Penn State is a win away from the national title game.
The No. 6 Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead and held on for a 31-14 win over No. 3 Boise State. Penn State dominated Boise State in the first quarter, but a fumble on a bad handoff gave Boise State life and the Nittany Lions had a hard time shaking the Broncos the rest of the way.
Heck, you can even make an argument that Boise State lost opportunities to win the game more than Penn State put the Broncos away for much of the second half. Boise State appeared to cut the Penn State lead to three in the third quarter on a TD pass, but the play was called back for a hands to the face penalty. In the fourth quarter, Boise State had the chance to cut the lead to seven with less than 10 minutes to go, but the normally reliable Jonah Dalmas missed his second field goal of the game.
Penn State only made their fans breathe easy when Nick Singleton broke a 58-yard TD run with 4:54 to go. Singleton’s TD pushed the lead to three scores and extinguished any hope of a Boise State comeback.
The Nittany Lions advance to play the winner of Notre Dame-Georgia in the CFP semifinals.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Interception Penn State!
The Broncos were facing a fourth-and-long deep in their own territory and Maddux Madsen tried to force the ball into a tight spot and it was picked off by PSU's Zion Tracy.
That's the ballgame folks.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Touchdown Penn State!
Well so much for that. Nicholas Singleton just broke through the line for a 58-yard rushing touchdown that'll serve as a dagger in this game.
The Nittany Lions are milking the clock now with a two-possession lead.
We're inside the 5-minute mark now.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Boise State misses another FG
The Broncos couldn't do much with it once they got inside the red zone and settled for another field goal attempt by Jonah Dalmas, who missed this one from 38 yards.
The Broncos are closing in on the red zone as the game inches toward the 10-minute mark.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Jeanty breaks off 26-yard run
The Broncos were facing a third-and-21 deep in their own territory and Ashton Jeanty came through with a 26-yard run to keep the drive alive.
Yahoo Sports Staff
PSU punts it back
The Nittany Lions opted for a play-action pass on third-and-1 and the pass fell incomplete. The Broncos will have the ball back with just over 13 minutes left in the game.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Interception Penn State!
BSU QB Maddux Madsen didn't see Zakee Wheatley playing centerfield and the safety comes down with the interception for the Nits as the fourth quarter gets underway.
The Broncos had a touchdown called back moments ago and the third quarter will end with BSU on the edge of field goal range.
Yahoo Sports Staff
BSU on the march
The Broncos are now over midfield as time ticks away in the third quarter. Ashton Jeanty has still been kept under wraps by PSU's defense, but QB Maddux Madsen is making the necessary throws to move the sticks.
Nick Bromberg
Tyler Warren is simply unstoppable
Penn State's offense has been at its best throwing to Warren or simply running the football. Boise State has gotten some good pressure against Drew Allar when bringing extra defenders, but Penn State is mauling Boise up front when its moving linemen down the field. The Broncos are not out of this game, but they are going to need to stop the run .... and also Warren.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Touchdown Penn State!
It's Tyler Warren AGAIN! Drew Allar seemed to just throw it up in the end zone and the big-bodied tight end comes down with it for the score. What a clutch throw and grab by the duo on third-and-long.
The Nittany Lions were facing a third-and-14 when Allar scrambled out of the pocket and found space enough to run for a first down. Clutch run by the QB.
PSU is inside the red zone now.
Yahoo Sports Staff
PSU on the march
The Nittany Lions are past midfield already after a 23-yard run by Kaytron Allen on third-and-short.
Yahoo Sports Staff
TOUCHDOWN BOISE STATE!
The Broncos are alive! Penn State just seemed to lose Matt Lauter in coverage and the tight end breaks away for a 53-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
The Broncos will have the ball after a quick three-and-out by PSU to come out of the break.
Yahoo Sports Staff
We are back for the second half of the Fiesta Bowl.
Penn State will have the ball at its own 25-yard line.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Halftime: PSU 17, BSU 7
The Nittany Lions will go into halftime with a 10-point lead after Ryan Barker hit a 40-yard field goal to end the second quarter.
PSU will get the ball first when we come back from the break.
Nick Bromberg
A 10-point deficit at halftime is pretty dang good for Boise State after the way this game started. Though the Broncos can feel like they've wasted plenty of opportunities to tie the game — and Penn State can feel like it should have put this one away.
Yahoo Sports Staff
PSU drive saved by penalty
The Nittany Lions didn't convert on fourth-and-long, but it didn't matter after a BSU penalty gave them a free set of downs.
There's less than 30 seconds left in the half.
Yahoo Sports Staff
BSU punts it back
The Broncos can't do anything with their possession and give it right back to PSU. There's a minute left in the half.
Yahoo Sports Staff
PSU punts it to BSU
The Broncos will get the ball back with just under 2 minutes left in the first half. They haven't had much luck through the air so far, but they'll need to move the ball with some pace here.
Yahoo Sports Staff
50-yard PSU run called back
Kaytron Allen just broke off the biggest run of the game, but it was all for naught after a holding call on one of his offensive linemen.
The Broncos can't do anything on the ensuing possession and give it right back to PSU. For those wondering, Ashton Jeanty has essentially been bottled up so far against a stacked box. He has 12 carries for 37 yards.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Penn State forced to punt
The Broncos are going to have a shot at tying this thing up after a PSU drive fizzled out a deep sack taken by Drew Allar.
They'll have the ball at their own 39-yard line with just over 5 minutes left in the half.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Touchdown Boise State!
The Broncos are on the board in the Fiesta Bowl! It's not Ashton Jeanty but Tyler Crowe with a gritty 8-yard run to get into the end zone. What a strong finish by the fullback.
Oh my goodness. What a disaster start for Boise! Ashton Jeanty was fighting for extra yards and the ball was popped out of his hands on the sideline and PSU's Zakee Wheatley made a great play in securing the ball before going out of bounds.
I am stating the obvious here, but this was about the worst way the game could have started for Boise State. This is not a team that's built to come back from big deficits without Ashton Jeanty breaking 50+-yard runs at will. And Penn State doesn't give up long runs.
Yahoo Sports Staff
TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!
What a start for the Nittany Lions! This time Drew Allar found Omari Evans on a deep post route for a 38-yard touchdown. Allar is on the money so far in this one.
The Broncos couldn't move the ball at all on the ensuing possession and punt it over to Penn State.
The Nittany Lions will have it back with good field position at their own 45.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Touchdown Penn State!
Who else but Tyler Warren to find the end zone first in the Fiesta Bowl? The star tight end found open space in the back corner of the end zone on a deep and Drew Allar put it right on the button for the first TD of the game.
The Nittany Lions are moving the ball with ease on the ground during their first drive of the game. A long Kaytron Allen run has them on the edge of the red zone.
Yahoo Sports Staff
PSU blocks BSU field goal
Boise State's drive fizzled out just inside the 30-yard line and kicker Jonah Dalmas' 45-yard field goal attempt was blocked.
The Broncos are out over midfield already after two quick first downs. Penn State is stacking the box in an effort to slow down star RB Ashton Jeanty and QB Maddux Madsen is finding his mark downfield.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Boise State will start with the ball
We are underway in the Fiesta Bowl!
Yahoo Sports Staff
An unfortunate moment as the Boise State team ran onto the field:
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