Mitch Jeter has transitioned from being relatively unknown to a star after he kicked the deciding field goal for Notre Dame in their College Football Playoff semifinal win against Penn State on Thursday during the Orange Bowl.

Given his last name and remarkable performance, comparisons to the renowned former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter are inevitable.

The Fighting Irish are set to play against the victor of the matchup between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 5 Texas in the national championship game on January 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, thanks to Mitch Jeter’s 41-yard field goal that he successfully kicked with just 7 seconds remaining.

In the meantime, fans might be curious if these two talented Jeters are related. Here’s what you should know:

Are Mitch Jeter and Derek Jeter related?

No, they are not related. Despite the shared last name, Mitch Jeter is not connected to Derek Jeter, the former shortstop who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after a stellar 20-year career with the New York Yankees. Derek Jeter secured five World Series championships during his time with the Yankees from 1995 to 2014.

Mitch Jeter is a senior at Notre Dame. He grew up in Salisbury, South Carolina, where he attended Cannon High School. He began his college football journey at South Carolina before transferring to Notre Dame as a graduate student ahead of the 2024 season.

Who are Mitch Jeter’s parents?

According to The Salisbury Post, Mitch’s parents are Andrew and Stacy Jeter. They met as students at East Carolina University. Interestingly, while the Pirates offered Mitch a scholarship, he chose to play for the Gamecocks instead.

“I felt a strong connection with the coaches at South Carolina, and playing in the SEC excites me,” Mitch told the Salisbury Post after signing. “The coaching staff, the facilities, and the overall atmosphere are outstanding. Competing before such large crowds will be an incredible challenge, but I’ve always embraced challenges. I believed South Carolina would push me to be my best.”

Mitch Jeter’s statistics

Here’s a summary of Mitch Jeter’s performance stats from his time at both South Carolina and Notre Dame:

• 2021 (South Carolina): 2-for-2 on extra points
• 2022 (South Carolina): 11-for-11 on field goals, longest 53 yards; 42-of-44 on extra points
• 2023 (South Carolina): 12-for-14 on field goals, longest 51 yards; 33-of-34 on extra points
• 2024 (Notre Dame): 13-for-20 on field goals; longest 48 yards; 53-of-53 on extra points