Notre Dame beat Penn State 27-24, in the Orange Bowl Thursday night, Jan. 9, 2025 before a sellout crowd of 66,881 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The Irish will be in their first title game since 2012. Coach Marcus Freeman will be the first Black head coach to take his team to the national title game. Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with his team after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24 in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leaps over Kobe King #41 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the fourth quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) Jeremiyah Love #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) Mitch Jeter #98 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (L) celebrates with teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball during the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Jaden Greathouse #1 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Bryce Young #30 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish tackles Kaytron Allen #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Drew Allar #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions is tackled by Xavier Watts #0, Jaylen Sneed #3, and Bryce Young #30 during the fourth quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Riley Leonard #13 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24 in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Head coach Marcus Freeman of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 27-24 in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against Jaiden Ausberry #4 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first quarter in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 09, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)