Notre Dame faces Ohio State in the national championship game Monday in Atlanta, marking the Fighting Irish’s first title appearance in 12 seasons.
Kicker Mitch Jeter’s recovery from a mid-season groin injury helped power Notre Dame’s playoff run. The South Carolina transfer has made 7 of 8 field goals and all extra points during the postseason, including the 41-yard game-winner against Penn State that sent the Irish to the title game.
His father, Dr. Andrew Jeter, records every kick from the stands. The North Carolina chiropractor has become a familiar sight to TV viewers during Notre Dame’s games.
Jeter’s path to this moment wasn’t certain after he suffered a groin injury against Miami of Ohio on September 21. He missed the next two games while the Irish medical staff and his father collaborated on his treatment.
This is what it’s all about.
Mitch Jeter’s dad in the stands the moment his son hit the game-winning FG pic.twitter.com/BNjV1WXbnX
— ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2025
Before football, Jeter aimed to play college soccer. He discovered his kicking talent during an impromptu session with high school friends.
“The first one he made from like 40 yards,” Dr. Jeter told Sporting News. “They started backing him up and backing him up and they’re like ‘Dude, you need to go talk to the football coach at your school.'”
Jeter trained with former Panthers kicker Dan Orner and attended Kohl’s kicking camp, emerging as the No. 12 kicking prospect in the 2020 class per 247Sports Composite.
At South Carolina, Jeter connected on 23 of 25 field goals over two seasons, including a game-winning 35-yarder to upset No. 8 Clemson in 2022. He transferred to Notre Dame for his final season after graduating with a biological sciences degree.
The season started strong with three field goals in Week 1 at Texas A&M. But after his injury against Miami of Ohio, Jeter required an extensive 12-week recovery program combining chiropractic care, physical therapy and various treatment methods.
During Notre Dame’s playoff run, Jeter has missed just one attempt – a blocked kick against Indiana. He outscored Georgia’s entire offense in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal, posting 11 points in the Irish victory.
Notre Dame enters Monday’s championship as an 8.5-point underdog to Ohio State. The Irish last won a national title in 1988-89.
While Jeter hopes to reach the NFL, he plans to follow his father into chiropractic medicine when his playing career ends.
“He knows football will end someday,” Dr. Jeter said. “What are you gonna do for the rest of your life? Well, he wants to go to chiropractic school.”
