Penn State made a resounding statement in their College Football Playoff debut, defeating Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve. This victory propels the Nittany Lions to the semifinals, where they stand just one win away from the national championship game.
The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions dominated the third-seeded Broncos from the outset, blocking a field goal attempt and converting it into a touchdown. They quickly extended their lead with a long touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Omari Evans, making it 14-0. Boise State managed a touchdown before halftime, but Penn State responded with a field goal to maintain a 17-7 lead at the break.
Boise State briefly narrowed the gap with a 53-yard touchdown reception by Matt Lauter early in the third quarter. However, Penn State's offense regained momentum, culminating in a 75-yard drive capped by Tyler Warren's second touchdown reception of the game. A subsequent Boise State field goal miss provided another opportunity for Penn State, and Nicholas Singleton capitalized with a 58-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 31-14.
Penn State's defense effectively contained Boise State's Heisman Trophy runner-up, Ashton Jeanty, holding him to a season-low 104 rushing yards and forcing two fumbles, one of which was lost. This performance prevented Jeanty from breaking Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record, though his 2,601 yards on the season now stand as the second-most all-time.
Drew Allar finished the game with 171 passing yards and three touchdowns, while the running back duo of Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 221 yards on 29 carries. Penn State now awaits the winner of the Sugar Bowl matchup between Georgia and Notre Dame. They will face the victor in the Orange Bowl on January 9th for a chance to compete for the national championship.
