Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
In a defining moment of Monday night’s college football national championship game, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard demonstrated his unwavering faith during the Fighting Irish’s 34-23 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes. After leading an impressive 18-play, 75-yard opening drive that consumed nearly 10 minutes, Leonard’s touchdown celebration revealed his spiritual foundation.
The senior quarterback pointed to his arm band displaying Matthew 23:12, a verse emphasizing humility: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
In previous interviews with Sports Spectrum, Leonard explained why this particular verse resonates deeply with him. “I feel like so many people want to put me on this pedestal, and my faith really brings me back down every time,” he shared. “Through the ups and the downs, I’m able to offer perspective. I’ve seen what it’s like to be praised and to be at the top of the top.”
The Fighting Irish quarterback, who leads weekly team Bible studies, has maintained his spiritual focus throughout the season. Following their earlier playoff victory over Penn State, Leonard’s post-game comments reflected his faith-centered approach: “I just started trusting in the Lord. I looked up and said, ‘Jesus, whatever your will is for my life, I trust it 100 percent.'”
Despite the championship game loss, Leonard’s testimony caught the attention of former Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Tony Dungy, who praised the quarterback’s faith witness on social media. The Notre Dame community has embraced Leonard’s spiritual leadership, which continues a long tradition of faith-based athletics at the university.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
Image: ESPNvideo screen grab.
