MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Drew Allar put both hands on his Penn State football helmet as he walked off the field after making this final throw of his College Football Playoff season.

It was as if he couldn't believe what he had just had done.

And with the ensuing result.

Allar's ill-advised, first-down pass with 37 seconds remaining in this CFP semifinal in the Orange Bowl late Thursday night helped doom the Nittany Lions. The interception set up Notre Dame for its game-winning field goal in this 27-24 victory that sends it to the national championship game and ended the Nittany Lions' season.

It was the toughest moment for the super-talented Allar, who flashed NFL-caliber throws in this postseason but also completed barely 50% of his passes through the Big Ten championship defeat and three playoff games. He also threw three interceptions.

This last one kept the Lions from a signature victory in this 13-3 season and from playing for a national title for the first time in 38 years.

Afterward, Allar told reporters that he was trying to "dirt it" - throw the ball low so only wideout Omari Evans could get it coming across the middle, and no one else.

Instead, Allar misfired and Notre Dame defensive back Christian Gray jumped the route and made the diving interception on Penn State's 42 yard line.

Seven plays later, the Irish kicked the winning field goal.

"I should've just thrown it away," Allar said. "I didn't execute what I was trying to do."

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Penn State defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas was asked about the interception and consoling Allar after it was all over.

"Listen, everybody wants to talk about Drew throwing that last-minute interception, but let's look at the season as a whole," he said. "Drew has made incredible plays all season. He's the reason why we're here. We wouldn't be having this conversation after the Orange Bowl if it wasn't for Drew Allar doing the things he did all season.

"That's football. Not everything's going to be sunshine and rainbows and perfect plays. It happens. However it played out I thank you Drew, I appreciate you."

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Penn State football's Drew Allar talks interception vs. Notre Dame