MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It was a back and forth affair throughout the second half but ultimately Penn State fell just short against Notre Dame falling 27-24 in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium Thursday night.
PSU took a 10-0 lead in the third quarter before allowing a Notre Dame field goal to enter the half up 10-3. From there, Notre Dame tied it up at 10 before taking a 17-10 lead after touchdowns by Riley Leonard and Jeremiyah Love.
Penn State notched the next two touchdowns both seven yard runs from Nicholas Singleton, but that would be the last Penn State would find score.
Notre Dame would tie it at 24 before a 41-yard field goal from Mitch Jeter with seven seconds left gave Notre Dame the win.
it is good pic.twitter.com/CXb1CUOXOB
— CJ Fogler ๐ซก (@cjzero) January 10, 2025
More from the Orange Bowl …
RECEIVERS, WHERE ART THOU?
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now
Penn State’s receivers were non-existent in the pass game against Notre Dame and at many times throughout the season. In fact, no receiver had a reception in the Orange Bowl.
The receivers racked up more tackles with two.
It was the elephant in the room this seasonโ and last, for that matterโ and the lack of a passing game was the biggest problem against Notre Dame. Drew Allar was unable to find open receivers and threw a disastrous interception to give Notre Dame the opportunity to win.
Notre Dame picks off Drew Allar late in the fourth ๐ณ pic.twitter.com/F0SZvM5fFa
— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025
There aren’t many things Penn State needs but the first place PSU needs to look is at wide receiver.
SINGLETON SOLID
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Nicholas Singleton
Penn State rushed for 141 yards against Notre Dame in the first half but mustered only 63 throughout the remainder of the game despite two rushing touchdowns from Nicholas Singleton.
Singleton and Kaytron Allen were both stellar in the first half. They would finish with 84 and 82 yards respectively but it ultimately wasn’t enough to carry the load against Notre Dame.
What happens next with the duo remains to be seen. Decisions will soon be made regarding their future in the blue and white.
BAD TIMING
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: James Franklin
Penn State had Notre Dame where it wanted them multiple times in the second half, but Cam Miller’s slip and fall led to the game-tying 54-yard touchdown.
NOTRE DAME TIES THE GAME ON A WIDE OPEN 54-YARD TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/ZniAX4AYVT
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) January 10, 2025
Allar would throw an interception on the ensuing drive that set the Fighting Irish up for the game-winning field goal.
The mistakes came and incredibly inopportune times but were a microcosm of the season as a whole for PSU. The mistakes Penn State did make were crippling when the could ill afford to have them.
There are many plays the Nittany Lions will want back, but ultimately, they just didn’t do enough to limit the bad mistakes from ending their season.
