Notre Dame football relied on defense and the legs of Riley Leonard to keep their season alive on Jan. 2. The Fighting Irish are now positioned to clinch their first national championship game appearance since the 2012 season.

Once again, Notre Dame finds themselves in a matchup where situational football will be a major deciding factor in the outcome of a football game. This week's setting, Miami, Florida in the Capital One Orange Bowl.

With just under six minutes left to play in Thursday's Sugar Bowl, Notre Dame held a 23-10 lead against Georgia and faced a third-and-seven. The Fighting Irish