The Fiesta Bowl served as the stage for an electrifying quarterfinal clash in the College Football Playoff, as the 6-seed Penn State Nittany Lions took on the 3-seed Boise State Broncos. All eyes were on Boise State’s star running back Ashton Jeanty, who entered the game with a chance to break Barry Sanders' historic rushing record. However, the Nittany Lions had their own ambitions, aiming to reach the final four teams for the first time in program history after dominating 11-seed SMU in the first round. Key to their effort was edge rusher Abdul Carter, who delivered a standout performance with two tackles for loss and a sack.
Game Recap
FINAL: (6) Penn State 31, (3) Boise State 14
Penn State claimed a decisive victory over Boise State in the 2024 Fiesta Bowl, earning their spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Running back Nick Singleton set the tone with a 58-yard touchdown run, while tight end Tyler Warren added two touchdown catches to secure the Nittany Lions' triumph. The win keeps Penn State undefeated in bowl games.
The Nittany Lions’ defense effectively limited Jeanty, holding him to 104 rushing yards at just 3.5 yards per carry. With Jeanty contained, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen stepped up, throwing for 304 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown to tight end Matt Lauter. However, Madsen also threw three costly interceptions, two of which occurred in the game's latter stages. Adding to Boise State's woes, star kicker Jonah Dalmas missed two field goals, leaving critical points on the table.
On the offensive side, Penn State's performance was uneven. Quarterback Drew Allar endured a rough stretch, missing seven consecutive passes at one point. Despite the inconsistency, Allar delivered several highlight-worthy moments, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to Omari Evans and an 11-yard strike to Tyler Warren. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s decision to pivot away from the run game raised eyebrows but didn’t derail Penn State's path to victory.
With this win, Penn State advances to the Orange Bowl, where they will face the winner of (2) Georgia vs. (7) Notre Dame, set to square off in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday. Stay tuned for continued updates, analysis, and highlights as the College Football Playoff unfolds.
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