ATLANTA – After playoff games this season, Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard and his long-time girlfriend, Molly Walding, created a new ritual.

They would head to Five Guys for some burgers and fries, as Walding noted, “he’s usually starving,” in a recent conversation with YSL News Sports. They would wait in line like everyone else, occasionally having young fans spot Leonard and ask for a photo, which Walding happily took. Following that, they would enjoy their meal together.

Following a 34-23 defeat to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday, Leonard left the field still yearning for a title. As the clock ran out, the Buckeyes’ sideline erupted in celebration, with a cascade of red and white confetti falling from above.

Keeping his helmet on, Leonard sought out Will Howard, a fellow transfer quarterback who had just led the Buckeyes to their first national championship in a decade, and they shared a heartfelt embrace.

Leonard raised his helmet just enough to exchange a few words with Howard. Both had made history as the first two transfer quarterbacks to face each other in a national championship game, and they were once considered “underdogs,” dreaming of the moment they would take the field in college football’s biggest event.

Later, Leonard approached the edge of the Notre Dame endzone, adjusting his helmet to hide his tears, exchanging hugs with teammates passing by. He slowly made his way off the field, visibly affected and stepping away from the celebration of the new champions.

“I believe we’ve gained a lot from this experience as a program,” Leonard reflected. “We’ve had highs and lows. Personally, I don’t recognize who I was before coming to Notre Dame, and I owe that to the incredible teammates and everyone else in the locker room.”

Leonard is also deeply grateful for his family’s support.

“The backing from my family is irreplaceable,” he shared on Saturday during the CFP media day.

While most of the Leonard family can be seen in the stands with the other Fighting Irish supporters, the absence of his father, Chad, is noticeable. Instead of sitting in the stands, he prefers to roam the stadium, watching his son’s games from special spots he discovers, a tradition he started during Riley’s T-ball years.

The last occasion Leonard played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, against Georgia Tech in October 2024, Chad scouted various levels of the venue to find new vantage points for watching the action.

On Monday night, he observed Leonard lead the charge on the opening drive, picking up four first downs and securing the game’s initial touchdown.

Leonard concluded the game with 238 passing yards, two touchdowns on 21 of 30 throws, alongside a rushing touchdown. He pointed to the TV camera, revealing a sweatband inscribed with “Matthew 23:12,” while another wristband on his left read “you suck,” a playful phrase his mother, Heather, has texted him before every game since high school.

“If my coach calls for me to run the ball every play, I’m all in,” Leonard stated. “I’ve consistently put everything on the line for this team. Whether it’s running or passing, my goal is to do everything I can to secure a win.”

After the initial touchdown, the Fighting Irish faced challenges moving the ball for much of the second quarter and into the third. Nevertheless, Leonard connected with Jaden Greathouse for two touchdowns in the second half, building momentum, but it wasn’t enough to complete the comeback Notre Dame needed.

Unlike Chad, Leonard’s mother sits in the stands alongside his older brother, Cole, and younger brother, Devin. Together, they have their own tradition: they paint each other from head to toe in green and gold. Braving the frigid 20-degree temperatures in Atlanta on Monday, the two proudly walked from their tailgate to the stadium wearing just that body paint and shorts to cheer for their brother.

While Monday’s game didn’t conclude with victorious moments for Leonard and the Fighting Irish, the Five Guys outing could become another cherished family tradition when he plays sports. Once a celebrated athlete in his blue and gold Fairhope High School jersey, Leonard has now entered a new chapter wearing the same colors.

“I am immensely thankful for what Riley and his teammates have done for our program,” said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.

This story was updated with new information.

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