Riley Leonard is a true gentleman. He held his head high for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish until the final whistle of the national championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The matchup, which ended in a 34-23 loss Monday night in Atlanta, was a painful one for Leonard and the team, but he kept his emotions in check and made sure to credit his teammates and coaching staff.
Fans Praise Riley Leonard for His Mature Press Conference Comments
Entering the game, Notre Dame was the clear underdog, with Marcus Freeman orchestrating a strategy to slow down Ohio State’s explosive offense. The plan worked early, as Leonard led an 18-play scoring drive in the opening quarter, wrapping up the first 15 minutes of play with Notre Dame in control.
“The character of this place is kinda hard to describe. I think I’ve grown so much just because of the people around.” ❤️@NDFootball‘s Riley Leonard gets emotional talking about how his teammates helped him grow on and off the field ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rLut3ADuS4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) January 21, 2025
But the momentum didn’t last. The Buckeyes erupted for 31 unanswered points, sealing the game in dominant fashion. Despite the loss, Leonard used his postgame press conference to highlight the team’s effort and give a huge shoutout to his teammates.
“I’ll start with just the guys around me. It’s very easy to be a successful quarterback when, first and foremost, your coaches are setting you up for success. I’ve never been so prepared in my life—I’ve just learned so much this past year,” Leonard said.
“Then the guys up front—I’ll start with the offensive line. From the day I got here, I understood how special they were. The O-line… these guys don’t budge. They do their job, they smile.
“They’re all about team glory, and when their time comes, they always make plays for me in the backfield with Jay Love and all those guys. I mean, how could I not become a better player on the field and then off the field?”* he added with a proud smile.
Fans were quick to react, praising Leonard for his maturity and leadership. Many wished him success as he prepares for the NFL.
Really a damn good kid right there. Nothing but respect for him.
— Add your name here (@RMCLECKLER) January 21, 2025
Leonard drew praise from multiple fans for playing to his fullest potential.
Love you bro you played your heart out
— xavier (@KenXaviousPope) January 21, 2025
And it was certainly difficult to find someone as classy as Leonard, even in defeat.
That prompted many more reactions as well.
Great kid, classy program, decent/honorable coaches, respectful alumni, first class university, with faith & morality at its core. A complete 180° contrast from the scumbags at The Ohio State.
— Funny Bone (@funnybonetweet) January 21, 2025
And it wasn’t just Notre Dame fans, but Ohio State fans alike that showed their appreciation and support for Leonard.
Nothing but respect for Leonard. He showed some serious toughness tonight. Happy my Buckeyes came out on top, but ND made them EARN it!
— Aaron Browning (@buckeyebrowning) January 21, 2025
Leonard completed 22 of 31 passes for 255 yards while throwing for two touchdowns in the game. He added another touchdown on the ground as he also led the team in rush attempts and rushing yards.
KEEP READING: Smith Claps Back at Notre Dame Fan After Ohio State’s National Championship Win
Wide receiver Jaden Greathouse put his talents on display as well, catching six passes for 128 yards and two scores in the loss.
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