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

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.

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.

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.

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.