QB Riley Leonard fell short in national title game. But Notre Dame experience changed him

ATLANTA – Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and his longtime girlfriend, Molly Walding, started a new tradition after playoff games this season.

They went to Five Guys for burgers and fries, because “he’s usually starving,” Walding told USA TODAY Sports last week. The two stood in line, just like everyone else, patiently waiting for their food. From time to time, a young fan would recognize Leonard. Walding would happily take a photo. Then the two would go back to eating.

After a 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday night, Leonard walked off the field still hungry for a title. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Buckeyes' sideline turned into chaos, and thousands of pieces of red and white confetti began pouring from the ceiling.

Leonard kept on his helmet but found Will Howard, the fellow transfer quarterback who just led the Buckeyes to their first national title in 10 years, and embraced him. A real, genuine hug.

Leonard lifted his helmet on his forehead just high enough to share a few words with Howard. The two, who made history as the first two transfer quarterbacks to start against each other in a national championship game, were once both seen as “underdogs” – merely dreaming of the day that they would step on the biggest stage in college football.

Leonard then made his way to the edge of the Notre Dame endzone, pushing his helmet back into place to shield the tears, giving hugs to each teammate walking by. He inched his way off the field, with hurt in his eyes, and away from the celebration of the new national champions.

“I think as far as this program goes, we've learned a lot,” Leonard said. “We've been through ups and downs. I've been through ups and downs. I don't even recognize the person I was before I got to Notre Dame, and it's all credit to these guys beside me and everybody else in the locker room.”

Leonard also gives a lot of credit to his family.

“The support from my family members is unmatched,” Leonard said at Saturday’s CFP media day.

Although most of the Leonard family can be found sitting with the other Fighting Irish families during a game, Leonard’s dad, Chad, is nowhere to be seen. It’s not because he’s not at the game. He prefers to walk the stadium concourses and watch his son play the game from his “secret spots.” This tradition dates all the way back to his son’s T-ball days.

The last time Leonard played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, when Notre Dame played Georgia Tech in October 2024, his dad walked around each level of the stadium, scouting out new spots to keep track of the game.

On Monday, he saw Leonard set the tone on the first drive, rushing for four first-down conversions and the game’s first touchdown.

Leonard, who finished with 238 yards and two TDs on 21-of-30 passing to go along with a rushing TD, lifted his right arm to the TV camera and flashed his sweatband that read “Matthew 23:12.” On Leonard’s left wrist was another wristband that reads “you suck,” a phrase that his mom, Heather, has texted him before each one of his games since high school.

“If Coach wants to call my number and have me run the ball every single play, I've got no problem with it,” Leonard said. “You've seen me put my body on the line for this team over and over again. Whether I'm running the ball or passing the ball, it doesn't matter. I'm going to do everything I can to help the team win.”

After that first touchdown, the Fighting Irish struggled to move the ball throughout the second quarter and much of the third. Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for two touchdowns in the second half to create some back-half momentum, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to make the comeback Notre Dame needed.

Unlike his dad, Leonard’s mom sits in the stands, next to his older brother Cole and younger brother Devin, who have started a tradition of their own with Leonard at Notre Dame: They paint their bodies head to toe in green and gold. Despite the 20-degree temperatures in Atlanta on Monday, the two walked from their tailgate to the stadium wearing nothing but that paint and their shorts to cheer on their brother.

Although Monday night’s game didn’t end with happy photos for Leonard and the Fighting Irish, the new Five Guys tradition could be an add-on to the things his family does when he’s playing sports. Once a local basketball and football legend in his blue and gold Fairhope High School jerseys, Leonard has closed this chapter of his life donning the same colors.

“I’m tremendously grateful for what Riley and these guys have done for our program,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said.

This story was updated with new information.

Ansley Gavlak is a student in the University of Georgia's undergraduate Sports Media Certificate program.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard reacted to national championship loss