Notre Dame Edges Penn State in Orange Bowl

Penn State's bid for a national championship was thwarted by Notre Dame in a dramatic 27-24 loss in the Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions had a chance for a game-winning drive, but quarterback Drew Allar's ill-advised pass was intercepted by Notre Dame's Christian Gray with 33 seconds left, setting up a game-winning 41-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter. Allar's performance came under scrutiny as he completed 12 of 23 passes for 135 yards without any completions to wide receivers, a historic low for the team. Despite the loss, Penn State had an impressive season with a 13-3 record, including wins over SMU and Boise State in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Notre Dame, on the other hand, will compete for its first national title since 1988, showcasing strong performances by quarterback Riley Leonard and coach Marcus Freeman. The game featured multiple lead changes and was noted for its high-stakes and thrilling last quarter.