Lions versus Broncos. Jeanty verse Singleton. Penn State versus Boise State. For the first time in history, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Boise State Broncos played each other in football. This wasn’t just a normal season game but the Fiesta Bowl, which is a part of the second round of the new College Football 12 team playoffs. Boise State had a first-round bye since they won the Mountain West Division, while Penn State defeated SMU to get to this position. It was a battle between the teams. Penn State attempted to stop the All-American running back, and Ashton Jeanty and Boise tried to stop the force known as Tyler Warren. At the end of New Year’s Eve, Penn State was declared the winner over Boise with a final score of 31 to 14. Jeanty was held to 104 yards with only 30 carries. Drew Allar was able to throw three touchdown passes, while Singleton was also able to add points with his running ability.
Boise State started with the ball and was able to make it to the 28-yard line when they sent off the kicking team. But Boise’s kicker, Jonah Dalmas, had kicked the ball wide left of the goal post for no points. Penn State capitalized on this as their opening drive consisted of 72 yards and finished when Drew Allar threw an 11-yard pass to Tyler Warren in the endzone. Penn State was now up by seven. Penn State stopped Boise State on their second drive and, in return, scored another touchdown. It was from a pass, but instead of Allar to Warren, it was Allar to Omari Evans, where he caught and ran with the ball for 38 yards. Penn State was now up 14 to 0. Things did not look good for Boise State as Jeanty fumbled the ball on Penn State’s 49-yard yard line, which was recovered by Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley, but Allar fumbled the ball two plays later, giving the ball right back. It’s the second quarter now, and Boise State gets some points on the board with a touchdown by Tyler Crowe. Then, the defense for both teams started to shine through as the game went four drives with neither team scoring any points. Penn State breaks this streak with a field goal, and the score is now 17, and Boise State 7. The third quarter starts with the ball in Penn State’s hand, but they do not score. Boise brings the score within three with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Matt Mauter. Penn State responded with another touchdown pass to Tyler Warren, scoring 24 to 14. The fourth quarter begins, and Boise State throws an interception. The intended target was Cameron Campe,r but Zakee Wheatley caught it instead. Penn State does not score off of this, but with another missed field goal, Boise does not score either. As time is running out, Nicholas Singleton tries to almost ensure Penn State’s win with a 58-yard run for a touchdown. With Boise State throwing another interception, Penn State wins the game, with the final score being 31 to 14.
Ian Brady stated, “Penn State’s starting lineup is very well-rounded. Strong defense, great quarterback, and overall great talent on the offensive side.” That really showed through in the Fiesta Bowl, but everyone questioned whether they would continue in the Orange Bowl against their next opponent, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Notre Dame made it to the Orange Bowl with a win over Indiana and Georgia. Riley Hopkins predicted, “I honestly think they could pull it off. I know Notre Dame is a really hard team to beat, but I think if they work their plays properly and focus on some of the stuff they didn’t do well last week, it will be a close game.” Penn State versus Notre Dame was indeed a close game, as the winner was not decided until under a minute left.
Notre Dame beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl 27 to 24. Notre Dame was able to beat Penn State by three points after they intercepted Allar and kicked a field goal. It was devastating for many Penn State fans and a relief for many Notre Dame ones as they did not have to go into overtime.
The Orange Bowl starts with the ball in Penn State’s possession. Both Penn State and Notre Dame punt on their first drive. Although Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley picks off Riley Leonard, the first quarter ends with no scores. Penn State starts the second quarter with a field goal. Penn State then gets the ball back, and Nicholas Singleton runs 5 yards for a touchdown. Penn State is now up by 10. Notre Dame’s quarterback Riley Leonard is then substituted for Steve Angeli as Leonard has a suspected energy. Angeli then leads Notre Dame down the field enough to get a field goal.
Leonard then returns for the second half, rushes 3 yards for a touchdown, and evens up the score at 10. The fourth quarter starts and Jeremiah Love gives Notre Dame the lead with a powerful 2-yard run into the endzone. Penn State responds with a touchdown of their own due to a 7-yard run from Singleton. The score is tied again at 17. In the first play after the touchdown, Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton picks off Leonard. Penn State capitalizes on this as Singleton gets another 7-yard rushing touchdown. With under five minutes remaining, Leonard throws a touchdown pass to Jaden Greathouse, who is the top team in the game once again, now at 24. Notre Dame forces a three-and-out, but Penn State’s Coziah Izzard gets a sack, forcing a Notre Dame punt. Penn State now has the ball and is attempting a final drive to win the game. Then, with 33 seconds left, Christian Gray intercepts Drew Allar’s attempted pass to Omari Evans. Notre Dame’s Mitch Jeter then hits a 41-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to secure Notre Dames victory in the Orange Bowl.
Notre Dame will continue in the playoffs and face The Ohio State Buckeyes in the CFP final on January 20. Penn State’s season ended here and has raised questions about Drew Allar, as he is returning for his senior year to play, and Penn State’s head coach, James Franklin, as many claim he can not win big games. You can see Penn State play again in their blue versus white game or the next regular season game, which will start in late August.
Sources:
–https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/01/09/orange-bowl-game-live-updates-college-football-notre-dame-penn-state/77494956007/
–https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2024/12/31/fiesta-bowl-score-live-updates-highlights/77333519007/
–https://6abc.com/post/5-penn-state-8-boise-look-step-college-football-playoff-quarterfinals/15734765/#:~:text=(WPVI)%20%2D%2D%20Penn%20State%20advanced,game%20on%20New%20Year’s%20Eve.
–https://www.on3.com/pro/news/orange-bowl-odds-early-point-spread-released-for-notre-dame-vs-penn-state-how-to-watch/
–https://www.britannica.com/sports/Orange-Bowl
–https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10149371-college-football-playoff-picture-2024-25-semifinals-bracket-quarterfinal-results