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Penn State Football Tailgate Show: Fiesta Bowl Preview

Headshot 5x7 reduced qualityby:Thomas Frank Carr•12/31/24•

ThomasFrankCarr

Ashton Jeanty Boise State, Abdul Carter Penn State Football On3
Penn State linebacker Abdul Carter (right) and his teammates must find a way to do something no team has done this year; stop Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (left). Photos: USA Today Network

The Penn State Nittany Lions face off against the Boise State Broncos in the second round of the College Football Playoff. The two teams square off in the Fiesta Bowl, airing at 7:30 tonight. However, the festivities kick off well before then. Join the Penn State Football Tailgate Show live at 4:30, three hours before kickoff. Former Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall joins the show to discuss the key matchups, schemes and situations that will define the game.

Watch the show live on the Blue White Illustrated YouTube Channel, or locally on 99.5 The Bus in State College. The Tailgate Show is produced in conjunction with Seven Mountains Media.

Penn State focused on the task at hand

The new format for the playoff makes certain situations different than in past years. Penn State is no stranger to the Fiesta Bowl, but the trip this year is very different than a year-end bowl game that extends into a week-long trip. Penn State’s head coach and his players have a focused mindset. Quarterback Drew Allar discussed the situation when asked about his team’s trip to the West Coast.

“At the end of the day, we came here to play football. Obviously, taking in everything and not taking this moment for granted,” Allar said. “But you know, we’re here to play football.”

We’ll dig into Allar’s matchup with the Boise State defense, how that unit compares to ones he’s seen in the past, and what sort of chances his team has at making big plays on the ground and through the air.

Defense faces most challenging task this season

It’s no secret that Boise State goes as superstar tailback Ashton Jeanty goes. The dynamic running back has broken more tackles this year than any other running back in college football since at least 2014.

Can the Nittany Lions corral Jeanty? If so, what’s the best way to get that done? We’ll break down the defensive matchup, the nature of the Boise State offensive line, and how Penn State can attack the most dangerous running back in college football.

Predictions and X-Factors

Finally, we’ll give our game predictions, score and X-Factors in tonight’s game. Which players are an underrated aspect of the game? Who will shine and, most importantly, will Penn State move on to the Semifinals?

Join the BWI Live Tailgate Show today and get your questions on the air. Beyond what we’ve planned to talk about, we’ll be taking your questions live on air!

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