Notre Dame is headed to the College Football Playoff national championship after beating Penn State 27-24 in the Orange Bowl on Thursday.
That outcome felt out of reach for much of the first half, since Notre Dame’s offense had a rough start to the game.
Fighting Irish quarterback Riley Leonard threw an interception on Notre Dame’s second possession, which resulted in Penn State kicking a field goal — the first points of the game.
Penn State then built a 10-0 lead before Notre Dame kicked a field goal to end the second quarter, and Leonard went out of the game due to fear of a concussion three plays into the final drive of the first half.
But Leonard was able to return in the second half, and Notre Dame’s offense got hot, scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of third quarter and two more later in the game in addition to snagging another interception.
“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does. That’s what this team does,” head coach Marcus Freeman said of Leonard after the game.
With just 33 seconds left in the game and the score tied 24-24, Notre Dame’s Christian Gray came up with a game-changing interception.
Riley Leonard’s faith-filled post-game interview
What changed for Notre Dame in the second half? Was it the inspiring halftime speech from Freeman, who told his team that “history is written by conquerors and we’re holding the pen”?
Not according to Leonard. After the game, ESPN asked the quarterback “what changed offensively” in the second half, and he put a spotlight on his faith.
“Shoot, I just started trusting in the Lord. I looked up and said, ‘Jesus, whatever your will is for my life, I trust it 100%.’ This offense and this team trusts in Jesus and his plan for this season,” Leonard said.
It’s not the first time Leonard has shared his faith in the playoffs. Before answering the first question posed by ESPN’s Laura Rutledge following Notre Dame’s quarterfinal win over No. 2 Georgia, Leonard expressed his gratitude for God.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Without him, I wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be here as a whole group,” Leonard said in the interview.
Leonard and Notre Dame, which is a Catholic school, will face the winner of Friday’s Cotton Bowl semifinal between Texas and Ohio State in the national championship on Jan. 20.