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RK PLAYER POS HOMETOWN HT WT STARS GRADE SCHOOL

1 QB-PP Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 93

2 QB-PP New Orleans, LA
Isidore Newman School 6’3” 204 93

3 QB-PP Detroit, MI
Martin Luther King High School 6’3” 200 93

4 CB Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’2” 165 92

5 OT Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’6” 325 91

6 WR Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 5’10” 172 91

7 OLB Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 230 91

8 QB-DT Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’1” 195 91

9 DT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’3” 275 90

10 OT Runnells, IA
Southeast Polk High School 6’6” 315 90

11 DT Montgomery, AL
Carver High School 6’3” 300 90

12 S Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’0” 190 90

13 WR Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 5’11” 180 90

14 S Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 195 90

15 DT Katy, TX
Patricia E. Paetow High School 6’4” 270 90

16 OT Braintree, MA
Thayer Academy 6’5” 300 90

17 OLB Denton, TX
Billy Ryan High School 6’2” 230 90

18 RB Lehigh Acres, FL
Lehigh Senior High School 5’11” 195 89

19 DE Tampa, FL
Berkeley Prep 6’5” 245 89

20 RB Buford, GA
Buford High School 5’10” 185 88

21 QB-PP Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’4” 225 88

22 S Lynn, MA
Saint John’s Prep 6’0” 200 87

23 WR Fort Lauderdale, FL
Stranahan High School 6’3” 200 87

24 S Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’2” 190 87

25 QB-PP Snellville, GA
Brookwood High School 6’2” 210 87

26 QB-DT Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’4” 185 87

27 CB Florence, AL
Florence High School 6’2” 170 87

28 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 240 87

29 WR Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’0” 190 87

30 DE Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’4” 235 87

31 QB-PP Downey, CA
Warren High School 6’6” 195 87

32 CB Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’2” 180 87

33 WR Atherton, CA
Menlo High School 6’3” 215 87

34 ATH Washington, DC
Archbishop Carroll High School 6’5” 225 87

35 TE-H Phoenix, AZ
Pinnacle High School 6’6” 235 86

36 OLB Tampa, FL
Jesuit High School 6’1” 210 86

37 QB-PP Birmingham, AL
Briarwood Christian School 6’3” 205 86

38 WR DeSoto, TX
DeSoto High School 6’0” 175 86

39 RB Orlando, FL
Edgewater High School 6’2” 220 86

40 WR Baton Rouge, LA
Catholic High School 6’4” 185 86

41 RB El Campo, TX
El Campo High School 5’11” 180 86

42 WR Houston, TX
Langham Creek High 5’11” 180 86

43 CB Arlington, TX
James Martin High School 6’1” 185 86

44 WR Longview, TX
Longview High School 6’2” 185 86

45 ATH Mustang, OK
Mustang High School 6’3” 185 86

46 DE Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’4” 255 86

47 ATH Raleigh, MS
Raleigh High School 6’3” 200 86

48 CB Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 86

49 DT Tyler, TX
Tyler Legacy High School 6’4” 245 86

50 DE Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’5” 270 86

51 S Venice, FL
Venice High School 6’0” 190 86

52 DE Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’6” 260 86

53 OG Lee’s Summit, MO
Lee’s Summit North High School 6’5” 310 86

54 S New Iberia, LA
Westgate High School 6’2” 185 86

55 OG Wyomissing, PA
Wyomissing High School 6’4” 285 86

56 DE North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’4” 210 86

57 OLB Baton Rouge, LA
University Laboratory School 6’1” 210 86

58 DE Platte City, MO
Platte County R-III High School 6’5” 210 86

59 WR Round Rock, TX
Stony Point High School 6’2” 175 86

60 OT Ramsey, NJ
Don Bosco High School 6’5” 290 86

61 WR Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’1” 170 86

62 ATH La Grange, TX
La Grange High School 5’11” 185 86

63 OT Findlay, OH
Findlay High School 6’5” 260 86

64 DE Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’5” 265 86

65 OT Rock Island, IL
Alleman High School 6’6” 305 86

66 DT Gardendale, AL
Gardendale High School 6’5” 280 86

67 OLB Tallahassee, FL
Lincoln High School 6’2” 215 86

68 WR Rolesville, NC
Rolesville High School 6’2” 185 86

69 OT Monroe, LA
Neville High School 6’5” 300 86

70 OLB Orlando, FL
Jones High School 6’2” 235 86

71 DT Oradell, NJ
Bergen Catholic High 6’6” 325 86

72 DE Miami, FL
Miami Central High School 6’3” 255 86

73 WR Thomasville, GA
Thomas County Central High School 5’11” 175 86

74 TE-H Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 230 86

75 DT Warner Robins, GA
Warner Robins High School 6’5” 270 86

76 WR Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 5’11” 190 85

77 OG Ashburn, VA
Broad Run High School 6’5” 280 85

78 QB-DT Maize, KS
Maize High School 6’2” 175 85

79 OLB Merrillville, IN
Andrean High School 6’2” 215 85

80 S Shiner, TX
Shiner High School 6’1” 175 85

81 WR Phenix City, AL
Central High School 5’11” 175 85

82 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’5” 240 85

83 WR Heathsville, VA
Northumberland High School 6’2” 225 85

84 OG Odessa, TX
Permian High School 6’4” 300 85

85 CB Quincy, FL
Robert F. Munroe High School 6’1” 190 85

86 TE-H Bixby, OK
Bixby High School 6’3” 215 84

87 DT Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’3” 300 84

88 CB Tampa, FL
Wharton High School 6’1” 187 84

89 WR Orlando, FL
Boone High School 6’2” 180 84

90 OT Mount Pleasant, SC
Oceanside Collegiate Academy 6’7” 285 84

91 QB-PP Ankeny, IA
Ankeny High School 6’6” 230 84

92 RB Saint Louis, MO
Christian Brothers College High School 6’1” 195 84

93 WR Flower Mound, TX
Marcus High School 6’3” 175 84

94 OG Orange Park, FL
Orange Park High School 6’4” 295 84

95 ILB Barnesville, GA
Lamar County High School 6’1” 220 84

96 ATH Houston, TX
Dwight D. Eisenhower High School 5’10” 170 84

97 TE-Y Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’5” 230 84

98 CB Gardena, CA
Junipero Serra High School 5’11” 175 84

99 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’4” 250 84

100 OLB Murfreesboro, TN
Riverdale High School 6’5” 205 84

101 WR Ridgeland, MS
Ridgeland High School 6’3” 190 84

102 S Fort Lauderdale, FL
Saint Thomas Aquinas High School 5’11” 180 84

103 OT Alabaster, AL
Thompson High School 6’7” 310 84

104 CB Melbourne, FL
Eau Gallie High School 5’11” 180 84

105 DE Norman, OK
Community Christian School 6’4” 215 84

106 S Fulton, MS
Itawamba Agri High School 6’0” 200 84

107 OT Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’7” 290 84

108 ATH Houston, TX
The Kinkaid School 5’11” 170 84

109 OT Tuscaloosa, AL
Northridge High School 6’7” 300 84

110 DE Mentor, OH
Mentor High School 6’5” 240 84

111 CB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’2” 185 84

112 OLB Lehi, UT
Skyridge High School 6’4” 220 84

113 DE Springdale, MD
C. H. Flowers High School 6’6” 230 84

114 OLB Crandall, TX
Crandall High School 6’1” 210 84

115 RB Dexter, MI
Dexter High School 5’11” 180 84

116 DE Eufaula, AL
Eufaula High School 6’3” 220 84

117 TE-Y Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’5” 235 84

118 DE Colleyville, TX
Covenant Christian Academy 6’5” 260 84

119 OT Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’4” 310 84

120 DE New Hope, MN
Robbinsdale Cooper High School 6’4” 245 84

121 TE-H Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’2” 220 84

122 ILB Many, LA
Many High School 6’2” 205 84

123 WR Milton, FL
Milton High School 6’3” 205 84

124 ATH Temple, TX
Temple High School 6’0” 185 84

125 OT Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Academy 6’7” 300 84

126 OLB Tampa, FL
Tampa Catholic High School 6’0” 200 84

127 DE Hickory, NC
Hickory High School 6’3” 230 84

128 TE-Y Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’4” 250 84

129 OLB Hoschton, GA
Mill Creek High School 6’3” 200 84

130 ATH Dallas, TX
South Oak Cliff High 5’11” 170 84

131 OT Windsor, CT
Loomis Chaffee School 6’6” 310 84

132 DE Phenix City, AL
Central High School 6’4” 255 84

133 OT Roebuck, SC
Dorman High School 6’4” 305 84

134 OLB Fairfax, VA
Fairfax High School 6’2” 205 84

135 DT Camden, SC
Camden High School 6’5” 325 83

136 OG Douglasville, GA
South Paulding High School 6’4” 300 83

137 OT East Saint Louis, IL
East St. Louis High School 6’7” 355 83

138 TE-Y Thompson’s Station, TN
Independence High School 6’5” 225 83

139 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’7” 335 83

140 QB-PP Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’0” 200 83

141 CB Long Beach, CA
Long Beach Polytechnic High School 6’0” 175 83

142 S West Orange, FL
West Orange High School 6’2” 205 83

143 DE Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 250 83

144 CB Denton, TX
John H. Guyer High School 6’0” 175 83

145 QB-PP Cornelius, NC
Hough High School 6’3” 225 83

146 WR Miami, FL
Miami Edison Senior High School 5’9” 170 83

147 ATH Lehigh Acres, FL
Lehigh Senior High School 6’0” 180 83

148 OLB Teague, TX
Teague High School 6’2” 225 83

149 CB Saint Louis, MO
De Smet Jesuit High School 6’0” 175 83

150 ATH Tampa, FL
Gaither High School 5’11” 170 83

151 RB Baton Rouge, LA
Liberty Magnet High School 5’11” 200 83

152 CB Waxahachie, TX
Waxahachie High School 5’11” 180 83

153 ATH Idaho Falls, ID
Skyline High School 6’4” 225 83

154 DE American Fork, UT
American Fork High School 6’4” 240 83

155 RB Derby, KS
Derby Senior High School 5’8” 155 83

156 CB Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’2” 175 83

157 ATH Lincoln, NE
Lincoln East High School 6’4” 185 83

158 ILB Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 225 83

159 DE Concord, NC
J. M. Robinson High School 6’5” 260 83

160 WR Lakeland, FL
Lakeland High School 6’4” 190 83

161 TE-H Santa Rosa Beach, FL
South Walton High School 6’6” 210 83

162 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’2” 185 82

163 DE Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Santa Margarita Catholic High School 6’7” 255 82

164 DT Saint James, MD
St. James School 6’4” 275 82

165 RB Picayune, MS
Picayune Memorial High School 6’1” 215 82

166 DE Houston, TX
C. E. King High School 6’4” 245 82

167 CB Roswell, GA
Roswell High School 5’11” 165 82

168 OG West Bloomfield, MI
West Bloomfield High School 6’3” 280 82

169 DE Detroit, MI
Cass Technical High School 6’3” 245 82

170 DT Chandler, AZ
Chandler High School 6’4” 295 82

171 RB Farmerville, LA
Union Parish High School 5’8” 180 82

172 DE Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’5” 235 82

173 CB Coppell, TX
Coppell High School 6’1” 190 82

174 OG Huber Heights, OH
Wayne High School 6’3” 280 82

175 ATH Uniontown, PA
Laurel Highlands High School 6’0” 160 82

176 QB-DT Nashville, TN
Montgomery Bell Academy 6’1” 170 82

177 DE Olney, MD
Our Lady of Good Counsel High School 6’5” 205 82

178 CB Seminole, FL
Osceola High School 6’1” 180 82

179 OLB Jacksonville, FL
Andrew Jackson High School 6’3” 215 82

180 DE Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 6’6” 210 82

181 QB-DT Hendersonville, TN
Pope John Paul II High School 6’2” 205 82

182 CB Ellenwood, GA
Cedar Grove High School 5’11” 170 82

183 DE Austin, TX
Westlake High School 6’5” 230 82

184 OLB Durham, NC
Southern Durham High School 6’4” 215 82

185 CB Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 6’1” 190 82

186 ATH Dublin, GA
Trinity Christian School 6’0” 180 82

187 CB Jacksonville, FL
Bartram Trail High School 6’0” 165 82

188 QB-DT Brentwood, TN
Ravenwood High School 6’0” 210 82

189 CB Chandler, AZ
Basha High School 5’10” 175 82

190 ILB Fayetteville, GA
Whitewater High School 6’1” 220 82

191 DE Amarillo, TX
Tascosa High School 6’3” 255 82

192 OT McDonough, GA
Eagles Landing Christian Academy 6’5” 300 82

193 QB-PP Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’3” 185 82

194 CB Arlington, TX
Juan Seguin High School 6’1” 175 82

195 OLB Manteca, CA
Manteca High School 6’3” 215 82

196 WR Chula Vista, CA
Mater Dei Catholic High School 6’1” 190 82

197 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’2” 190 82

198 CB Spanaway, WA
Spanaway Lake High School 5’11” 170 82

199 TE-H Ashdown, AR
Ashdown High School 6’5” 215 82

200 DT Richmond, VA
Benedictine College Prep 6’4” 310 82

201 OT Sandy, UT
Alta High School 6’6” 300 82

202 CB Baton Rouge, LA
Woodlawn High School 6’0” 165 82

203 DE Indianapolis, IN
Lawrence Central High School 6’4” 225 82

204 TE-H Milton, MA
Milton Academy 6’4” 215 82

205 DE HIghland Home, AL
Highland Home High School 6’6” 245 82

206 CB Las Vegas, NV
Bishop Gorman High School 5’11” 180 82

207 ATH Miami, FL
Miami Palmetto High School 5’11” 170 82

208 DE Trussville, AL
Hewitt-Trussville High School 6’4” 255 82

209 CB Charlotte, NC
Providence Day School 6’0” 175 82

210 OC Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’3” 325 82

211 OT Garland, TX
Naaman Forest High School 6’4” 285 82

212 RB Jacksonville, FL
Trinity Christian Academy 6’0” 190 82

213 TE-Y Saint Charles, MO
Francis Howell Central High School 6’6” 225 82

214 QB-PP Colorado Springs, CO
Vista Ridge High School 6’5” 195 82

215 CB Frisco, TX
Lone Star High School 6’0” 170 82

216 DE Pleasant Valley, IA
Pleasant Valley High School 6’5” 240 82

217 S Munford, AL
Munford High School 5’11” 195 82

218 DT New Bern, NC
New Bern High School 6’3” 285 82

219 CB Seattle, WA
Rainier High School 6’0” 180 82

220 ATH Pittsburg, CA
Pittsburg High School 6’1” 175 82

221 DE West Roxbury, MA
Catholic Memorial High School 6’4” 255 82

222 S Mansfield, TX
Mansfield High School 6’0” 185 82

223 DT Camden, NJ
Eastside High School 6’4” 300 82

224 ATH Cocoa, FL
Cocoa High School 5’11” 170 82

225 DE Thomaston, GA
Upson-Lee High School 6’5” 245 82

226 DT Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’4” 270 82

227 ATH Folsom, CA
Folsom High School 6’1” 190 82

228 CB Arlington, TX
Timberview High School 5’11” 185 82

229 ATH Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dillard High School 5’11” 190 82

230 RB Charlotte, NC
West Charlotte High School 6’0” 185 82

231 WR Tallahassee, FL
James S. Rickards High School 6’3” 190 82

232 RB Scranton, PA
Scranton Preparatory School 5’11” 190 82

233 CB Montgomery, AL
Alabama Christian Academy 6’2” 180 82

234 WR Bradenton, FL
IMG Academy 6’2” 185 81

235 ATH Waco, TX
Connally High School 6’2” 190 81

236 S Irvington, NJ
Irvington High School 6’0” 190 81

237 CB Kankakee, IL
Kankakee High School 6’2” 170 81

238 WR Chipley, FL
Chipley High School 6’2” 185 81

239 DE Saint Petersburg, FL
Lakewood Senior High School 6’4” 225 81

240 ATH Ocean Springs, MS
Ocean Springs High School 6’2” 190 81

241 RB Sandersville, GA
Washington County High School 5’11” 190 81

242 WR Miami, FL
Dade Christian High School 6’2” 195 81

243 DE Washington, DC
St. John’s College High School 6’3” 235 81

244 ILB Philadelphia, PA
Imhotep Institute Charter High School 6’1” 220 81

245 WR Nashville, TN
The Ensworth School 6’3” 200 81

246 OT Provo, UT
Timpview High School 6’4” 260 81

247 TE-H Norcross, GA
Norcross High School 6’3” 220 81

248 S Zachary, LA
Zachary High School 6’2” 200 81

249 RB Plantation, FL
American Heritage High School 6’1” 220 81

250 OT Paris, TN
Henry County High School 6’5” 310 81

251 DT Jacksonville, FL
Westside High School 6’4” 300 81

252 S West Chester, OH
Lakota West High School 6’3” 175 81

253 OT Columbus, GA
Carver High School 6’5” 300 81

254 WR Tulsa, OK
Booker T. Washington High School 5’11” 170 81

255 TE-Y Tucson, AZ
Mountain View High School 6’4” 245 81

256 DE Gainesville, FL
Buchholz High School 6’3” 245 81

257 RB Middleburg, FL
Middleburg High School 5’11” 195 81

258 DE Manor, TX
Manor High School 6’4” 225 81

259 CB Fort Mitchell, KY
Beechwood High School 5’10” 175 81

260 QB-DT Tacoma, WA
Lincoln High School 6’0” 205 81

261 ILB Fort Worth, TX
North Crowley High School 6’1” 215 81

262 OLB Cleveland, OH
Glenville High School 6’3” 215 81

263 RB Canutillo, TX
Canutillo High School 6’1” 205 81

264 DE Cypress, TX
Cypress Ranch High School 6’3” 260 81

265 OT Arlington, TX
Lamar High School 6’7” 285 81

266 WR Owasso, OK
Owasso High School 5’10” 180 81

267 ATH Clearwater, FL
Clearwater Central Catholic H. S. 5’10” 170 81

268 QB-PP Dripping Springs, TX
Dripping Springs High School 6’2” 180 81

269 RB Miami, FL
Miami Norland High School 5’9” 180 81

270 S Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles College Prep 6’1” 180 81

271 DE Miami, FL
Gulliver Prep High School 6’4” 220 81

272 CB Rome, GA
Rome High School 6’0” 170 81

273 OG Elk Grove, CA
Elk Grove High School 6’3” 310 81

274 ILB Altamonte Springs, FL
Lake Brantley High School 6’1” 190 81

275 ATH Granada Hills, CA
Granada Hills High School 6’0” 175 81

276 WR Mesquite, TX
North Mesquite High School 6’2” 190 81

277 RB Montgomery, AL
Montgomery Catholic High School 5’11” 185 81

278 OG Gilbert, AZ
Highland High School 6’5” 265 81

279 TE-H Havelock, NC
Havelock High School 6’4” 210 81

280 ILB Smyrna, TN
Smyrna High School 6’1” 215 81

281 RB New Caney, TX
New Caney High 5’11” 190 81

282 WR Houston, TX
Andy Dekaney High School 6’2” 195 81

283 DT North Kansas City, MO
North Kansas City High School 6’3” 285 81

284 CB Bellflower, CA
St. John Bosco High School 6’0” 170 81

285 ATH Los Alamitos, CA
Los Alamitos High School 6’3” 185 81

286 S Fairburn, GA
Langston Hughes High School 6’2” 195 81

287 WR Roanoke, VA
Patrick Henry High School 6’0” 170 81

288 OLB Friendswood, TX
Friendswood High School 6’5” 230 81

289 OG Hyattsville, MD
DeMatha Catholic High School 6’5” 305 81

290 RB San Diego, CA
Abraham Lincoln High School 6’1” 240 81

291 ATH Arthur, IL
Arthur High School 6’2” 220 81

292 RB Naples, FL
Naples High School 6’1” 195 81

293 TE-Y Concord, CA
De La Salle High School 6’6” 255 81

294 OG Honolulu, HI
Farrington High School 6’2” 315 81

295 OLB Post, TX
Post High School 6’4” 210 81

296 OT Chattanooga, TN
Baylor School 6’6” 280 81

297 S South Bend, IN
Saint Joseph High School 6’2” 200 81

298 ATH Maiden, NC
Maiden High School 6’3” 190 81

299 DT Cypress, TX
Cypress Woods High School 6’5” 265 81

300 RB Baltimore, MD
St. Frances Academy 6’0” 200 81

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Notre Dame outduels Penn St. to reach CFP final

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2 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

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Notre Dame outduels Penn St. to reach CFP final

  • Associated Press

Jan 9, 2025, 11:30 PM ET

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said he was trying to throw the ball into the ground. Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray dove for it anyway and — luck of the Irish — the ball ended up right in his hands.

A few seconds later, Gray and Notre Dame found themselves with a spot in the national title game after a thrill-a-minute 27-24 victory over Penn State on Thursday night in the Orange Bowl.

Gray’s snag of Allar’s ill-advised pass across the middle at the Nittany Lions’ 42 with 33 seconds left set up a 19-yard drive that ended with Mitch Jeter‘s winning 41-yard field goal.

The Irish (14-1), seeded seventh in this, the first 12-team college playoff, will have a chance to bring their 12th title and first since 1988 back under the Golden Dome with a game Jan. 20 in Atlanta. Their opponent will be the winner Friday night of the Texas-Ohio State semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.

“Just catch the ball. Just catch the ball,” Gray said about his interception. “That was going through my mind, and I knew I was going to make a play.”

Allar explained he saw his first two options covered on the play, then wanted to throw the ball into the turf. But the throw, under pressure and across his body, didn’t have enough zip on it to reach either receiver Omari Evans or the ground before Gray slid in.

“Honestly, I was trying to throw it at his feet,” said the junior quarterback, considered by some to be a first-round pick if he leaves for the NFL. “I should’ve thrown it away when I saw the first two progressions were not open. I didn’t execute.”

It was the most memorable play of a game that was the best of what has been a sleepy few weeks of playoff football. It featured three ties, three lead changes and 31 points in the fourth quarter alone.

In the final, Irish coach Marcus Freeman will try to become the first Black head coach to win the title at college football’s highest level. Freeman, whose mother is South Korean, also is the first coach of Asian heritage to get this far.

“We found a way to make a play when it mattered the most,” Freeman said. “In my opinion, great teams, great programs, find a way to do that.”

Penn State coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 with the Nittany Lions against teams ranked in the AP Top 10.

“Everyone wants to look at a specific play,” Franklin said. “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 quarterback Riley Leonard shook off a hit late in the second quarter that sent him to the medical tent to be checked for a concussion. He came back and led the Irish on four scoring drives in the second half, including the last one.

“He’s a competitor and competitors find a way to win, and that’s what Riley does,” Freeman said. “That’s what this team does.”

Leonard finished with 223 yards passing, including a key 10-yard dart to Jaden Greathouse to convert third-and-3 on the last drive. Leonard also had 35 yards rushing, and passed and ran for a score each.

With 4:38 left in the game, the senior quarterback hit Greathouse for a 54-yard score to tie it at 24 after a defender slipped.

The game started slow, but Riley’s injury injected life into things. He led Notre Dame on TD drives of 75 and 72 yards in the third quarter to take a 17-10 lead.

At that point, the fun was just getting started.

Penn State had its chances, and Allar, along with all those Nittany Lions fans, will spend the offseason reliving that last throw — or trying to forget it.

Penn State forced a Notre Dame punt and looked assured of at least going to overtime when it took over at their 15 with 47 seconds left.

After a gain of 13, Allar dropped to pass and had pressure coming. He threw across his body to the middle of the field, where Gray dove for the pick.

A review showed it was a catch, and the Irish were onto the next step on a road that looked all but impossible when they fell 16-14 to Northern Illinois back in September.

Nick Singleton ran for 84 yards and all three Penn State touchdowns. Off target for much of the day, Allar finished 12 for 23 for 135 yards with the interception.

“He’s hurting right now. He should be. We’re all hurting,” Franklin said.

The quarterback didn’t duck questions about the play or his role in the loss.

“We didn’t win the game so it wasn’t good enough, it’s plain and simple,” Allar said. “I’ll try to learn from it, do everything in my power to get better and just grow from it.”

When Leonard went out, backup Steve Angeli came in and injected life into the Fighting Irish offense on the way to its first score.

Angelli went 6 for 7 for 44 yards and moved Notre Dame to field goal range to trim its deficit to 10-3 just before halftime.

“We have a lot of confidence in Steve,” Freeman said when asked why he allowed the Irish to play aggressively when he entered.

The kickoff temperature was 56 degrees, unseasonably cool for South Florida — and making it the second-coldest Orange Bowl ever, next to the Georgia Tech-Iowa game in 2010 that started at 49 and felt like the upper 30s.

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Horns’ Ewers leads ‘new era’ of college football

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4 hours ago

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January 10, 2025

By

Horns' Ewers leads 'new era' of college football
Jan 9, 2025, 06:02 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that quarterback Quinn Ewers, with the emergence of name, image and likeness and the transfer portal, has become the face of this “new era of college football.”

Ewers initially committed to Texas, but he then opted to skip his senior year of high school and reclassify to the 2021 recruiting class before enrolling a year early and joining Ohio State during preseason practice.

Still the nation’s No. 1 ranked overall prospect, Ewers landed one of the first marquee NIL deals worth $1.4 million.

Ewers, who lasted one season with the Buckeyes before transferring to Texas, will square off against Ohio State on Friday night in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl with a trip to the College Football Playoff national championship on the line.

“It’s not been an easy journey for him,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “There’s been ups, there’s been downs, there’s been injuries, there’s been great moments, there’s been tough moments. … But at the end of the day, he’s always stayed true to who he is. The guy’s been a steady sea for us.”

Ewers has been making college football headlines since Ohio State offered him a scholarship when he was just in middle school. This week, Buckeyes coach Ryan Day recalled meeting Ewers for the first time when he was an eighth-grader visiting a Buckeyes football camp.

“He was a boy at the time really, who just had a tremendous release,” Day recalled. “And I remember grabbing him and grabbing his dad and said, ‘Man, you got a bright future ahead of you. I don’t know if this is good or bad, but we’re going to offer you a scholarship to Ohio State.'”

C.J. Stroud, who has since led the Houston Texans to the NFL playoffs, emerged as a star quarterback for the Buckeyes then, prompting Ewers to transfer to Texas.

“Boy, it was strange how it all shook out,” Day said. “He decided he really wanted to play. And it was disappointing for us, but we certainly understood. From afar I’ve watched him. He’s a really good player. He comes from a great family, and he’s had a great career at Texas and a lot of people here still have good relationships with him and think the world of him.”

At Texas, Ewers has started in 27 wins and led the Longhorns to back-to-back playoff appearances. This season, he has thrown for 3,189 yards and 29 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

Ewers noted that the “coolest part” of the NIL era is being able to provide for his parents. He has even hired his mom, making her CFO of his finances while giving her a salary.

“Which is nice just because all the effort and work they put into me growing up,” he said. “I mean, when we were living in South Texas, they both quit their jobs and moved up to Southlake [to support Ewers’ budding athletic career].”

Whatever happens in the playoff — whether it be a loss Friday or a national championship victory against the winner of Notre Dame–Penn State on Jan. 20 — Ewers’ career at Texas figures to be coming to a close.

Though Ewers still has one season of eligibility remaining, blue-chip quarterback prospect Arch Manning appears primed to finally take over in Austin next season.

Manning, the nephew of NFL quarterback greats Peyton and Eli Manning, who could become the No. 1 overall prospect for the 2026 NFL draft, has backed up Ewers for two seasons waiting for his opportunity. Sarkisian even momentarily benched Ewers in favor of Manning during Texas’ 30-15 loss to Georgia on Oct. 19.

Still, Ewers figures to have options.

ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the No. 6 quarterback prospect eligible for the upcoming draft. Rumors have also emerged recently that Ewers could put off the NFL for another year and transfer to a third school for millions more in NIL money.

Amid those distractions, Ewers has thrived in the playoff bouncing back from oblique and ankle injuries from earlier in the year to complete 69% of his passes with four touchdowns in Texas’ two victories.

In the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl quarterfinal, Ewers tossed 29- and 25-yard touchdown passes in the overtimes, lifting Texas to the 39-31 win over Arizona State.

“I’ve just been proud of him,” Sarkisian said, “because he’s found a source for him that has been a motivating factor, where he can play free and play loose and play confident.”

Ewers added that, whatever the future holds, even contemplating it now would be “selfish,” with a national title still in reach for him and the Longhorns.

“I owe my teammates the best version of me right now,” he said. “I can’t be looking forward or I’ll trip on the rock that’s sitting right in front of me. I’ve got to be locked in on what’s right here.”

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Texas RT Williams back in lineup for CFP semi

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January 10, 2025

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Texas RT Williams back in lineup for CFP semi

  • Pete Thamel

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    Pete Thamel

    Senior College Sports Insider

      College Football Senior Writer for ESPN. Insider for College Gameday.

  • Jake Trotter

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    Jake Trotter

    ESPN Senior Writer

      Jake Trotter covers college football for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2011. Before that, he worked at The Oklahoman, Austin American-Statesman and Middletown (Ohio) Journal newspapers. You can follow him @Jake_Trotter.

Jan 9, 2025, 02:44 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas starting right tackle Cameron Williams will return for the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State on Friday, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.

Williams suffered a right knee sprain in the playoff opener against Clemson. The injury forced him to miss Texas’ quarterfinal overtime victory over Arizona State.

A junior, Williams has played in 37 games in his career with 16 starts for the Longhorns. Williams is rated as the No. 28 overall prospect and fifth offensive tackle in ESPN’s NFL draft rankings.

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