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Riley Leonard injury update: Marcus Freeman addresses status of Notre Dame QB at halftime of Orange Bowl

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/09/25•

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Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard, RB Jeremiyah Love
Riley Leonard and JStephen Lew | Imagn Images

After Riley Leonard left Thursday’s Orange Bowl against Penn State with an injury, Marcus Freeman addressed his status at halftime. He didn’t have any new information on the Notre Dame quarterback, but said Leonard would be evaluated at the break.

Leonard also walked off the field and went straight into the tent after taking a massive hit out of the two-minute timeout, meaning Steve Angeli came in to replace him. He didn’t return as Angeli led Notre Dame down the field on a drive that ended with a 41-yard field goal from Mitch Jeter to make it a 10-3 Penn State lead.

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Prior to Jeter’s attempt, Freeman said the medical staff told him they were still working through whether Leonard could return. He’d know more after halftime.

“They’re going to check him out right now,” Freeman told ESPN’s Molly McGrath. “They just told me right before the field goal, they don’t have an answer right now, what it’s gonna be.”

Leonard was 6-for-11 for 63 yards and an interception at the time of his departure. He also had five rushing attempts for seven yards as Notre Dame leaned into the quarterback run while Jeremiyah Love works his way back to full strength.

If Riley Leonard can’t return, Freeman said the game plan wouldn’t change even though Steve Angeli is more of a pocket passer. While he noted the run game would shift in Leonard’s absence, the Fighting Irish would still have to find success on the ground to get the offense going.

“The game plan will still be the same,” Freeman said. “We’ll have less quarterback designed runs. We’re confident in Steve if Steve has to go. If Riley can go, we’re confident in Riley.

“We’ve just got to be able to run the ball. We’ve got to run the ball and we’ve got to stop the run. That’s what we’re not doing right now. We’ve got to tackle, man. They’re rushing better than we’re tackling, and we’ve got to get that fixed.”

Penn State’s offense used the run game to get going in the first half, out-gaining Notre Dame 141-15 on the ground. The two-headed monster of Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton led the charge with 63 yards and 52 yards, respectively. Singleton also scored the game’s lone touchdown.