"Riley Leonard is a bum": Fans mad at Notre Dame QB's insane interception in Orange Bowl

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard overcame a rocky performance, including a crucial fourth-quarter interception, to lead the Fighting Irish to a dramatic 27-24 Orange Bowl victory over Penn State on Thursday.

Leonard's game-changing mistake came when Penn State defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton intercepted his pass, helping the Nittany Lions secure a 24-17 lead. Despite facing intense criticism from fans on social media, with one calling him "a bum," Leonard demonstrated remarkable resilience.

Fans were mad at the Fighting Irish QB's pass interception:

“Riley Leonard is a bum,” a fan wrote.

“Riley is so overrated lmao,” another wrote.

“Riley Leonard threw the ball way too damn hard,” one wrote.

“Riley Leonard is a running back/tight end. Sue me,” one wrote.

“This is the sorry quarterback bowl,” another wrote.

“RILEY LEONARD INTERCEPTED AGAIN!!! A brutal mistake,” one wrote.

After a brief exit for concussion evaluation following a hard hit earlier in the game, the junior quarterback returned in the second half to lead Notre Dame to a comeback victory. Despite mixed statistics — 15 completions on 23 attempts for 223 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions — Leonard's resilience and leadership were crucial to the win.

The victory propels Notre Dame into the College Football Playoff National Championship game, a remarkable achievement even with Leonard's inconsistent performance.

Riley Leonard powered Notre Dame to a CFP berth

Riley Leonard powered Notre Dame to a College Football Playoff berth, leading a second-half surge to defeat Penn State in the Orange Bowl. The Fighting Irish quarterback threw for 223 yards and added 33 rushing yards in the victory.

After a challenging first half where Leonard completed six of 11 passes for 63 yards with one interception, he transformed the Irish offense after halftime. Leonard connected on nine of 12 passes for 160 yards as Notre Dame exploded for 24 points in the final 30 minutes.

Coach Marcus Freeman told ESPN during the post-game celebration:

“He’s a competitor,” Freeman said. “And competitors find a way to win. That’s what Riley does. That’s what this team does, man. They’re a bunch of competitors and they find a way.”

The victory didn't come without drama. Leonard briefly left the game for concussion evaluation late in the first half after Penn State defenders Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas delivered a hit that caused his helmet to hit the turf. Steve Angeli stepped in while medical staff examined Leonard in the sideline tent.