For Notre Dame fans around the world, cornerback Christian Gray’s interception against Penn State with 33 seconds remaining, and the College Football Playoff semifinal game tied at 24, was a moment of sheer elation, as it put the Fighting Irish in position to advance to it first national title game since the 2012 season.
As for Gray himself, however, the moment was a spiritual experience.
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“To be honest with you, I really didn’t think about anything after I caught the ball,” he said in the postgame press conference. “I just knew I was just blessed and I just felt God over me after I caught the ball.”
Gray, who wears eye black under both eyes in the shape of a cross during games, pointed Heavenward following the play.
Notre Dame took over at Penn State’s 42-yard line following Gray’s pick. Quarterback Riley Leonard then calmly put his team in position for a 41-yard field goal that sealed the Orange Bowl victory and gave the Fighting Irish a berth in the CFP National Championship Game against Ohio State.
A true sophomore from St. Louis, Gray is tied for second on the Fighting Irish with three interceptions (one of which he returned 99 yards for a touchdown against USC). He’s also now accumulated 32 combined tackles and a forced fumble on the season. Thanks in part to his production, Notre Dame’s defense ranks No. 9 in the country in total yards allowed per game (298.3), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (165.3), and No. 2 in points allowed (14.3). The team that’s No. 1 in all of those categories? The Buckeyes, Notre Dame’s opponent in the national title tilt.
In an interview with Access the Walk released last week, Gray made it clear that he believes God has a greater purpose in Notre Dame’s journey this season, from losing in Week 2 to Northern Illinois to now playing in the final game of the season.
“I believe in the path that God gave us and I believe in the path that we’re on,” Gray said in the interview, while sporting a “Just here to give God glory” hoodie.
He continued later: “We’re human and sometimes we sin. And just confess to Him. … You gotta study (the Bible), you gotta read, you gotta do everything right in the name of the Lord so you could live by Him and be a bridge for others, so they can come close to Him.”
As a starter at Notre Dame, Gray seeks to leverage his platform to tell others about his Savior. He quotes the Bible verse Psalm 119:105 and cites Proverbs 4:23 in his Instagram bio, while in his X bio he again quotes Psalm 119:105, writes that “GOD put greatness in everyone,” and includes a banner photo that reads, “I am proof that God is able.”
ALWAYS KEEP HIM FIRST💯💯 pic.twitter.com/qDvNJNw7Rc
— Christian Gray (@8_franchise) July 6, 2022
View this post on Instagram
Gray told Access the Walk that it was God who led him to Notre Dame, and he even recounted the moment when he became a believer at the age of 10 or 11 with his mother by his side.
“I just hear in my heart and in my mind, like, ‘This is you. Give glory to God. Give glory to God.’ All I hear is that,” Gray said. “I felt it in my spirit. I felt whole. I felt warm. I felt like Somebody was holding me. And I just keep hearing it. I start crying out of nowhere and I’m just looking up to God, saying, ‘Thank You, God. I surrender, I surrender, I surrender.'”
Surrendering to God ✝️
Notre Dame CB Christian Gray on feeling Jesus for the first time pic.twitter.com/0ggC8ESME3
— thewalk (@accessthewalk) January 7, 2025
“I want to be a champion someday,” he continued. “I want to be a champion and give God all the glory.”
On Monday, Gray will have the opportunity to do so. Kickoff between the Fighting Irish and Buckeyes from Atlanta is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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