Boise State Broncos ON SI

Game recap, analysis: Mistakes doom No. 3 Boise State in Fiesta Bowl loss to No. 6 Penn State

Broncos’ season comes to an end in College Football Playoff quarterfinals 

Bob Lundeberg

Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty.
Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

No. 3 Boise State recovered from a rough start but ultimately succumbed to No. 6 Penn State, 31-14, in Tuesday night’s College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl.

The Nittany Lions (13-2) advance to face No. 2 Georgia or No. 7 Notre Dame in the CFP semifinals. 

Needing 132 yards to break Barry Sanders’ FBS single-season rushing record, Ashton Jeanty finished with a season-low 104 yards on 30 carries for Boise State (12-2). The junior tailback ended the year with 374 carries for 2,601 yards — the second-most in FBS history — and 29 touchdowns. 

In 1988, Sanders ran for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns in 11 games for Oklahoma State. 

FINAL STATS

Jeanty also caught three passes for 22 yards. The Heisman Trophy runner-up fumbled twice in the first half.

Boise State quarterback Maddux Madsen completed 23 of 35 passes for 304 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Matt Lauter had four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. 

As a team, Penn State had 41 carries for 216 yards and a touchdown. 

Quarterback Drew Allar finished 13 of 25 passing for 171 yards with three touchdowns.

Tight end Tyler Warren was his favorite target, catching six passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. 

Fourth quarter recap

Final score: Penn State 31, Boise State 14. Heck of a season comes to an end for the Broncos, who reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. 

Jeanty update: Jeanty goes over 100 yards for the game on a three-yard second-down carry. He has topped the 100-yard mark in all 14 games this season. 

Interception: Madsen is picked off for the second time tonight on a fourth-down heave. Madsen’s final stat line will not tell the whole story. He has completely out-played Allar tonight, but the box score won’t show it. 

Penn State personal foul: Dani Dennis-Sutton gets his second personal foul of the game. Two dirty plays from him. Dennis-Sutton should've been ejected for his hit on Jeanty.

Touchdown Nittany Lions: Nicholas Singleton puts this game away with a 58-yard rushing touchdown. A gassed Boise State defense couldn’t get one more stop. Penn State 31, Boise State 14, 4:54 remaining. 

Broncos injury: Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State’s best all-around defensive lineman, is dealing with a lower body injury. He is not on the field for this drive. 

Missed field goal: Jonah Dalmas misses his second field goal of the game, this time from 38 yards. Broncos really needed those three points with 9:20 to go.

Broncos driving: Jeanty breaks multiple tackles and powers his way for a 10-yard gain. Broncos have a first down at the Penn State 25. 

Nittany Lions punt: I’m not sure who is having a worse game, Drew Allar or Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. Regardless, Boise State’s defense gets a big three-and-out after the Madsen interception. Broncos have it at their own 24 with 13:32 remaining. 

Penn State personal foul: Dani Dennis-Sutton took a cheap shot on Jeanty after the play and was called for a personal foul. Dirty, dirty play. How was that not an ejection?

Interception: Broncos go for a deep shot on third-and-long, and Zakee Wheatley picks it off. I thought Boise State would try to get back into field goal range, but Madsen went for the home run ball instead. Boise State is in a world of hurt now, trailing 24-14 with its defense back on the field. 

Third quarter recap

End of quarter: Penn State 24, Boise State 14. Boise State will be facing a third-and-25 from the 36 when play resumes. 

Broncos penalty: A 20-yard Prince Strachan catch-and-run touchdown is wiped out on a hands to the face penalty. Tough, tough break. 

Broncos on the move: Madsen is now 16 of 20 passing for 224 yards. Broncos have a first-and-10 from the Penn State 21. 

Touchdown Nittany Lions: Tyler Warren is the real deal. The star tight end hauls in a 13-yard jump ball touchdown on third-and-long. Penn State 24, Boise State 14, 7:22 to go in the third quarter. 

Nittany Lions marching: Kaytron Allen goes over 100 yards on the day with a 23-yard burst on third down. I do not understand why Penn State has only given Allen 12 touches. Really,really poor coaching, in my opinion. 

Touchdown Broncos: Penn State blows a coverage on play action, and Matt Lauter struts into the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown. Dirk Koetter is calling a great game for the Broncos. Penn State 17, Boise State 14. 11:38 to go in the third quarter. 

Abdul Carter update: Penn State’s star defensive end has not returned to the game. 

Nittany Lions punt: Boise State’s defense gets a big three-and-out to start the second half. For some reason, Penn State continues to air it out with Allar, who is not an accurate passer. Broncos take over at their own 16. 

Underway: Penn State, leading 17-7, begins the second half at its own 25. 

Halftime recap

Penn State strategy: Joey Galloway thinks Penn State should continue to attack downfield on its first drive of the third quarter. I could not disagree more. Penn State should get back to smashing Allen and Singleton between the tackles. If I’m Boise State, I don’t want those two getting the ball. Going air raid with Allar? Good luck with that. He’s not very mobile and the BSU pass rush got to him twice in the first half. 

Broncos defense: Boise State has regrouped from its tough start, but the Broncos are still having issues with tackling and pass coverage. Penn State out-gained Boise State 221-147 in the first half. 

Jeanty update: Penn State has bottled up Ashton Jeanty, holding the Heisman Trophy runner-up to 39 yards on 13 carries. Jeanty also has two catches for 23 yards. Jeanty is 93 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders’ FBS single-season rushing record. 

Second quarter recap

End of half: Penn State 17, Boise State 7. Ryan Barker makes a 40-yard field goal as time expires. Nittany Lions get the ball to start the second half. 

Nittany Lions in field goal range: Boise State commits pass interference on a Penn State fourth-and-12. Nittany Lions have it at the BSU 23. 

Broncos punt: Penn State’s defense gets a three-and-out and the Nittany Lions have it at their own 36 with 1:01 to go in the half. 

Nittany Lions punt: Ahmed Hassanein drops Nicholas Singleton for a three-yard loss on third down. The senior defensive end has helped rally Boise State in this game. Broncos take over at their own 20 with 1:45 remaining in the half. 

Two-minute timeout: Penn State will be facing a third-and-three from its own 40 when play resumes. 

Nittany Lions marching: Penn State running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton are breaking tackles every time they touch the ball. Penn State is a physical football team. 

Broncos punt: Boise State goes three-and-out after the defensive stand. Penn State, still leading 14-7, has the ball at its own 21. 

Nittany Lions punt: Ahmed Hassanein gets a big sack to kill Penn State’s drive. Boise State takes over at its own 39 following a poor punt. 

Touchdown Broncos: Phenomenal third-and-short play design by the Broncos. Jeanty sprints out in motion, and fullback Tyler Crowe powers it in for an eight-yard touchdown on a quick dive. Boise State is back in this game, trailing 14-7 with 8:41 remaining in the half. 

Injury update: Penn State star edge rusher Abdul Carter is in the injury tent with an apparent arm injury. Carter was the Big Ten defensive player of the year. 

Jeanty fumbles again: The Heisman Trophy runner-up puts it on the ground a second time, but Roger Carreon falls on it. Huge break for the Broncos. 

Nittany Lions punt: For some reason, Penn State goes with a trick play on third-and-short, and Boise State is all over the throwback pass. Nittany Lions punt, and Cooper Jones returns it 18 yards to give the Broncos a first-and-10 from their own 48. Really,really curious play calling on that series by Penn State.

Broncos punt: Boise State’s drive stalls near midfield. The Penn State pass rush is simply ferocious. Nittany Lions take over at their own 10. 

First quarter recap 

End of quarter: Penn State 14, Boise State 0. When play resumes, Boise State will be facing a third-and-11 from its own 48. 

Nittany Lions fumble: Boise State gets a huge break as Drew Allar drops the ball on a read option. Broncos fall on it at their own 35. Seyi Oladipo had the fumble recovery for Boise State. 

Jeanty fumble: Fighting for extra yardage near the sideline, Ashton Jeanty has the ball punched out of his right arm by Kobe King, and it flies right to Zakee Wheatley. Nittany Lions take over at their own 49. 

Touchdown Nittany Lions: Boise State stacks the box, and Allar connects with Omari Evans on a moon ball for a 38-yard touchdown. Absolute nightmare start for the Broncos, who trail 14-0 with 3:35 to go in the opening quarter. 

Boise State three-and-out: Penn State’s defensive front overwhelmed Boise State on that drive. Nittany Lions, leading 7-0, take over at their own 44 following a Broncos punt. 

Broncos defense update: Tackling was an issue for Boise State on the opening drive. The Broncos also failed to generate any type of pass rush.

Touchdown Nittany Lions: With all day to throw, Drew Allar lifts a perfect ball to Tyler Warren in the back of the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Penn State 7, Boise State 0, 6:40 remaining in the quarter. 

Nittany Lions marching: Kaytron Allen breaks through the line for a 23-yard gain, giving Penn State a first down at the Boise State 21. The Nittany Lions are winning in the trenches on both sides of the ball so far. 

Missed field goal: Jonah Dalmas badly hooks a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Broncos come up empty after a nice opening drive. 

Broncos on the move: Matt Lauter hauls in a 24-yard pass from Maddux Madsen to set Boise State up with a first-and-10 from the Penn State 40. Madsen looks good so far. 

Underway: Boise State and Ashton Jeanty will start at the 25. 

Coin toss: Penn State wins the toss and defers to the second half. Boise State will start with the ball. 

Pregame recap

Betting line: Penn State has jumped from -11.5 to -12.5 over the last 24 hours at most sports books. It appears that heavy money is coming in on the Nittany Lions. 

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Bob Lundeberg
BOB LUNDEBERG

Bob Lundeberg is a reporter for Boise State Broncos On SI. An Oregon State graduate, Bob has lived in Idaho since 2019 and is an avid hiker and golfer.

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