Notre Dame star quarterback Riley Leonard returned in the third quarter of the Orange Bowl on Thursday after entering concussion protocol late the first half following a big hit. Leonard's brief absence injected some uncertainty for the 7-seed Fighting Irish in their College Football Playoff semifinal battle with 6-seed Penn State.

Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard suffered an injury vs. Penn State in College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates after winning the first round of the College Football Playoff 27-17 against Indiana at Notre Dame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend. / MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard was ushered off the field by officials after a possible concussion in the Orange Bowl against Penn State, but returned.

Notre Dame vs. Penn State in CFP Semifinal Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Follow along for live scoring updates

Penn State meets Notre Dame tonight in the Orange Bowl for a place in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

Follow the action live as the Fighting Irish and Nittany Lions face off in south Florida with a spot in the College Football Playoff title game on the line.

SportsLine's model just revealed its College Football Playoff semifinal picks for No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 7 seed Notre Dame in the 2025 Orange Bowl on Thursday

Win and you’re in. No. 6 Penn State and No. 7 Notre Dame battle it out in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium for a spot in the National Championship Game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Jan. 9 on ESPN.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard left the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl late in the first half and was being evaluated by the Fighting Irish’s medical staff