In the first of four College Football Playoff quarterfinals, Penn State defeated Boise State 31-14 on Tuesday night at the Fiesta Bowl, held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
The game commenced with Penn State winning the coin toss and electing to defer, allowing Boise State to receive the opening kickoff. The Broncos’ initial drive showed promise but ultimately stalled, culminating in a missed 46-yard field goal that sailed wide left.
Penn State’s offense took over at their own 29-yard line. Quarterback Drew Allar led the Nittany Lions downfield, connecting with tight end Tyler Warren for an 11-yard touchdown pass, establishing a 7-0 lead with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Following a three-and-out by Boise State, Penn State quickly capitalized. Allar delivered a 38-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Omari Evans, extending the lead to 14-0 with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.
Boise State responded in the second quarter. After a fumble by Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, the Broncos regrouped. Fullback Tyler Crowe scored on an 8-yard run, narrowing the deficit to 14-7 with 8:41 remaining in the half. Penn State added a field goal before halftime, taking a 17-7 advantage into the locker room.
Early in the third quarter, Boise State struck back. Quarterback Maddux Madsen connected with wide receiver Matt Lauter for a 53-yard touchdown, bringing the Broncos within three points at 17-14 with 11:38 left in the third.
Penn State responded decisively. Allar orchestrated an 11-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Warren—his second of the game—pushing the lead to 24-14 with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter.
Boise State’s subsequent drive ended with an interception, halting their momentum. The Broncos missed a 38-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, and Penn State capitalized. Running back Nicholas Singleton broke free for a 58-yard touchdown run, sealing the victory with a 31-14 lead and 4:54 left to play.
The Nittany Lions’ defense secured the win by intercepting Madsen twice in the game’s final minutes. With this victory, Penn State advances to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl on January 9 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. They will face the winner of the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal between Notre Dame and Georgia.
Written By Adrian Beecher
