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The College Football Playoff quarterfinal stage brings a thrilling matchup between the No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) and the No. 8 Boise State Broncos (12-1) on Tuesday.
The Nittany Lions are fresh off a dominant 38-10 victory over SMU in the first round of the playoffs, bouncing back from a loss to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship.
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Meanwhile, Boise State, coming off a stellar regular season and Mountain West title win, earned a bye. The Broncos’ lone blemish was a narrow three-point defeat to Oregon in Week 2.
Penn State and Boise State will battle it out in the Fiesta Bowl. The kickoff for the high-powered quarterfinal matchup will be at 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium. The winner will advance to face the winner of Notre Dame vs. Georgia.
Who is Penn State’s starting QB for the Fiesta Bowl?
Penn State’s offense will be led by junior quarterback Drew Allar, who has consistently delivered for the Nittany Lions this season. He threw for over 3,000 yards with an impressive three-to-one touchdown-to-interception ratio, completing 68.5% of his passes for 3,021 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Allar is known for his ability to stay composed under pressure and mobility in the pocket, When asked about facing an explosive Boise State offense led by Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty, Allar emphasized the importance of starting strong.
"It comes down to execution as players. I think the coaches do a good job of preparing us. I think for me, execute those gimme throws early in the game and get our guys into rhythm.
You know, just get them involved early as much as I can. That will allow us to stay on the field longer, call more plays, and just open up our offense more. I think that will help us a ton. Building that momentum throughout the game," Allar said.
Who is Boise State’s starting QB for the Fiesta Bowl?
Boise State’s offense is guided by redshirt sophomore quarterback Maddux Madsen he has completed 224 of 361 passes for 2,714 yards, leading the Mountain West with 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
He has also contributed five rushing touchdowns and is the team’s second-leading rusher.
Madsen's leadership and accuracy have been crucial to the Broncos’ success this season. Teammates, like junior tight end Matt Lauter, have expressed their confidence in Madsen’s ability to operate at a high level.
"(Madsen) is a hard worker, and obviously he works his tail off," Lauter said. "But at the same time, we trust that he’s able to operate our offense at the highest level."
Penn State vs. Boise State: Head-to-Head history
This Fiesta Bowl matchup marks the first-ever meeting between Penn State and Boise State. However, both teams enter the game with exceptional records at this bowl game.
Penn State is undefeated in seven appearances at the Fiesta Bowl, a record unmatched by any team in a bowl game. Meanwhile, Boise State has also been the powerhouse in Glendale, maintaining a perfect 3-0 record in the Fiesta Bowl.
Game Details
Date: Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV Channel: ESPN
Venue: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ
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