Skip to Main Content

Penn State runs away from Boise State, advancing to College Football Playoff semifinal at Orange Bowl

(6) Penn State outlasted a strong upset attempt from (3) Boise State to win the 2024 Fiesta Bowl 31-14 and move onto the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Running back Nick Singleton broke off a 58-yard touchdown run and tight end Tyler Warren added a pair of touchdown catches to give the Nittany Lions a monster victory and keep the program undefeated (8-0 all time) in the bowl game. 

The Nittany Lions focused on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and held him to only 3.5 yards per carry, though he did finish with 104 hard-fought yards. Jeanty ends the year with 2,601 yards rushing -- 28 behind the single-season record of 2,628 set by Barry Sanders.

With Jeanty somewhat limited, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen stepped up and threw for 304 yards and a 53-yard tight end touchdown to Matt Lauter. Ultimately, though, two missed field goals from star kicker Jonah Dalmus kept the score from getting closer than arm's reach. Madsen also threw for three interceptions, matching his season total, though two came with the game out of hand. 

While Penn State stayed ahead, the Nittany Lions played an inconsistent offensive game. At one point, quarterback Drew Allar missed seven consecutive passes as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki opted not to lean on the successful running game. However, Allar did have a few beauties, including a 38-yard bomb to Omari Evans in the back of the end zone. He also connected with Warren for an 11-yard beauty that was perfectly thrown.

With the win, Penn State now advances to the Orange Bowl where the Nittany Lions await the winner of Notre Dame vs. Georgia, which will take place at the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday. 

  • Boise State's 14 points were the fewest for the team this season, and the outcome marked the largest deficit for the Broncos on the season.
  • Though Jeanty failed to break Barry Sanders' record, he recorded 100 yards rushing in all 14 of Boise State's games this season. He also moves into second all-time in single-season rushing yards. 
  • Tyler Warren's 98th reception of the season, which came on his second TD of the night, is the new Penn State single-season record, breaking Allen Robinson's record of 97 in 2013.

CBS Sports was here throughout the evening with updates, highlights and analysis. Read on below for more takeaways from Penn State's victory over Boise State.

Updates
(27)
See New Posts
 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State plays with fire

The Nittany Lions pulled away and won the game, but some head-scratching decisions kept it close far longer than it needed to be. Penn State's Andy Kotelnicki has been perhaps the best offensive coordinator hire of the 2024 season a key reason why the Nittany Lions are the first to advance to the final four. However, his abandoning of the run triggered a run of four punts and a field goal in the middle portion of the game to let Boise State back in. 

Quarterback Drew Allar had some great moments and flashed his NFL arm talent at times and Kotelnicki was right to take some shots against an inconsistent Boise State secondary. At the same time, Kaytron Allen ran the ball for nearly eight yards per carry. The running backs touched the ball only 29 times to Allar's 25 pass attempts, which also engaged the fearsome Boise State passing attack. 

Penn State was lucky to get relatively overmatched opponents in Boise State and SMU in the first two rounds. That changes in the Orange Bowl. The messiness has to get cleaned up. That extends to penalties too -- the Nittany Lions gave Boise State 10 penalties for 98 yards. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Playmakers step up

Penn State's offense wasn't at its best all night, but monster efforts from running back Kaytron Allen and tight end Tyler Warren ultimately proved to be the difference. Allen was the best individual player in the game with 134 yards and the offense flourished seemingly every time he touched the football. At times, quarterback Drew Allar focused in on tight end Tyler Warren, but the Mackey Award winner lived up to the hype with six catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Nittany Lions have had moments of brilliance from playmakers, but Penn State's 2024 roster features perhaps the most comprehensive collection that James Franklin has ever put together. Penn State needs Omari Evans and Harrison Wallace III to keep making strides, but Allar's arm seems to be in a strong place. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Historic season falls short

Penn State keyed in tight on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and tried to ensure that he would not be the reason the Nittany Lions lost. PSU boasted a top-10 rushing defense nationally and allowed only one 100-yard rusher heading into the Fiesta Bowl. Jeanty ultimately cleared 104 yards, but it took 30 carries and was not enough to reach Barry Sanders' record for rushing yards in a season. 

Jeanty's 104 yards gave him 2,601 yards rushing on the season, passing Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon for the second-most in NCAA history. He finished only 27 yards shy of the 2,628 yards Sanders accumulated for Oklahoma State in 1988. Still, his season will go down in the history books, especially combined with leading Boise State's first College Football Playoff team. 

The Frisco, Texas, native did not need to return to Boise State and had major offers in the portal. Even in loss, Jeanty etched his name in the history books. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Nittany Lions advance to Orange Bowl

FINAL: (6) Penn State 31, (3) Boise State 14

Penn State outlasted a strong upset attempt from Boise State to win the 2024 Fiesta Bowl and move onto the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. Running back Nick Singleton broke off a 58-yard touchdown run and tight end Tyler Warren added a pair of touchdown catches to give the Nittany Lions a monster victory and keep the program undefeated (8-0 all time) in the bowl game. 

The Nittany Lions focused on Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and held him to only 3.5 yards per carry, though he did finish with 104 hard-fought yards. Jeanty ends the year with 2,601 yards rushing -- 28 behind the single-season record of 2,628 set by Barry Sanders.

With Jeanty somewhat limited, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen stepped up and threw for 304 yards and a 53-yard tight end touchdown to Matt Lauter. Ultimately, though, two missed field goals from star kicker Jonah Dalmus kept the score from getting closer than arm's reach. Madsen also threw for three interceptions, matching his season total, though two came with the game out of hand. 

While Penn State stayed ahead, the Nittany Lions played an inconsistent offensive game. At one point, quarterback Drew Allar missed seven consecutive passes as offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki opted not to lean on the successful running game. However, Allar did have a few beauties, including a 38-yard bomb to Omari Evans in the back of the end zone. He also connected with Warren for an 11-yard beauty that was perfectly thrown.

With the win, Penn State now advances to the Orange Bowl where the Nittany Lions await the winner of Notre Dame vs. Georgia, which will take place at the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday. 

  • Boise State's 14 points were the fewest for the team this season, and the outcome marked the largest deficit for the Broncos on the season.
  • Though Jeanty failed to break Barry Sanders' record, he recorded 100 yards rushing in all 14 of Boise State's games this season. He also moves into second all-time in single-season rushing yards. 
  • Tyler Warren's 98th reception of the season, which came on his second TD of the night, is the new Penn State single-season record, breaking Allen Robinson's record of 97 in 2013.
 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State's defense slams the door shut

Not that there was much hope left for Boise State after Nick Singleton's long touchdown run, but Penn State's defense just squashed any remaining cinders of optimism with a big defensive play. Needing to make magic happen, Boise State went for it on fourth-and-12 from its own 24-yard line. Nittany Lions defensive back Zion Tracy stuck hip-to-hip with his receiver and was rewarded with an interception when Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen threw his way. That will just about do it. 

January 1, 2025, 3:57 AM
Dec. 31, 2024, 10:57 pm EST
 
Pinned
Link copied

Singleton calls game

4Q: (6) Penn State 31, (3) Boise State 14

Penn State running back Nick Singleton has been an afterthought for most of the game. But facing a bleed-it-out final drive, Singleton hit the nitro and broke off a 58-yard touchdown run that should ice the Fiesta Bowl and give James Franklin his fourth major bowl game victory. The Nittany Lions are up to 212 yards rushing and a touchdown as the game clears a 10-point lead for the first time since 14-0 in the first quarter. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Jeanty starting to eat

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has largely been stifled, but on third-and-21, Jeanty broke off a 26-yard run to extend the drive and bring the Broncos back into play. He later added another 10-yard run. Jeanty is up to 24 carries for 96 yards and is still within distance of the 132 yards needed for Barry Sanders' record. 

After the 55-yard drive, Boise State missed a 38-yard field goal that would have made the game a one-score game. Instead, the lead remains 10 points in the fourth quarter. Boise State is running out of time. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Madsen's first miscue

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has thrown only three interceptions this season and been one of the cleanest passers in college football. However, on third-and-25, Madsen forced a pass that was picked off by safety Zakee Wheatley for a game-changing turnover. Dani Dennis-Sutton had a late cheap shot against Ashton Jeanty to push field position back, but Penn State will now have a chance to put away the game. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State pulling away

End 3Q: (6) Penn State 24, (3) Boise State 14

Penn State remains in control entering the third quarter of the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen has been the star of the game with 112 yards on only 13 carries, but tight end Tyler Warren's two touchdowns have been the difference. 

With running back Ashton Jeanty bottled up, quarterback Maddux Madsen has been exceptional. The sophomore completed 17 of 21 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown with 96 yards going to Matt Lauter, who caught a 53-yard touchdown on a coverage bust to change the game. Jeanty has fumbled twice, losing one, and rushed for only 59 yards on 20 carries in a frustrating performance. 

Boise State has the ball at the Penn State 35-yard line with a chance to put more points on the board, but will have to escape from behind the chains. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Record-breaking performance

With his touchdown catch against Boise State, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren set a program record with his 98th catch of the season. The performance passes Allen Robinson's 97 receptions set in 2013. Warren has six catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Warren is uncoverable

3Q: (6) Penn State 24, (3) Boise State 14

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar missed on seven straight passes, but tight end Tyler Warren went to work to get him back on track. Facing third-and-11, Allar threw a wild jump ball to Warren that the latter brought down over a lengthy Boise State defender for a touchdown. The TD is the first for Penn State since the second drive of the game and helps push the lead out to two scores. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Here comes Boise State

3Q: (6) Penn State 17, (3) Boise State 14

Boise State came out for the second half locked in, especially behind quarterback Maddex Madsen. Despite committing a pair of false starts, Madsen found Matt Lauter for a 53-yard touchdown on a blown coverage caused by a play action to Ashton Jeanty. Even though Jeanty has been bottled up, Boise State offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter has found plenty of creative ways to have him impact the game. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Carter still out

Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter remains on the sideline without his helmet as the Nittany Lions enter the second half. Carter was a massive part of PSU's win over SMU, but the Boise State offense has come to life without Carter in the lineup. It's unclear if he can return. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State stalls

The Nittany Lions got the ball out of halftime but went three-and-out after a pair of incompletions from Drew Allar, including a drop by tight end Tyler Warren. Allar has now missed on six straight passes as Penn State's only score drive in the second quarter was set up by a pass interference. Boise State must take advantage and score points to give themselves a chance. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State holds lead

HALF: (6) Penn State 17, (3) Boise State 7

Penn State holds a comfortable halftime lead against Boise State after 30 minutes in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions took a two-touchdown lead after two drives behind a pair of touchdown passes by Drew Allar, including a 38-yard bomb to Omari Evans, but Penn State was forced to punt three consecutive times to let Boise State get back in the game. 

The Nittany Lions appeared to get stopped on fourth down in the final minute of the second quarter, but a pass interference call helped set up a field goal for Penn State to push the lead out to two scores. They get the ball to start the second half. Allar completed 10 of 17 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kaytron Allen added 76 yards on the ground. 

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty has been shaky and fumbled twice, losing one, after fumbling just twice on the season. However, a solid punt return from Cooper Jones helped set up a 52-yard touchdown drive capped off by a fullback dive from Tyler Crowe that bowled over for eight yards. Jeanty has 13 carries for 39 yards at the half, along with 23 yards receiving. He'll need to triple that rushing output in the second half to eclipse Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record. In his stead, quarterback Maddux Madsen threw for 99 yards. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Broncos finally get to Allar

Boise State was one of the top pass rushing teams in college football and joined Ole Miss as the only teams to clear 50 sacks. Late in the second quarter, top defender Ahmed Hassanein finally got home on Penn State quarterback Drew Allar and forced the first sack of the game to cause a punt. The momentum has quietly and quickly shifted. Boise State is suddenly back in. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Fullback dive for TD

2Q: (6) Penn State 14, (3) Boise State 7

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty was pulled from the game momentarily after dropping another fumble, recovered by the offense, but the Broncos were undeterred. Boise State motioned Jeanty to the flat as a receiver to move the Penn State defense and clear the way for fullback Tyler Crowe to bowl over eight yards into the end zone for the first Boise State points of the game. The Broncos have slowly started to find some success with Jeanty getting outside as both a receiver and decoy. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Carter goes out

Penn State defensive lineman Abdul Carter went to the injury tent holding his arm in the second quarter. Carter went back in, but had to leave the game again. The junior is one of the top defenders in college football with 22 tackles for loss and 11 sacks. He already forced a holding call in the game. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Penn State rolling early

End 1Q: (6) Penn State 14, (3) Boise State 0

Penn State took a major lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of absolute dimes from quarterback Drew Allar. The junior hit Omari Evans for a rainbow 38-yard touchdown and found Tyler Warren for another 11-yard score to push the lead to 14-0 before Boise State ever got its composure. 

The Broncos traveled 47 yards on their first drive, but a whiffed 45-yard field goal kept Boise State scoreless after one quarter. Star running back Ashton Jeanty has only 20 yards on eight carries, with 12 yards coming on one carry. He also lost only his third fumble of the season against a physical Penn State defense. 

Allar has 75 yards and two touchdowns after one quarter. Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has 62 yards of his own with five passes completed to five different pass-catchers. Penn State has also run for 6.9 yards per carry. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Shocking mistake

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty only lost two fumbles during the entire 2024 season, but Penn State forced a wild swinging drop that was recovered by the Nittany Lions. However, Boise State got a huge break when Drew Allar lost the ball at the mesh point and it was recovered again. There's a huge opportunity ahead for the Broncos. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Allar dealing

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar has only thrown four passes -- one of which was a throwaway -- and he already has two of the best dimes of his season. On the Nittany Lions' second drive, Allar launched an absolute bomb that went 38 yards for a touchdown in the end zone. Boise State's passing defense is likely its weakest unit, and Allar has quickly exposed it. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

That was easy

Penn State was inconsistent running the ball against SMU, but the job has been much easier against Boise State. The Nittany Lions leaned on running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen for easy yards, exploding for 55 yards on only six carries to set up an 11-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Tyler Warren. Penn State averaged eight yards per carry on that drive despite primarily running the ball. Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander will have to come up with more answers because the Broncos are getting blasted while playing head-up. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Wasted opportunity

Penn State is selling out to stop running back Ashton Jeanty, as expected, and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is happy to take advantage. Against heavy boxes, quarterback Maddux Madsen has completed all three of his passes attempts for 36 yards to get the Broncos deep into scoring possession. 

However, Boise State kicker Jonah Dalmus completely whiffed on a 45-yard field goal attempt and wasted a 47-yard drive that bled more than four minutes off the clock. Jeanty has been held to only four yards on three rushing attempts, along with a five-yard reception. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Broncos get first crack

Penn State won the toss and opted to defer, giving Boise State the first opportunity to get on the board. Star running back Ashton Jeanty has been exceptional early in games, averaging 8.6 yards per carry in first quarters. Penn State is the best rushing defense Boise State has played, but the Broncos opened with a field goal drive against No. 1 Oregon in their near-upset. 

 
Pinned
Link copied

Phoenix Zoo rhino picks Boise State

The Boise State Broncos are clear underdogs in Friday's College Football Playoff Quartefinal at the Fiesta Bowl. Not many people are picking Boise State to upset Penn State, but one rhino at the Phoenix Zoo is standing with the Broncos.

College Football Playoff: Watch as Phoenix Zoo rhino picks Boise State to upset Penn State in Fiesta Bowl
Austin Nivison
College Football Playoff: Watch as Phoenix Zoo rhino picks Boise State to upset Penn State in Fiesta Bowl

College Football Playoff: Watch as Phoenix Zoo rhino picks Boise State to upset Penn State in Fiesta Bowl

 
Pinned
Link copied

Fiesta bowl prediction, pick

Penn State was able to take advantage of miscues from SMU, but the Broncos rarely make mistakes. In fact, Boise State is tied for No. 2 nationally in turnovers lost with only four fumbles and four interceptions. Even the steady Nittany Lions had 13 turnovers. Ultimately, it means the game will stay closer than expected for four quarters. Pick: Boise State +11

Penn State vs. Boise State game TV channel, where to watch, prediction, pick, Fiesta Bowl odds, spread
Shehan Jeyarajah
Penn State vs. Boise State game TV channel, where to watch, prediction, pick, Fiesta Bowl odds, spread


 
Pinned
Link copied

Record pace

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy and is on track to set the all-time rushing record set by Barry Sanders in 1988. Jeanty needs only 131 yards against Penn State to set the mark. 

Ashton Jeanty chasing Barry Sanders: Boise State RB comes up 28 yards shy of NCAA single-season rushing record
Ben Kercheval
Ashton Jeanty chasing Barry Sanders: Boise State RB comes up 28 yards shy of NCAA single-season rushing record

Ashton Jeanty chasing Barry Sanders: Tracking the Boise State RB's pursuit of single-season NCAA rushing title