The College Football Playoff semifinals got off to a thrilling start Thursday evening when Notre Dame battled Penn State in the Orange Bowl. The Fighting Irish eventually won the back-and-forth affair 27-24 after kicker Mitch Jeter nailed a 41-yard field goal with less than 10 seconds remaining in regulation. Chad Johnson was so thrilled by Jeter’s clutch goal that he shouted out his name while discussing the game on the Nightcap podcast.
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Chad claimed Jeter would be a walking legend on the Fighting Irish campus after this performance. And with popularity comes the perks.
“I don’t know if he’s married. I don’t know if he has a girlfriend, but boy, look here. After making a game-winning field goal like that, to take your school to the national championship… anything in South Bend… you’ll never have to pay for a thing again,” said Johnson.
GOOD FROM 4️⃣1️⃣
MITCH JETER IS CLUTCH.
MR. JANUARY. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/W3HO408OHQ
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) January 10, 2025
Jeter was dealing with a groin injury for much of the season. He fought through the ailment to suit up in all of Notre Dame’s games, but understandably, didn’t perform well. He made just 50% (6/12) of his kicks during the regular season.
In the CFP, though, Jeter has been dominant, nailing 87.5% (7/8) of his field goal attempts. And he has made CFP history in the process.
Jeter became the sole kicker to successfully make a game-sealing go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. Four other kickers had the chance, but none succeeded.
Prior to Mitch Jeter’s game-winning field goal, kickers were 0-4 in CFP history on go-ahead field goals in the fourth
quarterStepped up when his team needed him most @ESPNCFB pic.twitter.com/AAUi4Az25e
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 10, 2025
The Fighting Irish have advanced to the National Championship where they’ll face the winner of tomorrow’s Cotton Bowl — No. 5 Texas vs. No. 8 Ohio State. If Jeter continues his strong play, Notre Dame could win the national title on January 20. That would be their first championship since 1988.