3 days ago4 min read

Penn State Faces Boise State in Fiesta Bowl Extravaganza

Penn State DE Abdul Carter celebrates after making a play — © Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The No. 6-seed Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) will face the No. 3-seed Boise State Broncos (12-1) in a desert clash for Fiesta Bowl bragging rights at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31, 2024, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The Nittany Lions handily disposed of the SMU Mustangs during the College Football Playoff opening round. Boise State's most recent contest resulted in a 21-7 victory over the UNLV Rebels in the Mountain West Championship Game. The Penn State-Boise State winner goes on to meet the winner between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldogs, which takes place on New Year's Day.

Boise State: 'Please Count Us Out'

When Boise State's team plane touched down in Phoenix on Saturday, many players were seen wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase "Please Count Us Out."

The Mountain West champion Broncos have heard the disrespect. Boise State was the lone Group of 5 member school to be invited to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. It's safe to say that Boise State isn't afraid to embrace the underdog role. Despite the Nittany Lions entering play as 11.5-point favorites, the Broncos aren't flinching whatsoever.

Tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest active winning streak in college football at 11 games, Boise State's only loss this season came at the hands of a top-ranked Oregon Ducks squad that the Broncos took to the wire.

Welcome to the Lions' Den

The biggest knock on Penn State head coach James Franklin and his Nittany Lions is their inability to perform in big-time matchups. Since Franklin took over in 2014, Penn State has a 13-25 record against Top 25 teams. After winning a Big Ten title in 2016, Franklin’s squad has improved slightly in this area, now sitting at 14-19. However, that still falls short for a program with national championship aspirations. To make matters worse, Franklin is just 1-14 against Top 5 opponents.

Despite this, Penn State’s confidence heading into the Fiesta Bowl is at an all-time high. In their most recent big game against SMU, the Nittany Lions showed no mercy, forcing three turnovers and limiting the Mustangs to just 253 total yards. Remember, Penn State is one of only three teams in the playoff field ranked in the top 10 nationally in both offensive and defensive yards per play. You won’t find a more well-balanced team in this CFP bracket than the Nittany Lions.

Boise State Keys to the Game

Something Has to Give

Outside of the narrow Oregon loss, facing a stout Penn State defensive front will be one of the toughest challenges Boise State has encountered all season. The Broncos boast the nation’s fifth-best rushing offense, averaging 250 yards per game.

However, the Nittany Lions are known for shutting down opposing ground attacks, allowing just over 100 yards per game, the seventh-fewest in the country. That said, Penn State hasn't faced a back like Boise State's Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty. The dynamic running back has rushed for at least 125 yards in every game this season. If Jeanty finds his rhythm early, then the Nittany Lions could be in for a long night.

Limiting the Giveaways

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen has defied the odds from the start of the season. It began when he beat out five-star prospect Malachi Nelson for the starting role. Since then, the sophomore has delivered for head coach Spencer Danielson. In 13 games, Madsen has thrown for 2,714 yards and 22 touchdowns, while throwing just three interceptions. Most importantly, he has avoided costly turnovers that could derail the team’s success. If he continues to play mistake-free football, then Boise State’s chances of upending Penn State will only grow.

Penn State Keys to the Game

New Year's Resolutions

There's no question that the positives far outweigh the negatives for the Nittany Lions. However, to catapult themselves into the national title-contending picture, they will need to play their best brand of football over the next couple of weeks. It all begins with getting off to a faster start. Believe it or not, but the Nittany Lions have been tied or losing in six of their 13 games.

Despite the talent of QB Drew Allar, his inconsistency often rears its ugly head. Against SMU, Allar completed only 13 of his 22 pass attempts for 127 yards. As a whole, Penn State only averages 238 passing yards per game.

Ultimate Swiss Army Knife

Not needing an introduction, Penn State's Tyler Warren — the 2024 John Mackey Award winner for the nation’s top tight end — is a major mismatch for any team he faces. Capable of lining up at quarterback and running back, he's most dangerous as a dominant pass-catcher at tight end. Surprisingly, Warren was held in check against SMU, finishing with just four catches for 33 yards. However, don’t expect that to continue; Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki will likely make it a priority to integrate Warren into the game plan at a high rate.