WATCH: Notre Dame 27, Penn State 24 postgame reaction show

Moments following Notre Dame’s 27-24 win against Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Blue & Gold’s Mike Singer and Tim Hyde went live on YouTube break down everything you need to know about the contest with stats, analysis and what’s next for the Fighting Irish.

It is not a show to miss for Notre Dame fans. Watch a replay of the show in the video player below.

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Irish Outlast Penn State In Instant Classic Orange Bowl Win

Story via ND athletics communications

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Notre Dame is headed back to the national title game. 

On Thursday night, the Irish defeated Penn State in a 27-24 thriller that came down to the final possession. With 12 seconds left in a 24-24 game with a trip to the national championship game on the line, Mitch Jeter drilled a 41-yard field goal to send Notre Dame to Atlanta, giving the Irish the 27-24 victory over Penn State.

Just 21 seconds earlier, Christian Gray came up with the biggest play in his young career, intercepting a Drew Allar pass with 33 seconds left at the Penn State 42-yard line to set up the game-winning score.

The Irish offense racked up 267 yards passing on the evening, its highest output in a game this season. Jaden Greathouse was a big reason, posting a career-high 105 yards on seven catches, with 98 yards coming in the second half to help lead Notre Dame to the victory.

A crucial stat of the game was third down efficiency, as Notre Dame converted 11-of-17 attempts while the Irish defense held the Nittany Lions to just 3-of-11.

Notre Dame will play the winner of Ohio State and Texas in the title game at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The game will air on ESPN.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Gray pick came after a back and forth game with a pair of lead changes and three ties. Notre Dame was in a 10-0 hole to start the game, and the Nittany Lions were moving the ball at will, however, the Irish defense did enough to keep the team in the game and allowed just one touchdown and a field goal over the first 30 minutes of play.

Quarterback Riley Leonard exited the game with 1:35 to go in the second quarter after taking a hit from Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas. Steve Angeli took over behind a dwindling offensive line — Anthonie Knapp left the game with an ankle injury just prior — but completed his first four passes. The drive ended with an Angeli sack, but Notre Dame got on the board with a 41-yard field goal from Jeter. It was 10-3 in favor of the Nittany Lions heading into the halftime break. 

Leonard returned to the game to start the second half and the Irish offense stormed back with a vengeance, as Jeremiyah Love had three consecutive runs, two of which went for 9 yards. Williams caught a 36-yard pass on a wheel route followed by a 15-yard run from Williams to set the Irish up for a Leonard touchdown run to level the game at 10-10. It was Notre Dame’s 43rd rushing touchdown of the year, surpassing the previous record of 42 set in 1989. 

Notre Dame forced a three-and-out on the following drive, seizing all the momentum early in the third quarter. The two sides then traded possessions before the Irish pieced together a 10-play, 72-yard touchdown drive to take their first lead of the game at 17-10 with 14:07 remaining in the game. 

The key play on the drive was a 17-yard pickup on a reception from Greathouse on 3rd-and-9. Love had a highlight touchdown run from two-yards out to put an exclamation point on the possession, his team-high 17th rushing touchdown of the season.

Penn State responded immediately, scoring 14 unanswered points off two rushing touchdowns from Nicholas Singleton with an interception from Dani Dennis-Sutton sandwiched between the two scores to put the Nittany Lions back in front at 24-17 with 7:55 left on the clock.

The Irish answered right back, using a huge 54-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to Greathouse to tie the game at 24-24 with 4:38 remaining.

Notre Dame’s defense rose to the occasion, forcing a three-and-out on the next possession and the Irish offense drove into Penn State territory before having to punt from the opposition’s 48-yard line with just under a minute left, setting up Gray’s heroic interception that led to Jeter’s game-winning field goal.