The 2024 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl was a nail-biting showdown between the No. 7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the No. 6 Penn State Nittany Lions. The game took place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida with Notre Dame emerging victorious and claiming a 27-24 win, securing a spot in the national championship game for Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish.

The Fighting Irish were led by quarterback Riley Leonard, who completed 15 of 23 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Leonard's performance was crucial in keeping Notre Dame in the game, especially during critical moments in the fourth quarter. On the ground, running back Jeremiyah Love carried the ball 18 times for 116 yards, providing a balanced offensive attack.

Penn State's offense was spearheaded by quarterback Drew Allar, who threw for 139 yards, one interception, and one touchdown on 12 of 23 passes. Allar's ability to connect with his targets kept the Nittany Lions in contention throughout the game. Running back Kaytron Allen was a standout performer, rushing for 204 yards on 25 carries, showcasing his explosive speed and agility.

Defensively, Notre Dame's linebacker Abdul Carter was a force to be reckoned with, recording two sacks and a forced fumble. Carter's presence in the backfield disrupted Penn State's offensive rhythm and put pressure on Allar throughout the game. The Fighting Irish defense also managed to limit Penn State's rushing attack, holding them to 3.8 yards per carry.

Penn State's defense, led by defensive end Abdul Carter, put up a strong fight, but they struggled to contain Notre Dame's balanced offense. The Nittany Lions' secondary had difficulty covering Notre Dame's receivers, allowing Leonard to find open targets downfield. Despite their efforts, Penn State's defense couldn't prevent the go-ahead field goal by Notre Dame kicker Mitch Jeter with just eight seconds remaining in the game.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. Notre Dame took an early 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but Penn State responded with a 10-0 run in the second quarter to take control. The Fighting Irish fought back in the third quarter, scoring a touchdown to narrow the gap to 10-7. In the fourth quarter, both teams traded scores, with Notre Dame ultimately pulling ahead, thanks to a field goal to secure the win.

“Everyone wants to look at a specific play,” said Penn State's James Franklin. “But there's probably eight to 12 plays in that game that could have made a difference. I'm not going to call out specific plays or specific players. There are a ton of plays where we could have done better.”

Notre Dame's victory in the Orange Bowl sets up an exciting national championship game against the winner of the Texas-Ohio State matchup. The Fighting Irish will be looking to capture their 12th national championship in program history. As for Penn State and its record against anyone that's not a scrub, the Nittany Lions fall to 4-20 with head coach James Franklin against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.