2025 Orange Bowl
Facing SMU in a first-round game, Penn State took a 28–0 lead into halftime en route to a 38–10 victory.
On their second play from scrimmage during the first possession, Penn State's running back Nicholas Singleton gained 23 yards on a screen pass from Drew Allar, moving the ball into Notre Dame territory.
However, after a 1-yard run, an incomplete pass, and a false start penalty pushed the Nittany Lions back, the drive stalled, and they were forced to punt from the Notre Dame 44 yard-line.
[10] Notre Dame's offense started deep in its own territory at its 11 yard-line, and executed a number of short runs and passes to move the chains once.
[10] On the first play of the second quarter, a pass from Allar fell incomplete to Nicholas Singleton, and the Nittany Lions settled for a 20-yard field goal attempt by Ryan Barker.
Drew Allar converted a fourth down with a pass to Tyler Warren inside the red zone, keeping the drive alive.
Three plays later, facing a 3rd and 3 from the Notre Dame 5 yard-line, Singleton punched in a 7-yard touchdown run and Ryan Barker converted the extra point to extend the lead to 10–0.
The Fighting Irish began the drive with short passes from Leonard to Aneyas Williams and Evans to move the chains.
[10] During the drive, Leonard was removed after taking a hit from Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas, and backup Steve Angeli entered the game.
Notre Dame's Mitch Jeter then drilled a 41-yard field goal, cutting Penn State's lead to 10–3 at halftime.
[12] After incurring a delay of game penalty prior to their first play from scrimmage, running back Jeremiyah Love provided a spark, gaining 24 yards on four consecutive carries.
After gaining one yard on 1st and goal, Leonard capped the drive off with a 3-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 10 after Jeter's successful extra point with 10:46 remaining in the quarter.
And after Allar completed a 1st down pass from his own 15 yard-line to Tyler Warren, for a gain 22 yards, a Rod Heard II sack of Allar on the ensuing set of downs forced Penn State to punt the ball away again, this time to Notre Dame's 28 yard-line after an 8-yard return by Max Hurleman with 4:26 remaining in the quarter.
[10] The Fighting Irish began the fourth quarter with a 16-yard run by Jayden Thomas, entering the red zone with a 1st and 10 from Penn State's 16 yard-line.
On the following play, Penn State's Kobe King was penalized for pass interference on an attempt from Leonard to Eli Raridon, moving the ball to the 2 and giving the Irish a 1st and goal.
Taking advantage of the turnover, Singleton would score a touchdown for Penn State on the fifth play of the ensuing offensive possession.
[10] Penn State went three-and-out following the kickoff (another touchback); Nicholas Singleton committed a false start on 1st down, and the Nittany lions had faced a 4th and 3 from their own 32.
[10] After this, Notre Dame threw an incomplete pass, and then ran the ball twice for a net gain of two yards; Penn State used a timeout after each run.
[10][13] On 4th and 8 at the Penn State 23, Jeter connected on a 41-yard field goal, giving the Fighting Irish a 27–24 lead with 7 seconds remaining in the game.
As a result of their win, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish qualified for the 2025 College Football Playoff National Championship.
