Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard addressed the team’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the National Championship Game, expressing optimism and faith despite the defeat. After scoring an early touchdown, Leonard revealed a wristband message quoting a biblical verse: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” He praised his team’s effort and maintained a positive outlook, stating, “I’m very happy to praise Jesus in the lowest of lows, as well.” Leonard also took responsibility for a lapse in performance during the second quarter, apologizing and emphasizing the need to maintain focus throughout the game.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the challenge of balancing play calls for Leonard, who had 17 carries for 40 yards, including the early touchdown. Freeman stated, “We couldn’t run Riley every play… It’s not right for Riley, and it’s not going to sustain the success we needed offensively.” Despite the loss, Leonard remained committed to his team, expressing willingness to follow the coach’s decisions and striving for better performance in future games.
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