Penn State vs. Boise State: Fiesta Bowl live updates, score, highlights

Ashton Jeanty’s final 2024 stats

Ashton Jeanty closes the 2024 season with 2,601 rushing yards on 374 carries with an average of 185.8 yards per game and 29 total rushing touchdowns.

FINAL: Penn State 31, Boise State 14

Penn State advances to the College Football Playoff semifinals to play the winner of Notre Dame-Georgia.

Two-minute timeout

Penn State leads 31-14 with two minutes remaining in the Fiesta Bowl. The Nittany Lions will move on and play the winner of Notre Dame-Georgia in the Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Jan. 9.

Penn State picks off Maddux Madsen

Penn State cornerback Zion Tracy picked off Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen with less than four minutes to play, sealing the win. The Nittany Lions take over on the Boise State 47-yard line.

4Q: Penn State 31, Boise State 14

Penn State running back Nick Singleton broke a 58-yard run, finding a hole on the line of scrimmage and taking off. The touchdown puts the Nittany Lions up 31-14 with 4:54 remaining in the fourth quarter. It’s the longest run of the season for Singleton.

4Q: Penn State 24, Boise State 14

For the second time on Tuesday night, Boise State kicker Jonah Dalmas missed a field goal attempt this time from 38 yards. The Broncos trail 24-14 with 9:20 remaining in the game. Penn State takes over from its 21-yard line and is in full control.

Ashton Jeanty stringing together runs

Boise State is currently on a 6-play, 51-yard drive. Running back Ashton Jeanty has runs of 26 and 10 yards on the drive. The Broncos have a 1st-and-10 from the Penn State 25-yard line with 11:33 remaining.

Three-and-out

After picking off Maddux Madsen, Penn State answered with a quick three-and-out. Boise State takes back over from its 24-yard line with 13:32 remaining in the game.

Maddux Madsen picked off

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen was picked off by Penn State defensive back Zakee Wheatley, who returned it 31 yards. A 15-yard personal foul penalty has Penn State starting its drive on its 6-yard line with 14:48 remaining.

END 3Q: Penn State 24, Boise State 14

Boise State had a touchdown erased on a penalty and faces a 2nd-and-24 from the Penn State 35-yard line coming out of the quarter break.

3Q: Penn State 24, Boise State 14

Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula found tight end Tyler Warren in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown. The Nittany Lions lead 24-14 with 7:22 remaining in the third quarter. It’s Warren’s second touchdown catch of the night.

Matt Lauter wide open

Boise State tight end Matt Lauter was wide open on the 53-yard touchdown, putting the Broncos within three points of Penn State.

3Q: Penn State 17, Boise State 14

Dropping back to pass on the play action, Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen saw a wide-open Matt Lauter across the field, connecting for a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Boise State now trails 17-14 with 11:38 remaining in the third quarter.

Ashton Jeanty

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty rushed for just 39 yards in the first half, averaging three yards per carry. He also fumbled the ball twice.

Penn State three-and-out

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar found tight end Tyler Warren open over the middle, but Warren was not able to pull in the ball. Boise State takes over from its 17-yard line with 14:06 to play in the third quarter.

Second half underway

Penn State receives to start the second half and will start at its 25-yard line.

First half stats

James Franklin points to penalties

Entering halftime, Penn State head coach James Franklin pointed to penalties as a problem to fix. The Nittany Lions have been penalized four times for 35 yards so far Tuesday night.

“We just have to clean up the penalties,” Franklin said. “… Have to get that cleaned up, we’ll be fine.

END 1H: Penn State 17, Boise State 7

After piecing together a 9-play, 41-yard drive, Penn State was forced to settle for a 40-yard field goal from Ryan Barker.

Two-minute timeout

With two minutes remaining in the first half, Penn State faces a 3rd-and-3 from its 40-yard line. The Nittany Lions lead 14-7.

Penn State punts

After a 12-yard sack set up a 3rd-and-27, Penn State was forced to punt more than halfway through the second quarter. Boise State takes over on its 39-yard line trailing 14-7.

Penn State 14, Boise State 7

Boise State responded, putting together an 8-play, 52-yard drive capped off by an 8-yard run from fullback Tyler Crowe. Penn State leads 14-7 with 8:41 remaining in the first half.

Abdul Carter injured

ESPN’s broadcast reports that Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter is in the medical tent.

Penn State forced to punt

Pinned inside its 20-yard line, Penn State struggled to move the ball and went three-and-out. Boise State’s Cooper Jones returned the punt 19 yards, taking it to the Boise 48-yard line.

Penn State takes back over

Boise State punted shortly after the quarter break. Penn State will take over on its 10-yard line with 14:46 remaining in the first half.

END 1Q: Penn State 14, Boise State 0

Penn State leads Boise State 14-0 in the first quarter.

Drew Allar fumble

With a miscommunication with his running back, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar fumbled the ball and Boise State’s Seyi Oladipo jumped right on it. The Broncos take over on their 35-yard line.

Ashton Jeanty fumble

As Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty rushed toward the sideline, he fumbled as Kobe King grabbed the ball in the air to force the turnover. Penn State takes over on its 49-yard line.

Q1: Penn State 14, Boise State 0

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar hit wide receiver Omari Evans for a 38-yard touchdown pass, throwing a perfect ball to find Evans crossing the back of the end zone.

Penn State leads 14-0 with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.

Boise State goes three-and-out

Boise State went backward on its second drive of the game, not picking up a single yard and was forced to punt. Penn State leads 7-0 and will take over on its 44-yard line with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter.

Q1: Penn State 7, Boise State 0

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar found his top target, tight end Tyler Warren in the back right corner of the end zone. The 11-yard touchdown pass capped off a 9-play, 72-yard drive. The Nittany Lions lead 7-0 with 6:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Kaytron Allen breaks 23-yard run

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen broke a 23-yard run, putting the Nittany Lions on the Boise State 21-yard line.

Boise State misses field goal

After Boise State pieced together an 8-play, 47-yard drive, kicker Jonah Dalmas missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. Penn State takes over on its 28-yard line with 10:41 remaining in the first quarter.

Ashton Jeanty ready

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is a big reason why the Broncos are in the CFP. Now he’ll have to go against a Penn State defense that limited SMU to just 58 rushing yards.

Coin toss

Penn State won the toss and has deferred. Boise State will receive to start the Fiesta Bowl.

Barry Sanders supporting Ashton Jeanty

Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty needs just 132 yards to break Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record of 2,268 yards.

Joel Klatt makes pick for Penn State-Boise State

Joel Klatt believes the Penn State defense will have its hands full with “absolutely remarkable” Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, the highly-motivated Heisman Trophy runner-up who is just 132 yards shy of eclipsing Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season rushing record (2,628 yards in 1988).

Joel Klatt prediction: Penn State 38, Boise State 24

Final point spread

Penn State is a 12.5-point favorite against Boise State, according to FanDuel. The over-under is set at 54.5 points.