Penn State and Marcus Freeman of Notre Dame.
A Slow Start in the First Half:
The first quarter ended scoreless as both teams struggled to find their rhythm. Early in the second quarter, Penn State capitalized on a stalled drive at Notre Dame’s 3-yard line with a 20-yard field goal, taking an early 3-0 lead. Later in the quarter, the Nittany Lions orchestrated a long touchdown drive, extending their advantage to 10-0.
Notre Dame’s offense appeared out of sync, hampered by Penn State’s aggressive defense led by standout linebacker Abdul Carter. However, a glimmer of hope emerged when backup quarterback Steve Angeli stepped in after an injury to starter Riley Leonard, guiding the Fighting Irish on a promising drive. They capped the half with a 42-yard field goal as time expired.
Halftime Score: Penn State 10 Notre Dame 3.
Momentum Swings in the Second Half:
Notre Dame came out firing in the third quarter, driving 75 yards on eight plays. Quarterback Riley Leonard returned and finished the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 10-10 with 10:46 remaining in the quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame seized the momentum. Running back Jeremiah Love powered through multiple defenders on a determined 2-yard touchdown run, giving the Irish their first lead of the game at 17-10. Penn State quickly responded with a 75-yard drive of their own, punctuated by a 7-yard touchdown run by running back Nick Singleton to tie the game at 17-17.
The game’s intensity escalated when Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepted a pass, setting up the Nittany Lions deep in Notre Dame territory. Penn State capitalized on the turnover with another 7-yard touchdown run by Singleton, reclaiming the lead at 24-17 midway through the fourth quarter.
A Dramatic Finish:
Notre Dame struck back with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to wide receiver Jaden Greathouse, leveling the score at 24-24 with under five minutes remaining. In the final minute of regulation, Penn State threw a costly interception deep in their own territory. With just eight seconds left, Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter delivered the game-winning 41-yard field goal, securing a dramatic 27-24 victory.
Final Score: Notre Dame 27 Penn State 24.
History in the Making:
Marcus Freeman made history as the first African American head coach to lead a team to the FBS National Championship game in the 155-year history of college football. Notre Dame will now face the winner of the Texas vs. Ohio State Cotton Bowl matchup in the championship game.
This marks a significant milestone for the Fighting Irish, who last claimed a national title in 1988. It was also just their second single-digit victory in a 14-win season, underscoring the resilience of Freeman’s squad. Regardless of the outcome, Notre Dame is poised to make history on January 20th in Atlanta.
