No. 6 Penn State triumphed over No. 3 Boise State with a score of 31-14 in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, successfully keeping standout running back Ashton Jeanty in check. This victory propels the Nittany Lions into the playoff semifinals, where they will face the winner of the matchup between No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl.
The Fiesta Bowl’s pivotal strategy for Penn State was to limit Jeanty’s impact and control the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense. Despite the setback of losing star defensive end Abdul Carter to an arm injury in the second quarter, the Nittany Lions managed to contain Jeanty, who finished the game with 104 yards on 30 carries, marking the first time an FBS opponent kept him out of the end zone this season.
While Penn State’s running game flourished with 216 yards on 41 carries, a significant portion of the offense relied on quarterback Drew Allar, who faced challenges from the strong Boise State pass rush. Allar completed 13 of his 25 attempts for 171 yards, three touchdowns, and one lost fumble. Notable contributions came from tight end Tyler Warren, who caught two touchdown passes and finished with 63 receiving yards.
Though there were moments of questionable play-calling and missed opportunities for sustained drives, the Nittany Lions built a solid first-half lead of 17-7. They responded to Boise State’s offensive surges with critical touchdowns, including a decisive 58-yard run by Nick Singleton as time wound down in the fourth quarter.
This win not only follows a strong opening round victory against SMU but also underscores the Big Ten’s growing reputation as a premier conference in the FBS landscape. As Penn State advances in the playoffs, fans can feel optimistic about the team’s ability to compete at a high level against elite opponents.
Overall, this game showcased Penn State’s resilience and strategic execution, setting a hopeful tone for their upcoming semifinal match.