In the first College Football Playoff, Penn State is one win away from advancing to the Big Dance.
The third-seeded Nittany Lions defeated No. 6 Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve, advancing to the semifinals.
The Nittany Lions got off to a hot start, blocking Boise State's field goal for a touchdown. Then, after forcing a three-and-out, Drew Allard scored a long touchdown off Omari Evans to make it 14-0. The Broncos added a touchdown before the first half, and both offenses stalled for a while. Penn State added a field goal just before the end of the first half, but Boise State found the end zone again on Matt Lauter's 53-yard catch-and-run on the first drive of the second half.
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Pennsylvania celebrates a touchdown run with teammates during the fourth quarter of the Boise State Broncos game against the Boise State Broncos during the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on December 31, 2024. Nicholas Singleton, No. 10, of the State University Nittany Lions. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
But Penn State went 75 yards on an 11-play drive, with Aller scoring tight end Tyler Warren's second touchdown and regaining a 10-point lead. Boise State then missed another field goal despite Maddux Madsen throwing a pick and forcing a three-and-out.
The Lions took advantage and seven plays later, Nicholas Singleton scored a 58-yard touchdown to take a 31-14 lead with 4:54 left. In a miracle attempt, Madsen threw another interception, but the ball game was almost frozen.
Penn State celebrates after catching a pass and scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Boise State Broncos during the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 31, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. Nittany Lions #5 Omari Evans. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Nittany Lions offense shut down Ashton Giunty all night — sure, 108 yards is very good, but it was the Heisman Trophy runner-up's lowest rushing total of the season, and he fumbled twice. He lost one of them. Thus, his pursuit of Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record fell just 24 yards short. Entering Tuesday, Giunty had at least 127 yards rushing in every game this year.
However, Giunty's 2,605 yards on the season ranked second in a single season, ahead of Melvin Gordon and Kevin Smith, who ranked third and fourth, respectively.
With teammates after catching a pass for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Boise State Broncos during the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on December 31, 2024. No. 44 Tyler Warren of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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Aller finished with 171 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Caitron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combined for 221 yards on 29 carries.
Penn State will play the winner of No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl on January 9th for a spot in the national championship. The two are scheduled to play in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday at 8:45 p.m.
In the past five playoff games, the higher seeds have won by double digits each time.
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