Notre Dame QB leaves Orange Bowl with possible concussion

On By Littum

(This story was updated with new information).

Notre Dame football finds itself in an early deficit in the first half of the College Football Playoff Orange Bowl semifinal to the No. 6 at Penn State.

The Irish are also without their starting quarterback. Quarterback Riley Leonard left the game in the final minutes of the first half after a quarterback rush by Penn State defensive players Dvon J-Thomas and Zane Durant sent him to the ground.

REQUIRED READING: Orange Bowl live updates: Scores, highlights from the Notre Dame-Penn State game

Leonard, who walked off the field and into the medical tent, tried to walk back onto the field but was eventually escorted to the injury tent.

Before leaving the game, the Notre Dame quarterback was 6 of 11 passing for 63 yards with an interception. He also had seven rushing yards on five carries. Replacing Leonard on the field was backup quarterback Steve Angeli, who led the Irish down the field for a 41-yard field goal to cut their deficit to 10-3 in the second half.

Here’s the latest on Leonard’s injury:

ESPN’s Sean McDonough noted that Leonard entered the concussion protocol. Irish backup quarterback Steve Angeli came in for Leonard to end the second half.

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN’s Molly McGrath in a halftime interview that he has yet to hear any information about Leonard’s health and status.

“I haven’t heard (anything). They’re going to check him out right now,” Freeman said. “They told me right before the field goal that they don’t have an answer right now as to what it’s going to be.”

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Leonard jogged off the field at Hard Rock Stadium with his helmet on his head when he came out of the medical tent.

This story will be updated.