Faceplants and Fumbles: Boise State exposed in 31-14 Fiesta Bowl loss to Penn State

Boise State’s College Football Playoff dreams came crashing down—literally and figuratively—during Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl against Penn State.

From an embarrassing pregame faceplant to missed opportunities on the field, the Broncos couldn’t overcome their mistakes, falling 31-14 to the Nittany Lions.

Before the game even began, a Boise State player carrying a flag managed to trip over his own feet and faceplant on the State Farm Stadium turf. It felt like a bad omen because it was a bad omen.

Bad Omen: Boise State player faceplants while carrying flag:

Let’s hope this isn’t a bad omen for Boise State pic.twitter.com/1UQ60NTc34

— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) January 1, 2025

To allow the American flag to fall and touch the ground on a football field is simply something that cannot happen before a College Football Playoff game and sure enough, Penn State came out swinging.

The Nittany Lions jumped to a 14-0 lead, fueled by a 38-yard touchdown pass from Drew Allar to Omari Evans on their second drive. Boise State missed a field goal on their opening possession, followed it up with a three-and-out, and coughed up a rare fumble by Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty.

Penn State seemed poised to run away with it early.

Boise State’s Missed Opportunities

To their credit (I guess), Boise State didn’t roll over. They clawed back into the game, closing the gap to 17-14 in the third quarter when quarterback Maddux Madsen hit Matt Lauter for a 53-yard touchdown.

Mistakes Haunted Boise State:

• A touchdown that could have cut Penn State’s lead to three was wiped out by a hands-to-the-face penalty.
• Jonah Dalmas, usually as reliable as they come, missed two crucial field goals, including one in the fourth quarter that could have made it a one-score game.

Nick Singleton Late-Game Dagger:

Penn State kept Boise State at arm’s length, and the Broncos’ hopes finally evaporated when Nick Singleton broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown with under five minutes to play. That run pushed the lead to three scores, leaving no doubt about the outcome.

Penn State

• Tyler Warren: The star tight end was unstoppable, snagging two touchdown passes and finishing with six catches for 63 yards. He also drew key penalties that kept drives alive.

The Best Tight End In College Football#WeAre x #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/m0LzJ8pOJE

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) January 1, 2025

Drew Allar looked sharp, throwing two touchdowns and avoiding major mistakes. Nick Singleton delivered a late-game dagger run cemented Penn State’s place in the semifinals.

nick singleton 58 yard touchdown run pic.twitter.com/pXVrugVSjY

— ◇ (@H00DH3R0) January 1, 2025

Boise State

• Ashton Jeanty: Despite a solid 104-yard performance on 30 carries, the Heisman runner-up came up short of Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing record. His rare fumble early in the game was a momentum killer.
• Maddux Madsen: The Boise QB had flashes of brilliance, including his 53-yard touchdown pass to Lauter, but couldn’t put together a complete game.

Boise State’s Playoff Case Exposed

This game was yet another argument against smaller college football teams making the playoffs. Boise State came in with a flashy record, but they were clearly outmatched when facing a top-tier program like Penn State.

In no way, shape, or form should the Broncos have been ranked No. 3 in the nation and been given a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Their inability to capitalize on opportunities and their glaring talent gap showed why these teams often struggle on the big stage. Frankly, there’s an argument against even letting them into the playoff field to begin with.

The College Football Playoff is supposed to showcase the best of the best, and while it’s fun to root for the underdog, this game was a reminder of why Cinderella stories rarely succeed at the highest level.

Penn State heads to the College Football Playoff Semifinals:

For Penn State, the win propels them to the College Football Playoff semifinals, where they’ll face either Georgia or Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions showed resilience, particularly on the heels of Boise State’s third-quarter rally.

As for Boise State, their magical season ends with a disappointing thud. The Broncos missed key opportunities and simply couldn’t match Penn State’s firepower.

The Fiesta Bowl had all the makings of an instant classic but ultimately became a tale of missed chances for Boise State. From the pregame faceplant to missed field goals and costly penalties, it just wasn’t the Broncos’ night.

For Penn State, it’s one step closer to the national title. For Boise State? Maybe reconsider if you belonged there in the first place.

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