Penn State Falls Short in CFP Semifinal: What’s Next for the Nittany Lions?
Penn State’s College Football Playoff journey ended in heartbreak Thursday night as the Nittany Lions fell to Notre Dame 27-24 in the Orange Bowl. Quarterback Drew Allar’s late-game interception set up a game-winning field goal for the Fighting Irish, leaving Penn State one step short of the national title game. Despite the loss, the Lions’ record-setting 13-win season has sparked discussions locally and nationally about the program’s future and what it will take to clear the championship hurdle.
A Heartbreaking Loss for Penn State
Tears welled in Drew Allar’s eyes as he reflected on a game that was within Penn State’s grasp until it wasn’t. Eller, who improved dramatically in his second year as the Lions’ starting quarterback, struggled against a tough Notre Dame defense. Ranked fifth in the nation in third-down defense, the Irish bottled up the Penn State offense, forcing critical mistakes at key moments
Aller completed just 12 of 23 passes for 135 yards, making it one of the strongest outings of his career. Despite that struggle, Penn State was able to take a 24-17 lead into the fourth quarter before Notre Dame rallied. A late interception by Notre Dame’s Christian Gray and a 41-yard field goal by Mitch Jeter sealed the Lions’ fate.
“I got to the back end making progress, really just trying to get his feet dirty,” Eller said. “I had to drop it… it comes down to execution.”
A Season of Highs and Lows
Penn State’s 2024 season was historic, with the team securing its first two CFP victories and setting a program record for wins. But the Lions’ struggles against top competition remain a concern. Penn State dropped games to Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame, failing to stop the run in crucial games.
Head coach James Franklin acknowledged the challenges, pointing to a dysfunctional third down late in the first half and early in the second as a key moment in the Orange Bowl loss
“Give Notre Dame a ton of credit,” Franklin said. “We made too many costly mistakes. But I love every guy in that locker room… We’ll learn from this and be better.”
Wide Receiver Woes: A Fatal Flaw
One glaring issue for Penn State was the lack of production from its wide receivers. The Lions failed to complete a single pass to a receiver, becoming the first non-service academy team in 20 years to accomplish that dubious feat.
“The constant lack of players at wideout, especially on the field, has been an itch for Penn State throughout the season,” said Shehan Jeyaraj of CBS Sports
The physical press coverage of the Irishman neutralized Penn State’s receivers, forcing Eller to rely more on short trips to running backs and tight ends
What’s next for Penn State?
As the dust settles, questions arise about the Lions’ ability to overcome the championship hump. Franklin’s record against the AP’s top five teams is currently 1-15, with six losses by one point. Critics say Penn State needs to improve its execution in big games and get more playmakers in key positions.
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura emphasized the need for Penn State to show off against elite opponents. “Against the recreational heavyweights they haven’t done so well all season… If they need to get over the bump they need to be able to show how well they play in that game.”
The last word
BWI’s Nate Bauer summed up the bets on Penn State moving forward:
“An epic playoff sport whose outcome prevents Penn State from advancing toward its final purpose… the program’s response will decide its capability to go back to the same degree subsequent year and beyond. ”
For Allar, Franklin, and the rest of the Lions, the path to a national title remains within reach. But to climb over the hump, Penn State must maximize lessons learned from its near-miss against Notre Dame and refine its approach for future battles against college football’s elite.
