Notre Dame Beats Penn State to Reach CFP Final as Fans Call Out Drew Allar, Franklin

Andrew PetersJanuary 10, 2025

Bleacher Report

Late mistakes from Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and questionable decisions from head coach James Franklin led to Notre Dame winning the Orange Bowl 27-24 on a last-second field goal on Thursday to advance to the national championship.

Allar had just 140 passing yards and one consequential interception in the loss.

A defensive battle for most of the game, Notre Dame and Penn State went into the fourth quarter tied at 10 apiece. The Fighting Irish got an edge early in the final quarter when Jeremiyah Love muscled in a touchdown on the goal line to cap off a 72-yard drive.

But Penn State answered right back, marching 75 yards down the field and scoring on a seven-yard run from Nicholas Singleton.

The momentum stayed on the Nittany Lions’ side as Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard threw an interception in Fighting Irish territory on the following drive. Penn State then appeared to have thrown an interception of its own, but a pass interference call gave the Nittany Lions another chance to score. They capitalized as Singleton found the endzone again to make it 24-17.

Penn State’s lead only lasted momentarily as Notre Dame answered with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to Jaden Greathouse to even things up.

SportsCenter @SportsCenterPut the defenders in the dirt on the way to the TD 😱

WHAT A GAME‼️ pic.twitter.com/AQzQggGLxS

After both teams had empty drives, Penn State had the ball with less than a minute to play and a chance to win. The Nittany Lions squandered that chance, though, as Allar threw an interception and gave the Fighting Irish one last chance to win it in regulation.

ESPN @espnNotre Dame picks off Drew Allar late in the fourth 😳 pic.twitter.com/F0SZvM5fFa

Notre Dame made the most of that chance as Mitch Jeter hit a 41-yard field goal with just seconds left. Penn State’s miracle game-winner attempt failed as time expired.

After the loss for Penn State, fans blasted Allar and Franklin for coming up short in crunch time.

Justin Spiro @DarkoStateNewsJames Franklin wasn’t going to be out-choked.

Myron Medcalf @MedcalfByESPNJames Franklin just couldn’t help himself.

Underdog @UnderdogFantasyJames Franklin in every big game pic.twitter.com/ATy2YwTAjw

lee @senor_crappyDread it, run from it. James Franklin in a big game arrives all the same.

Jake Trotter @Jake_TrotterJames Franklin now 1-15 vs. AP top 5 opponents as the head coach at Penn State

LG @LGhailJames Franklin just James Franklin’d that game harder than he has ever James Franklin’d before.

Jon “Stugotz” Weiner @stugotz790If you bet on James Franklin in a big game. You have nobody to blame but yourself.

Jonathan @TheLynxitalJames Franklin in the biggest games of his career pic.twitter.com/8plG782u3x

Raheem Palmer @iamrahstradamusThe commentator really just said they trust Drew Allar to not make a mistake and then he proceeds to immediately throw a pick.

Terence Holton @TerenceHoltonDrew Allar currently silencing all those GMs who said he’d be QB1 in this draft

Ian Hartitz @IhartitzStill think Drew Allar could be a good NFL fit in a screen-only offense

Grayson Mann @gray_mann21I’ve thought this since he’s taken over at Penn State…what’s the hype behind Drew Allar?

He’s got a strong arm but man is he inconsistent.

Maybe I’m wrong but I haven’t seen the “NFL traits” tonight.

TK @TeeKayTwelveDrew Allar first overall pick run pic.twitter.com/UVFKR8jLkw

Jon Ledyard @LedyardNFLDraftAllar just awful for 4 quarters

Matt Miller @nfldraftscoutOof that’s just bad by Allar.

Footballism @FootbaIIismDrew Allar with the game on the line pic.twitter.com/WiiC292PgK

Franklin and Penn State now have a long offseason ahead of them trying to figure out what they need to do to finally contend for a championship. Notre Dame, on the other hand, will celebrate the win and prepare for a national championship game against either Ohio State or Texas.