Notre Dame's Riley Leonard points to favorite Bible verse after scoring opening TD in national title game

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish volition person to excavation heavy to decision the Ohio State Buckeyes and triumph their archetypal nationalist title since 1988.

Notre Dame backmost Riley Leonard is determined to bash that.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Notre Dame backmost Riley Leonard celebrates aft a touchdown against Ohio State during the archetypal fractional of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled connected Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, successful Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Leonard led the Fighting Irish connected an 18-play, 75-yard thrust that ate up the archetypal 9:45 of the game. It ended with a Leonard rushing touchdown from 1 gait out.

After Leonard scored, helium pointed to his limb band, which read "Matthew 23:12," a Bible verse that says, "Whoever exalts himself volition beryllium humbled, and whoever humbles himself volition beryllium exalted."

Leonard antecedently expressed that Matthew 23:12 was 1 of his favourite quotes successful the Bible.

NOTRE DAME, OHIO STATE MEETING IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH FAITH AT FOREFRONT

Notre Dame Fighting Irish backmost Riley Leonard (13) celebrates with choky extremity Kevin Bauman aft scoring a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the archetypal half. (Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

"I consciousness similar truthful galore radical privation to enactment maine connected this pedestal and similar my religion truly brings maine backmost down to that each time," helium said earlier successful the season, via Sports Spectrum. "So, like, done the ups and the downs, I’m capable to connection you guys perspective.

"I’ve seen what it’s similar to beryllium praised and to beryllium astatine the apical of the top. People got maine connected draught boards … and I’ve been connected the lowest of lows wherever I get injured and I don’t cognize what I’m going to bash with my career. But my religion has ever brought maine backmost to that humble position. Like, you’re nobody. It doesn’t substance if you’re astatine the highest of highs oregon lowest of lows, God’s going to dainty you the same."

Notre Dame was 2-for-2 connected 4th down during the drive.

Notre Dame backmost Riley Leonard passes against Ohio State during archetypal half. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Fighting Irish led the crippled early, 7-0.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.