Tag: Boise State Broncos

Penn State’s CFP opponent in the Fiesta Bowl? Here’s a full Boise State scouting report

Who does Penn State play in the CFP quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl? Here’s a full breakdown

Penn State demolished SMU at Beaver Stadium on Saturday afternoon 38-10 to earn a berth into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. The Nittany Lions’ defense was in elite form, forcing three SMU turnovers to propel them to the lopsided victory.

After a blowout win in the opening round of the CFP, Penn State is in a prime position to continue its push to a national championship. The team will have a holiday break before preparing for a quarterfinal matchup.

Penn State will head to Arizona for the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. It will be the Nittany Lions’ eighth appearance in the Fiesta Bowl and first since 2017.

Who will Penn State play in the Fiesta Bowl?

Penn State will play the Mountain West Champion, the Boise State Broncos, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

Penn State vs. Boise State predictions

The biggest matchup within the matchup will be Penn State’s run defense versus Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty was the best running back in college football this season and is 132 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing yardage record. Needless to say, Penn State’s run defense will have to be on the top of their game.

On the other side of the ball, Penn State’s offense should be licking its chops to come up against a Broncos’ defense that allows 362 yards per game. Drew Allar and the Nittany Lions passing attack will have to attack a vulnerable defense that gives up 246 passing yards per game.

When does TEAM1 play TEAM2 in CFP?

Penn State will take on Boise State on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game will be televised on ESPN.

CFP schedule

Quarterfinals

  • Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State
  • Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas or Clemson
  • Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame
  • Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State or Tennessee

Semifinals (Jan. 9-10)

  • Orange Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 on ESPN
  • Cotton Bowl: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10  on ESPN

CFP National Championship

  • 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 20 on ESPN

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How to buy Penn State Fiesta Bowl tickets, Penn State vs. Boise State College Football Playoff tickets

Penn State is headed to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Boise State on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are already on sale and selling fast.

Penn State is heading to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Nittany Lions dominated the SMU Mustangs on Saturday afternoon, clinching their place in the newly-expanded College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

Penn State earned a date against the No. 3 seeded Boise State Broncos at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

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Fiesta Bowl tickets were already available since the Broncos were announced as a participant, but now that Penn State will join them in Arizona, tickets are selling fast.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available Fiesta Bowl ticket to see Penn State vs Boise State cost $254.

Whether you’re a fan of Penn State, Boise State, or just great college football action, don’t miss out on your opportunity to see this game in person.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs Boise State Fiesta Bowl tickets” link=”https://seatgeek.pxf.io/c/1205322/2374309/20501″]

How to buy Penn State Fiesta Bowl tickets, Penn State vs. Boise State College Football Playoff tickets

Penn State is headed to the Fiesta Bowl to take on Boise State on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Tickets are already on sale and selling fast.

Penn State is heading to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Nittany Lions dominated the SMU Mustangs on Saturday afternoon, clinching their place in the newly-expanded College Football Playoff quarterfinal.

Penn State earned a date against the No. 3 seeded Boise State Broncos at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs Boise State Fiesta Bowl tickets” link=”https://seatgeek.pxf.io/c/1205322/2374309/20501″]

Fiesta Bowl tickets were already available since the Broncos were announced as a participant, but now that Penn State will join them in Arizona, tickets are selling fast.

At the time of publication, the cheapest available Fiesta Bowl ticket to see Penn State vs Boise State cost $254.

Whether you’re a fan of Penn State, Boise State, or just great college football action, don’t miss out on your opportunity to see this game in person.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs Boise State Fiesta Bowl tickets” link=”https://seatgeek.pxf.io/c/1205322/2374309/20501″]

Former USC QB Malachi Nelson enters transfer portal again

Malachi Nelson watched his Boise State teammates make the College Football Playoff. Nelson wants playing time, so he’s back in the portal. The math is clear.

Less than a year after leaving USC football, Malachi Nelson is back in the transfer portal once again. After signing with the Trojans as a five-star recruit in the 2023 signing class, Nelson was seen as USC’s quarterback of the future. In his first season on campus, Nelson served as the Trojans’ third string quarterback behind Caleb Williams and Miller Moss. He appeared in one game and attempted just three passes, preserving his redshirt.

The expectation was that Nelson would compete with Moss for the starting job in 2024 following Williams’ departure. Instead, however, Nelson elected to enter the transfer portal. According to reports, Nelson did not want to have to compete for the job, and USC’s coaching staff was less than thrilled with his work ethic.

Nelson committed to Boise State. However, he lost the QB competition to Maddux Masden, who has since gone on to lead the Broncos to the College Football Playoff. As Boise State’s backup this season, Nelson completed 12 of his 17 pass attempts for 128 yards and one interception.

Now, while the Broncos are getting set for their playoff quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve, Nelson is back in the portal yet again.

Ironically, Nelson’s path to the playing field would have been more clear had he stayed at USC. Moss started the first nine games of the season for the Trojans, but was replaced by UNLV trasnfer Jayden Maiava for the final three. Had Nelson stuck around, USC likely never would have pursued Maiava, and the former five-star may have gotten a shot to prove himself.

Instead, he will now be looking for his third school in three years.

Boise State and Arizona State punch College Football Playoff tickets

Two conference champions are officially locked into the College Football Playoff.

Regardless of what happens in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday night in Indianapolis, Penn State has every reason to believe they will be in the College Football Playoff. It is just a matter of what seed and who and where Penn State will be playing which is to be determined following its clash with Oregon in the Big Ten championship game. A victory over Oregon would give Penn State a realistic shot to be the top seed and the top-ranked team in the country.

But conference championship weekend has carried a little higher stakes in some of the other conference championship games so far this weekend. With automatic bids in the playoff reserved for the top five highest-ranked conference champions, the pressure was on in the Big 12 and Mountain West Conference championship games, and the drama surrounding the ACC championship on Saturday evening will be tense. It is a far different story from the Big Ten and SEC title games, where all four participating teams are likely locked into a playoff spot.

Boise State opened up conference championship weekend by winning the Mountain West Conference championship behind a big game from Heisman Trophy candidate running back Ashton Jeanty. Jeanty’s 209 rushing yards powered Boise State to a 21-7 win at home over UNLV to capture the Mountain West Conference championship, which should lock in one of the top five highest-ranked conference championships. Bosie State came into the conference championship weekend ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff rankings, which has the Broncos in line for a first-round bye.

Arizona State wrapped up a spot in the College Football Playoff as the Big 12 champion following a blowout of Iowa State in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday afternoon. Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and a couple of touchdowns and Sam Leavitt in the 45-19 victory over the Cyclones. With the win, Arizona State will be one of the five highest-ranked conference champions, staying ahead of the American Athletic Conference champion, Army.

If Penn State loses in the Big Ten championship game, Arizona State could be a potential opponent for the Nittany Lions. And based on the latest playoff projections, a matchup with Boise State could potentially be on deck for the winner of that hypothetical Penn State-Arizona State matchup.

With a spot reserved for the Big Ten, SEC, and ACC champions, the five conference champions are essentially determined. The biggest question now is what happens in the ACC as SMU and Clemson battle for what may be the only spot for the conference. SMU could be at risk of being passed over for the final spot in the playoff by Alabama if the Mustangs lose to Clemson, a program comfortable in the ACC championship landscape.

A lot can still happen in the playoff picture in the coming hours. Let’s see how it all unfolds!

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Boise State expertly trolled UNLV QB Hajj-Malik Williams’ map comments in the Mountain West championship

A geography lesson UNLV will never forget.

Prior to Friday night’s decisive 21-7 Boise State victory over UNLV in the Mountain West championship, Runnin’ Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams made the brutal mistake of giving the Broncos some exceptional bulletin board material.

Asked what he expected from the environment in Boise for the title game, Williams was a bit too honest with his response.

“I don’t know what to expect as far as the crowd at Boise,” Williams said. “I’ve never been there. I don’t even know where it is on the map.”

Well, the Broncos’ jumbotron spent all game giving the UNLV star a geography lesson. After each of Boise State’s six sacks and and interception on the night, the video screen hilariously displayed a graphic giving the exact coordinates for where on the field Williams was sacked.

This kind of trolling is exactly why College Football Playoff games on campus will absolutely rule. In the meantime, Williams will never forget where Boise is for the rest of his life. The Broncos made one final graphic to drive home the point.

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Ashton Jeanty powers Boise State to Mountain West championship

Ashton Jeanty had 209 rushing yards as Boise State won the Mountain West

UNLV “held” Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty to 128 yards in their first meeting.

The Rebels had no such luck in the rematch, The Heisman Trophy candidate had a 75-yard TD run as part of a 209-yard performance in the Broncos’ 21-7 win in the Mountain West Conference Championship Game on Friday.

Maddux Madsen threw two touchdown passes in the first half before Jeanty broke the game open with his long run with 29 seconds left in the second quarter.

Boise is a lock for a CFP spot and should be the third or fourth seed and have a first-round bye after a 12-1 season.

Jeanty celebrated the championship with a floor routine that would make gymnasts proud.

UNLV is 10-3 and headed for a bowl game.

What’s at stake for the College Football Playoff in the Mountain West championship game

Here’s what’s on the line when UNLV visits Boise State.

No. 20 UNLV visits No. 10 Boise State on Friday in arguably the most important Mountain West title game in conference history. The winner is essentially guaranteed a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

College Football Playoff: The new 12-team format, rankings and seeding, explained

Here’s the deal:

The College Football Playoff guarantees a berth to the highest-ranked conference champion from the Group of Five leagues (American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Mid-American, Conference USA). Heading into the Mountain West championship, that would be No. 10 Boise State — which aside from being the highest-ranked G5 team is also ranked high than any team from the Big 12.

If Boise State defeats UNLV, the Broncos will receive almost certainly receive a first-round bye in the playoff. If UNLV wins, it will steal the G5’s automatic berth from Boise State and shake up the seedings. 

At No. 20, UNLV is ranked higher than any other G5 teams. American Athletic Conference Championship participant Army is ranked No. 24 while Tulane dropped out of the rankings after losing at home to Memphis last week.

Additionally, likely Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty can add to his resume as voters get their final look at the tailback before voting opens. Jeanty leads the FBS with 2,288 rushing yards — 600 yards more than the next-best total — and leads the nation with 28 rushing touchdowns.

The Broncos already defeated the Rebels once this season in Las Vegas.

If they can do it again in Boise, they’ll be three wins away from a national title.

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Ashton Jeanty goes for 209 rushing yards, 3 TDs in Boise State win

Ashton Jeanty led Boise State to another win

Ashton Jeanty is keeping Boise State’s dream of making the college football playoff alive.

The running back, one of the favorites in the race for the Heisman Trophy rushed for 209 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Broncos held off Nevada, 28-21, in a Mountain West game.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty rushes for 128 yards, game-winning TD

Ashton Jeanty scored in the fourth quarter to lift Boise State over UNLV

Ashton Jeanty was kept in check for most of Friday night by UNLV. However, the Heisman Trophy favorite delivered a one-yard run with 12:38 left to give Boise State a 29-24 victory.

Jeanty had 128 rushing yards on 33 carries, a far cry below the seven yards per carry he had averaged at least in all of Boise State’s previous games.

Jeanty’s output was his second lowest of the season, a yard better than his performance in a blowout victory over Portland State.

The game was played before 42,228 at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.