Hat Trick: Nicholas Singleton puts Penn State on his back, scores late go-ahead TD
Nicholas Singleton wants to play for a national championship, it seems.
The Nittany Lions running back now has 3 scores on the evening, including 2 in the second half. His score to start the 4th quarter tied things up before he found the end zone yet again just a few minutes later.
Here’s touchdown No. 2 to tie the game at 17:
SINGLETON SCORES HIS SECOND TOUCHDOWN OF THE DAY 🔥
Penn State ties it up.#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/M8F4jpAViZ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 10, 2025
A few plays later, Penn State intercepted Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard and Singleton went back to work. Here’s touchdown No. 3 for the former 5-star prospect, which gave Penn State at 24-17 lead with just over 7 minutes remaining in the game:
NICHOLAS SINGLETON’S THIRD TOUCHDOWN OF THE ORANGE BOWL
(via @TSN_Sports)pic.twitter.com/IDJyTFD9GH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 10, 2025
While the first half was a bit of a slugfest, the second half has been the exact opposite. Notre Dame, which struggled to move the ball at all across the first 30 minutes, exploded out of the gate in the 3rd quarter, leading a 75-yard touchdown drive in just 8 plays.
The Irish found the end zone again just a few minutes later, with Jeremiyah Love bullying his way into the end zone with what may have been the best 2-yard run of the season.
Singleton has been one of several productive running backs in Miami. After his 3rd touchdown of the evening he now sits at 13 rushes for 69 yards and 3 scores – a hat trick in the Orange Bowl.
Notre Dame scored the game-tying touchdown just a few plays after Singleton’s latest score. Can he go for No. 4 to win it?