No. 6 Seed Penn State Football Moves On to College Football Playoff Semifinal with 31-14 Fiesta Bowl Win over No. 3 Seed Boise State
GLENDALE, Ariz. – The No. 6 seed Penn State Football team (13-2, 8-1) earned the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl win by taking down No. 3 seed Boise State (12-2, 7-0) Tuesday night at State Farm Stadium in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal by a final score of 31-14. Penn State advances to the College Football Playoff Semifinal game in the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
A record-setting offensive day coupled with four takeaways on defense and stellar special teams play propelled the Nittany Lions to the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions earned a 13-win season for the first time in program history with their 31-14 defeat of the third-seeded Broncos on New Year’s Eve.
The running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 221 yards on the ground to lead the Nittany Lion offense. Allen tallied 134 yards on 17 carries while Singleton collected 87 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, on 12 totes. Both backs crossed the 1,000 rushing-yard plateau in their respective seasons Tuesday against the Broncos, becoming the first teammates in school history to each eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in the same season.
Tight end Tyler Warren posted six catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns in a historic outing. His third-quarter touchdown reception was his 98th catch of the season which broke the Penn State single-season reception record held by Allen Robinson (97; 2013). Warren, who won Offensive Player of the Game for his performance, was quarterback Drew Allar’s favorite target in a game in which he completed 13 of 25 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Omari Evans hauled in Allar’s other touchdown pass as one of his two catches on the night, a 38-yard touchdown strike in the first quarter.
Penn State’s defense recorded four takeaways against Boise State, including three fourth-quarter interceptions. Zakee Wheatley, Zion Tracy, and Tyrece Mills each came away with picks, turning away Bronco scoring opportunities with splash plays. Wheatley was named Defensive Player of the Game for his efforts. Additionally, Kobe King forced a fumble by Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty early in the first half, stifling yet another scoring opportunity for Boise State.
King and teammate Jaylen Reed led the defense with eight tackles apiece while Tony Rojas posted seven. Penn State collected nine tackles for loss, including sacks by Reed, Amin Vanover, and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn State won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Boise State missed a 45-yard field goal on its first offensive possession, giving the Nittany Lion offense the ball at its own 28-yard line.
A nine-play, 72-yard scoring drive capped off by an 11-yard toe-tap touchdown from Allar to Warren put Penn State up 7-0 in the early going. 42 rushing yards from Allen on the drive helped push the Nittany Lion offense inside the red zone where Warren hauled in his 18th career receiving score.
Two tackles for loss by Dennis-Sutton, including a sack, forced a Boise State three-and-out and Penn State took over on its own 44-yard line after a punt. Allar connected on his second passing touchdown of the day, this time on a 38-yard dime to Evans. The Nittany Lions went 56 yards on four plays to extend a 14-0 lead over the Broncos at the 3:35 mark of the opening quarter.
Penn State recovered an Ashton Jeanty fumble on Boise State’s next drive and took over at its own 49-yard line. The Nittany Lions turned the ball over shortly after and the Broncos’ offense took the field at their own 35-yard line.
Boise State scored its first touchdown on an eight-yard run in the second quarter. The Broncos went 52 yards in eight plays for the score, cutting the Penn State lead to 14-7 with 8:41 on the clock in the second quarter.
The Nittany Lions tacked on a field goal as time expired in the first half to go up 17-7 entering the midway break. The 40-yard field goal by Ryan Barker gave the Nittany Lions a two-score lead heading into halftime.
A 53-yard touchdown pass by the Broncos was the first scoring play of the second half. Boise State traveled 83 yards on five plays to make the score 17-14 Penn State just over three minutes into the second half.
Warren’s second receiving touchdown of the game put Penn State up 24-14 with 7:22 on the clock in the third quarter. The 13-yard reception gave him 98 catches on the season, the Penn State single-season receptions record.
A pick by Wheatley stifled the Broncos’ ensuing drive, Penn State’s second takeaway of the day. Penn State’s defense then stopped Boise State short once again, forcing a field goal attempt that was missed by the Bronco kicker, his second missed field goal of the day. Penn State held a 24-14 lead through the 9:20 mark of the fourth quarter.
Penn State took the momentum and capitalized, scoring their fourth touchdown of the night on a 58-yard run by Singleton to go up 31-14 with less than five minutes to play.
Interceptions by Tracy and Mills on what ended up being the Broncos’ final two drives of the game sealed the 31-14 Fiesta Bowl victory for the Nittany Lions.
The 2024 Penn State football season is presented by PSECU.
