Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard has been on a scorching streak within the postseason with the Combating Irish and he has an opportunity to proceed rising his narrative because the crew prepares to tackle the Penn State Nittany Lions on the Orange Bowl within the semifinals of the Faculty Soccer Playoffs.
This yr’s bowl recreation is one which some have already predicted may very well be a recreation that goes to time beyond regulation, although it must be famous that primarily the whole Faculty Soccer Playoff has performed out in another way than was anticipated. Nevertheless this one performs out, one factor that’s sure is that Leonard shall be an element.
This is a take a look at the three Riley Leonard daring predictions for Leonard within the Orange Bowl.
Riley Leonard leads Notre Dame in speeding
There is no such thing as a query that Leonard has a excessive degree of mobility and athleticism that has shined by means of at Notre Dame, even when it type of flew beneath the radar at Duke. But it surely has actually proven itself for the Combating Irish, particularly in his newest displaying when he rushed for 80 yards on 14 carries within the victory over Georgia. That made him far and away the crew’s main rusher.
Relating to Penn State and its speeding protection particularly, the unit has allowed a mean of simply over three speeding yards per play. The Nittany Lions have allowed eight opposing speeding touchdowns and just below 101 yards on the bottom per recreation.
Leonard can have his work reduce out for him in opposition to an opponent that’s this stout, however we have already seen the way in which he has defied the chances in seemingly much more unlikely conditions in his first yr with the Combating Irish. And he’ll be one of many higher quarterbacks on the bottom the Nittany Lions have gone up in opposition to currently.
Throughout his time at Duke, Leonard believed folks didn’t totally acknowledge the skills he actually brings to the desk along with his legs.
“Later within the 2022 season, groups began to ship out a QB spy on me. So I wasn’t in a position to run the ball as a lot, so we have been in a position to get the ball out and went extra to one-on-one matchups on the surface,” Leonard stated. “Earlier within the season when folks did not assume I may run, I used to be in a position to make use of my legs,” Leonard stated. “They positively took extra observe of that afterward.”
Groups certainly have taken that observe.
Leonard information one in every of his highest passing totals of the season
Thursday’s matchup shall be removed from a stroll within the park for Riley Leonard and the offense for extra causes than simply a number of the accidents that the crew has suffered. That exhibits strongly for the Nittany Lions, contemplating that Penn State holds the No. 6 general protection within the nation, giving up a mean of simply 4.63 yards per play with a mean of 288.8 yards per recreation.
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However, regardless of the numerous offensive classes they lead in as a formidable general unit, the Penn State passing protection has had its issues. One of many lowest factors to take a look at is the actual fact the Nittany Lions have allowed 17 passing touchdowns on the season, which ranks No. 47 within the FBS.
The place passing yards allowed per recreation is particularly involved, Leonard will face a Penn State passing protection that ranks No. 27 general in that class, giving up a mean of over 10 yards per accomplished cross. It is going to even be curious to look at how the crew could or could not lean extra into the cross, particularly with the harm to star working again Jeremiyah Love.
Leonard may have a chance right here.
Riley Leonard leads Notre Dame to a dominant victory
Some see this as being a intently contested recreation, however hey, that is what everybody thought in regards to the recreation in opposition to Georgia earlier than Leonard and the Combating Irish went on an absolute tear. That might find yourself being the case as soon as extra right here, and there has hardly been a season with as a lot chaos, shakeup, and surprising outcomes as this one has had.
One may even use Notre Dame’s personal unlikely upset loss to NIU earlier this season and the pure bounceback that adopted as an illustration of simply how fascinating issues have gotten and the truth that it actually is any given Saturday. Now, Penn State has saved issues shut with virtually each one in every of its opponents, together with previously No. 1 Oregon, which simply so occurred to shockingly get blown out by Ohio State within the postseason.
If Notre Dame is ready to make its well past Penn State within the Orange Bowl (7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday), then they are going to face one final check in opposition to both the Texas Longhorns or the Ohio State Buckeyes, relying on which crew wins the Faculty Soccer Playoff Semifinal recreation within the Cotton Bowl. That recreation is about to be performed at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday in Arlington, Texas.
The winners of each video games will advance to the title recreation, set to be performed in Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia.