Riley Leonard injury: Notre Dame QB exits game vs. Penn State

What we know as Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard left the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal game with an apparent head injury.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard left the first half of Thursday's playoff game against Penn State. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Editor's Note: Leonard returned for Notre Dame to start the third quarter and led the offense on a 75-yard scoring drive, culminating in his own 3-yard touchdown rush to tie the game, 10-10.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard exited in the second quarter of the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal game against Penn State with an apparent head injury.

Leonard’s head struck the turf with some force after being dragged down on a sack on a play that forced him from action.

Officials observed Leonard walking somewhat wobbly and blew the whistle, instructing the quarterback to walk towards the sideline for medical examination.

Riley Leonard went into the medical tent for a possible head injury after taking this hit late in the second quarter.

Leonard was replaced by backup QB Steve Angeli. pic.twitter.com/PAd4UtuNe3

— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025

The quarterback retired to the injury tent on Notre Dame’s sideline for further evaluation and reserve signal caller Steve Angeli took the field in Leonard’s place.

Angeli fired a completion on a slant on his first play, but lost a fumble moments later that Notre Dame was able to recover.

He ultimately went 6 of 7 passing for 44 yards on his sole drive, while Leonard was 6 of 11 for 63 yards during his time in the game.

Leonard’s exit is another stark reminder of Notre Dame’s terrible injury luck this season. Including in this game.

The team already lost starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp, who retreated to the locker room to be examined after suffering a nasty lower leg and ankle injury.

He was able to return to the Irish sideline wearing a brace, but did not go back into the game in the first half.

Angeli led Notre Dame on a scoring drive after replacing Leonard, but the Fighting Irish went into the halftime trailing Penn State, 10-3.

The winner of this game will advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game to face either Ohio State or Texas on Jan. 20.

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