Notre Dame Wins Orange Bowl Against Penn State

In a thrilling Orange Bowl semifinal, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24, securing their spot in the national championship game. The match was marred by controversy, particularly a late pass interference call that overturned a potential interception for Notre Dame, leading to a crucial touchdown for Penn State. However, Notre Dame rallied to tie the game with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Riley Leonard before clinching victory with a 41-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter in the final seconds. This victory marked a historic moment for head coach Marcus Freeman, making him the first Black coach to lead a team to college football's biggest stage. The game was celebrated on social media, with fans praising both teams' resilience despite the heated atmosphere, including incidents of Notre Dame fans throwing debris in response to the officiating. As Notre Dame prepares for the championship on January 20, they aim for their first national title since 1988.