Penn State, Boise State stars dot list of most impactful players in CFP quarterfinal round: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Dec. 27 include a ranking of the most impactful players left in the College Football Playoff, headlines of the day, and more. It’s time to dive into Friday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports ranked the 24 most impactful players left ahead of the quarterfinal round, which starts on New Year’s Eve when six-seeded Penn State meets three-seed Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Three Broncos made the cut, starting with quarterback Maddux Madsen at No. 23.
“Nearly everything the Boise State offense does is built around running back Ashton Jeanty, but Madsen has been the perfect game manager to take the Broncos to the next level,” Jeyarajah writes. “He threw 22 touchdowns to only three interceptions and finished No. 26 nationally in QBR. He also is able to extend plays with his feet.”
Next up is defensive lineman Ahmed Hassanein. He checks in at No. 20 after racking up 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks so far this year. Unsurprisingly, BSU running back Ashton Jeanty leads the list at No. 1.
“The junior from Frisco, Texas, sits more than 800 yards ahead of any other running back in college football after posting one of the greatest running back seasons in history,” Jeyarajah writes. “With a strong performance against Penn State, Jeanty has a chance to break the all-time rushing record set by Barry Sanders in 1988. By the way, was an explosive pass-catcher for the Broncos in 2023, finishing with 569 yards and five touchdowns. Don’t be surprised to see that part of his game come out.”
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Boo Carter
Transfer portal rumors no more
- 2
Greg Gumbel
Legendary broadcaster passes
- 3New
Squirrel White
Tennessee WR plans to enter transfer portal
- 4Hot
Saban rips Ohio State fans
'They need to go get therapy'
- 5
Harold Perkins
LSU announces decision on 2025
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On the Penn State side of things, tight end Tyler Warren is No. 3, defensive end Abdul Carter is No. 7, and quarterback Drew Allar is No. 21. The only player above Warren besides Jeanty is Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo.
Headlines of the day
Penn State’s Abdul Carter could be a ‘game-wrecker’ vs. Boise State in College Football Playoff: McGonigal, PennLive
What did Boise State OC Dirk Koetter say about Penn State before the Fiesta Bowl?: Pickel, BWI
What Penn State Is Saying About Preparing for Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl: Wogenrich, SI
New Penn State pick logged in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine: Snyder, BWI
Penn State RBs Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen Playing at Their ‘Highest Level’ Entering Fiesta Bowl: Engle, Statecollege.com
How is Penn State preparing for game 15 compared to game one? Here are the ways it’s similar, different: Pickel, BWI
OC Andy Kotelnicki provides updates on personnel, playcalling: Alenstein, Daily Collegian
Penn State offensive leaders size up solid Boise State defense: Bauer, BWI
Updated ticket prices revealed for CFP quarterfinals: Schultz, On3
Quote of the day
“They played really good football throughout the course of the year. But certainly up front, as we talk every week, that’s going to be the battle. When you’re in playoff football, this time of year playing football, you need to be good up front on both sides of the ball.
“What you see from them is you see a very disruptive defensive line. You see a defense that’s making opponents have to earn their touchdowns and their points and they’re not really giving up things, which is what you would expect this time of year for a team that’s playing in the national playoffs.”
–PSU OC Andy Kotelnicki on the Boise State defense.
