Penn State Football

Penn State head coach James Franklin took a swipe at Notre Dame before the two teams meet in the College Football Playoff semifinal on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference alongside Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, Franklin emphasized that "everybody should be in a conference" for the sake of consistency across college football:

"It should be consistent across college football. This is no knock at [Freeman] or Notre Dame, but I think everybody should be in a conference. I think everybody should play a conference championship game, or nobody should play a conference champion championship game. I think everybody should play the same number of conference games."

Notre Dame is one of three FBS independents, along with Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Fighting Irish are part of the ACC in other sports, but they have maintained their independence in football in part because it's more financially beneficial for them.

NBC has been the broadcast partner with Notre Dame since the 1991 season. In November 2023, the network extended its contract through the 2029 season and will pay the school $50 million annually. This is in addition to $17.4 million the school gets per season from the ACC.

Staying independent also affords Notre Dame with scheduling flexibility that it wouldn't have if it were part of a conference. This season alone saw the Irish play opponents in the SEC (Texas A&M), ACC (Louisville, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Stanford, Virginia), MAC (Northern Illinois), Big Ten (Purdue) and AAC (Navy, Army).

They also had their traditional rivalry game against USC at the Coliseum on Nov. 30.

Since Notre Dame isn't in a conference, it has to negotiate its own deal with the College Football Playoff. Even though the Irish can't win a conference title, they do have an agreement in place that provides protections they will survive regardless of the ultimate format when the field expands to 14 teams in 2026.

Notre Dame finished fifth in the final College Football Playoff rankings, but it dropped to the No. 7 seed because the four highest-ranked conference champions get the top four seeds. The Irish were also behind non-conference champions Texas (No. 3) and Penn State (No. 4) in the rankings.

Thursday's game will mark the 20th all-time meeting between Notre Dame and Penn State, with the series evenly split at 9-9-1.

Penn State is hopeful that star pass-rusher Abdul Carter will be able to play in Thursday's College Football Playoff semifinal game against Notre Dame.

Head coach James Franklin told reporters they "anticipate" Carter will be available, but he is going to be a "game-time decision" because they want to see how his upper-body injury feels before kickoff.

Carter injured his arm/shoulder in the second quarter of Penn State's 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. He didn't return to the game and his status for the Orange Bowl has been up in the air.

There have been teases from Carter that he is getting closer to being ready to go. He recently posted a video on social media from the Star Wars series featuring Darth Vader in a bacta tank.

https://twitter.com/1NCRDB1/status/1876422335206772921

According to Wookieepedia, in Star Wars mythology, the bacta tank is designed to "accelerate healing and treat major injuries."

The Nittany Lions did put together a strong defensive performance against Boise State, despite not having Carter for the second half of that game. Ashton Jeanty, the 2024 Heisman runner-up, had a season-low 104 rushing yards and 3.5 yards per carry.

Notre Dame figures to present a tougher challenge for Penn State. The Irish rank in the top four in the nation in scoring offense and defense. They ran for 154 yards on 37 carries in a 23-10 win over Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.

Carter is the main driving force for a Penn State defense that ranks seventh in FBS in points allowed per game. The unit has held 11 of 15 opponents this season to 20 points or fewer.

A Philadelphia native, Carter was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American selection this season. He leads the nation with 22 tackles for loss and is tied for seventh with 11 sacks.

No other player on Penn State's defense has more than 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

Penn State and Notre Dame will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Thursday.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 226

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POSITIVES

— Outstanding burst/acceleration to reach top speed quickly and outrun pursuit angles to the perimeter.

— Runs with an angry demeanor; expect him to lower his shoulder upon contact and finish runs falling forward.

— Talented and versatile receiving back, able to hurt defenses at multiple levels.

— Good contact balance and body control while fighting through initial defensive contact.

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NEGATIVES

— Lateral agility for jump cuts to quickly escape trouble rushing between the tackles.

— Lacks creativity as a runner, he does not showcase elusiveness to break defenders down one-on-one.

— Consistency with reading and processing information while approaching the LOS

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NOTES

— Born Jan. 6, 2004

— 5-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2023 Third-Team All Big-Ten

— 2022 Third-Team All Big-Ten

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OVERALL

Nicholas Singleton is an explosive athlete who checks all of the boxes to become a complete running back on Sundays.

Singleton runs with an easy burst and acceleration. He outruns second-level pursuing defenders to the perimeter. He changes gears with relative ease, quickly reaching top speed. Singleton has a final gear to pull away from defenders down the field, creating explosive runs. He is a home run threat at all times. Per Bruce Feldman's list, he has reportedly hit 23.6 mph on the GPS while improving his 40 time from 4.39 to 4.35.

As a runner, Singleton excels when his shoulders are squared forward and allowed to attack downhill. He runs hard behind his pads with intentions of falling forward upon contact with a defender. He has a strong leg drive to push piles and power forward. As a result of his speed-to-power conversion, Singleton is difficult to tackle up high. Defenders are more successful attacking his legs/base.

Singleton is a weapon in the passing game as a receiver and blocker. He surveys the line of scrimmage to identify free runners quickly. Singleton's pass-pro technique is consistent and effective. He squares up and strikes with power to stonewall incoming defenders. Singleton is a dynamic receiving weapon out of the backfield. He runs good routes from multiple alignments, even out of the slot. His ball tracking is impressive for an RB.

Singleton lacks good lateral agility and movement abilities. His jump cuts after pressing the LOS are average at best. Singleton can get caught in the wash of the bodies at the LOS and limited to a minimal gain. Creativity is an area of struggle for Singleton—he is not an overly elusive runner to break down alley defenders one-on-one. He relies on speed, athleticism, and upper-body strength to defeat solo defenders.

Overall, Nicholas Singleton is an athletically talented three-down running back. His near-complete skill set fits more of a gap scheme offense than pure zone. He is versatile enough to find success in both offensive concepts. Singleton has breakaway speed and best attacks the line of scrimmage with his shoulders squared. In a gap scheme with pin/pull concepts, Singleton will bring explosive playmaking to his offense.

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GRADE: 7.5 (Potential Impact Player — Second Round)

OVERALL RANK: 49

POSITION RANK: RB4

PRO COMPARISON: David Johnson

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter's return from an arm injury in the College Football Playoff semifinal isn't guaranteed, but head coach James Franklin was optimistic regarding his outlook.

"At this point, I don't think there's anything stopping him from playing, but it's going to come down to, how is he able to play?" Franklin said on Saturday, per ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "We'll see. But his mentality is great. He's excited about this week, but it's too early to say at this stage."

Here is the Saturday update on Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Abdul Carter (injured vs Boise State) from Penn State head coach James Franklin...https://t.co/dtgU7YtD2x pic.twitter.com/EsCsa3i7pK

— Tyler Donohue (@TDsTake) January 4, 2025

Carter left during the first quarter of the Nittany Lions' 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday and did not return to the game.

The pass-rusher previously hinted that he may be able to recover from the injury in time for the CFP semifinal with a Star Wars reference on social media.

pic.twitter.com/9eg2DsdQvn

— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) January 2, 2025

Health issues have been almost nonexistent for Carter in the past, as he's never missed a game at Penn State since making his 2022 debut with the school.

The junior has developed into one of the nation's most imposing defensive ends in 2024, routinely wrecking opposing backfields. In 14 appearances he's racked up 63 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, three passes defensed and two forced fumbles.

Carter was a consensus All-American and the became the first Penn State player to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors since 2015.

Best of the Best

B1G Defensive Player of the Year 🏆#WeAre x @1NCRDB1 pic.twitter.com/geJtHrLfNB

— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) December 3, 2024

He's considered the No. 10 overall player in the 2025 NFL draft class on the latest big board from Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department.

His presence would provide a major boost to the Nittany Lions' defensive front during their upcoming clash with Notre Dame, as the Fighting Irish rank No. 4 in the country with a scoring average of 37.7 points per game.

Carter's status for Thursday's CFP clash is still up in the air, but Franklin provided a positive update on Saturday.

Penn State star Abdul Carter isn't ruling himself out the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9.

The junior defensive end shared a photo of Darth Vader from Star Wars sitting in the tank that aided his recuperative powers:

pic.twitter.com/9eg2DsdQvn

— Abdul Carter (@1NCRDB1) January 2, 2025

Carter exited the Nittany Lions' 31-14 win over Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl with an undisclosed injury.

After the game, head coach James Franklin was unable to provide any insight about the injury or whether it would impact Carter's status for the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

"We'll get that checked out and see," the coach said. "Obviously, No. 1, the safety and health and welfare of our guys is priority number one.

"But then, I know Abdul will want to play next week and will do everything in his power next week if he's able to. We'll find out. I don't know a whole lot more information than that."

Carter was a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference in sacks (11). He's the No. 10 overall player and top edge-rusher in Bleacher Report's big board for the 2025 NFL draft.

Needless to say, there would be a massive void along Penn State's front seven if the 6'3, 252-pound defender is ruled out for the semifinals and beyond.

The Nittany Lions are awaiting the winner of Thursday's Sugar Bowl between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 2 Georgia.

Despite his announcement that he plans to return to Penn State for his senior season in 2025, there is reportedly some thought within the NFL that quarterback Drew Allar will enter the 2025 NFL draft.

According to Dane Brugler of The Athletic, "several" NFL general managers are of the belief that Allar may enter the draft if he has a strong College Football Playoff run, and teams are still scouting him as if he will be part of the 2025 draft class.

On Dec. 16, Allar posted on X that the 2024 college football season has been the most fun he's ever had in football, and that he was looking "forward to making more memories with my teammates this year and beyond."

pic.twitter.com/RvIXIErnqu

— Drew Allar (@AllarDrew) December 16, 2024

ESPN's Pete Thamel later reported that Allar informed the Penn State coaching staff of his intention to return to PSU in 2025.

Allar has already led the sixth-seeded Nittany Lions to a pair of CFP wins, as they beat SMU in the first round and Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl as part of the quarterfinals.

While the running game led the way on offense in both wins, Allar made some big plays in the 31-14 win over Boise State on Tuesday night, going 13-of-25 for 171 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

In his first season as the starter in 2023, Allar went 10-3 and completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 2,631 yards, 25 touchdowns and only two interceptions, while also rushing for 206 yards and four scores.

Although he has made a few more mistakes this season, he has clearly made significant strides, going 13-2 and completing 67.4 percent of his passing attempts for 3,192 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven picks to go along with 285 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

At 6'5" and 238 pounds, Allar has ideal size for an NFL quarterback, and it is fair to wonder if he would be able to put himself in the conversation as the top quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft if he declares.

As of now, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are widely considered the top two quarterbacks in the class, and there may not be another quarterback worthy of a first-round pick.

Given how thin the class is in terms of highly touted quarterbacks, Allar would perhaps have a chance to position himself as a top-five pick with a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day.

As things currently stand, the New England Patriots are positioned to pick first overall in the draft, but they don't need a quarterback. After them, quarterback-needy teams in the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants are penciled in at Nos. 2, 3 and 4 overall.

For now, Allar is focused on Penn State's CFP run, as the Nittany Lions are just one win away from playing for a national championship.

In the CFP semifinals, PSU will face the winner of the Sugar Bowl between second-seeded Georgia and seventh-seeded Notre Dame.

Penn State head football coach James Franklin reflected on his team's win over Boise State on Tuesday night after the Nittany Lions took down the Broncos 31-14 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl.

Speaking to reporters after PSU's big victory, Franklin credited his players with rising to the occasion in one of the Nittany Lions' biggest games over the past several years:

"I'm just proud of our guys. We talked in the beginning of the season about our guys having these types of moments and these types of experiences and these types of opportunities. Love the fact that these guys were able to find a win against a really good opponent here.

"Just a couple of things I'll say ... 13 wins, first time in program history. Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton both surpassing 1,000 yards in the same season. First time we've ever had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season since joining the Big Ten. Then 34 wins over the last three years. We're very, very proud of that. Consistency is hard to do, and our guys have done a great job at it. The maturity they've shown has been impressive."

Franklin also told reporters about how he encouraged his players to put their phones away in order to be present and celebrate their achievement as a team:

"Obviously, I wouldn't say it's overly unique, but I'm a big believer in being present," Franklin said. "One of the things I just got on the guys in the locker room, a bunch of guys are on their phones. I get that that's this generation now. Twitter, Instagram, whatever it may be, I get it. But what I do know is PJ Mustipher and Jesse Luketa, all the guys that were on the sideline kind of supporting our guys, they would die to be back in our locker room."

I just think being present is such an important quality for all of us, right? That's what 1-0 is all about, right? Whether it's the game, whether it is the exam or the class, and even for myself, sitting with my wife and kids and my phone is going off, pushing the phone away and being present. I know I've got to be better about that."

Penn State largely dominated Tuesday's game, forcing four turnovers and holding Boise State to just 108 rushing yards as a team. Meanwhile, Allen and Singleton combined to rush for over 200 yards as a tandem.

The Broncos entered the Fiesta Bowl with just one loss on the season, and running back Ashton Jeanty was undoubtedly the driving force behind their success.

Jeanty was second in the Heisman Trophy voting and put together one of the greatest seasons by a running back in college football history, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Franklin alluded to how much he stressed the importance of holding Jeanty in check to his team, saying:

"We talked a lot—these guys are sick of me talking about their running back Ashton Jeanty. Ton of respect for him and what he's done in his entire career is special. But at the end of the day, we played a complete game, offense, defense, and special teams, complementary football—did some special things tonight."

Although Jeanty reached the century mark on Tuesday, he rushed for only 104 yards on 30 carries and didn't score a touchdown. It was Jeanty's lowest rushing total of the season and only the second time he failed to score a touchdown in a game.

Franklin expressed his belief that his defense was able to "corral" Jeanty before going on to praise Jeanty and the play of his defense:

"We got the point across about the respect that we have for that young man and the type of running back he is. Even today, I think our defense would say they have a ton of respect for him and how many tackles he was able to break and how strong he is and the contact balance. He's an impressive guy.

"But we're pretty good on defense. Thought our D-line did a really good job of being disruptive and getting in the backfield. I thought we did a really good job gang-tackling. There were a few times where we didn't wrap like we should have. But for the most part, our defense played lights out."

This season marks the first time Penn State has ever reached the College Football Playoff, and after beating SMU and Boise State, the Nittany Lions are now semifinalists.

On New Year's Day, they will kick back and watch the Sugar Bowl between second-seeded Georgia and seventh-seeded Notre Dame, as the winner of that game will be their opponent in the semis.

If Penn State wins that game, then it would face the winner of Texas or Arizona State vs. Ohio State or Oregon for the national championship.

Ohio State and Oregon are the two teams that beat Penn State this year, so it is possible that the Nittany Lions could both win their first national title since 1986 and get some revenge in the process.

Penn State is one step closer to reaching the College Football Playoff championship game.

The No. 6 Nittany Lions downed No. 3 Boise State 31-14 in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, punching a ticket to the Orange Bowl and the CFP semifinal.

Penn State seemed to be on its way to a dominant win after taking a 14-0 lead on its first two drives, but the Broncos didn't go down without a fight. They found the end zone in the second quarter to make it a seven-point game before the Nittany Lions hit a field goal right before halftime.

Boise State was rolling in the second half, opening up the third quarter with a tremendous drive that ended with a 53-yard touchdown pass. Penn State quickly got the points back, however, making it 24-14 heading into the final quarter.

The Broncos had a pair of strong drives in the fourth quarter, but none of them ended with points. They had one interception and another missed field goal and Penn State capitalized on the empty drives, taking a 31-14 lead on a 58-yard run from Nick Singleton.

Singleton finished with 87 rushing yards and a touchdown while his partner in the backfield, Kaytron Allen, had 135 yards on the ground.

PENN STATE BREAKS THE GAME OPEN 😳

Nicholas Singleton takes it 58 yards to the house 🏠 pic.twitter.com/bE4KuTM77T

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025

From there, a Boise State interception helped seal the win for the Nittany Lions.

Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty had a decent game, posting 104 yards on the ground, but it was from what we've seen him do this year. After taking care of the ball all year, he had an uncharacteristic fumble in the first half before finally getting things going in the second half.

Had he found his game going earlier, things could have gone differently, but ultimately the Penn State defense was too much for the Broncos.

After the game, fans were impressed by Penn State as it eyes a national championship appearance.

Boise State has three drives in which it got inside Penn State's 30-yard line and came away with zero points.

They're down by 10. It was there to be had. Couldn't finish.

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 1, 2025

…what if this Penn State teams wins the national title?

— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) January 1, 2025

Penn State is feasting on this Boise st o-line. Georgia vs Penn State is going to be fun to watch

— LilSaucey (@GNova04) January 1, 2025

Wow. Penn State is one game away from the national championship?!? We used to pray for times like this

— Roll Call (@drewg_smith) January 1, 2025

Telling you, what Penn State has been able to do since the Ohio State loss has been really impressive.

Watch out for a possible National championship berth for the Nittany Lions

— Adam Mackey (@aa_mmack) January 1, 2025

The Big 10 will at least have one team in the National Championship.

Penn State is beating Notre Dame in the semi

— Who would win? 1 African Top vs 100 Atlanta Ponks (@GullahRehabbed) January 1, 2025

Oregon vs Penn State national championship?!

— Coco (@CocoCupcakegirl) January 1, 2025

Great win by Penn State(there is no comeback) Boise shot themselves in the foot, unfortunately. Hard fought by both teams, no quit. Penn State is playing good ball and are dangerous.

— Cody Slovensky (@GBP_TigerKing) January 1, 2025

I think if Penn state would’ve kept their foot on the gas with their run game this game would’ve been over by half tbh

— Edd (@edbravo19) January 1, 2025

Penn State - STILL UNDEFEATED IN THE FIESTA BOWL.

— ST JT (@StJgrft) January 1, 2025

The Nittany Lions now have a date set with either No. 2 Georgia or No. 7 Notre Dame. Those two squads will battle it out in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday.

No matter who Penn State gets, it will be a tough game, but the Nittany Lions showed on Tuesday that they have what it takes to make a championship run.

It has been a time of upheaval in college football the past few years, and Penn State head coach James Franklin would like a legend of the sport to help stabilize everything.

Franklin called former Alabama head coach Nick Saban "the obvious choice" to be the commissioner of college football.

"It's one of these things that we can't just keep talking about that this is a challenge and a problem in college football," he said. "We've gotta come up with some solutions. We've been talking about this for a while, and a lot of different people have brought it up. I'm one of the people who feel very very strongly that we need a commissioner of college football. We need somebody that's waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night thinking about what's in the best interest of college football."

2/2@PennStateFball @SSN_PennState @Fiesta_Bowl @HERO_SportsCFB pic.twitter.com/hNh0XQBLSB

— Colton Pool (@CPoolReporter) December 29, 2024

Just in the past handful of years alone, college football has seen drastic conference realignment, the expansion of the College Football Playoff from four teams to 12, the implementation of looser transfer rules with the portal, and opportunities for athletes to earn more money through name, image and likeness.

The timing of the calendar has also come under scrutiny, as the early signing period for high school prospects and the opening of the December transfer portal all happen in between the end of the regular season and the start of the CFP and bowl games.

That means coaches and programs are juggling preparing for important playoff games, recruiting high school prospects, re-recruiting their own rosters to avoid players entering the portal and looking into the portal for potential outside additions all at the same time.

While there have certainly been positives with players having more freedom to find better situations via transfers and earning the chance to make money, so many significant changes have also created something of a chaotic environment that, as Franklin mentioned, is difficult to navigate.

Franklin also advocated for eliminating conference championship games and having every league play the same amount of conference games to create a situation where it is easier for the CFP selection committee to compare resumes in an "apples to apples" way in the expanded playoff era.

Yet it is difficult to envision conference championship games being taken away given the money and attention they draw.

"If every decision we make is based on money, then we're heading in the wrong direction," Franklin said.

As for Saban, he was the king of the sport when he coached at Alabama. His program was the gold standard during his tenure that included six national championships, and his retirement after the 2023 campaign sent shockwaves throughout the college football community.

The 73-year-old spent this past season working on ESPN's College GameDay pregame show and might not want the additional responsibilities that would come with being the college football commissioner. Franklin even joked that Saban would call him following these comments and tell him to stop.

For now, there remains no commissioner in college football. But some of the changes are benefiting Franklin's Penn State squad, which is in the expanded 12-team CFP field and three wins away from a national title even though it wouldn't have made a four-team field.

James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions earned a trip to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with an emphatic first-round victory.

The Nittany Lions brought in three turnovers in Saturday's first half on their way to a 38-10 rout of SMU.

PENN STATE DOMINATES IN THE FIRST ROUND 😤@PennStateFball cruises to victory vs SMU and will play in the CFP Quarterfinals 🙌 pic.twitter.com/opKCfkbIve

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 21, 2024

Penn State opened the scoring when Dominic DeLuca returned an interception for a 23-yard touchdown on SMU's second drive of the game.

PENN STATE WITH AN EARLY PICK-SIX 🔥

BEAVER STADIUM IS LOUD 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/VX9iQPmwN8

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 21, 2024

The Mustangs' next possession ended in a punt, and linebacker Tony Rojas turned their following drive into a 59-yard interception return.

PENN STATE WITH ANOTHER PICK-SIX 😱

NITTANY LIONS ARE UP 14-0‼️ pic.twitter.com/w72a9NsMoB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 21, 2024

DeLuca hauled in another interception to cap off the second quarter and force SMU to concede its third turnover of the game.

PENN STATE GETS THEIR 3RD INT OF THE FIRST HALF 😳

WHAT IS HAPPENING?! pic.twitter.com/Jh9Gf9dWqU

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 21, 2024

SMU’s leading receivers:

1. Tony Rojas* - 59 yds
2. Dominic DeLuca* - 23 yds
3. Roderick Daniels Jr. - 20 yds

*plays for Penn State

— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) December 21, 2024

Why is Penn State bothering with transfer receivers?

Just put Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas out wide.

— Sam Fremin (@SamFremin) December 21, 2024

Former walk-on Dominic DeLuca with two picks in the biggest game of his life pic.twitter.com/mQAc7obPUN

— Jake B 〽️ (@MichFootballBEL) December 21, 2024

The Nittany Lions had claimed such a comfortable lead by the final 15 minutes that they started putting depth players out onto the field.

These changes included pulling Drew Allar in favor of backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, as well as slotting in freshman defenders who allowed SMU's first touchdown of the game.

Penn state put in their backup QB with 10:42 left in the 4th🤣

— Jules (@julietb514) December 21, 2024

Penn State bringing the backups in with a whole quarter left is hilarious and embarrassing

— ShroomDoggyDogg (@sovreignphilos1) December 21, 2024

SMU scoring a garbage time touchdown to cut the Penn State lead to 38-10 pic.twitter.com/fUGwjd8lx6

— Justin DeSales (@JustinDeSales) December 21, 2024

Penn State's ability to rest Allar and other starters boosted fans' hopes of how far the Nittany Lions are destined to go in the first expanded playoff.

Penn State is now set to face Boise State, and a run game led by Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty, at the upcoming Fiesta Bowl.

Penn State didn’t even need Allar or Warren today 😂

Boise State has 0 chance

— Jargo (@Jargo26) December 21, 2024

Penn State about to cake walk to the semi finals. They are going to roll through Boise State

— IamStillHere (@DoBetterBeMore) December 21, 2024

Hope Boise State is ready for our Penn State defense! I don’t think Ashton Jeanty is going to have much luck running on us. The Heisman snub might be tough, but we’re still locking it down! 🦁💪 #WeAre #PennState #CFBPlayoff

— CMG$$ (@BoomerG2892) December 21, 2024

Penn State’s defense against Jeanty will be a fun watch

— Preston Hiefield (@PC_Hiefield) December 21, 2024

Boise State fans meanwhile questioned whether Saturday's blowout of SMU showed Penn State is ready to unseat a top-four seed.

The Nittany Lions' run defense, which held the Mustangs to 58 rushing yards on Saturday, is now slated to face a tough challenge in Jeanty. The Broncos star averaged 192 rushing yards per game during the regular season.

https://twitter.com/BraydonMiller15/status/1870563574772535348

Boise State can absolutely hang with Penn State. At a neutral field, I like our chances. Go Broncos.

— Joshua Evenson (@evenson_joshua) December 21, 2024

Penn State better fix this tackling problem they got or Jeanty gonna have a field day on them🤣

— Imari Smith (@_8Mariii) December 21, 2024

Boise State has to be licking their chops watching this game. They are going to HANDLE Penn State #CFBPlayoff

— Andrew Cappuzzello (@AndrewCapp_) December 21, 2024

I’ve seen nothing today from Penn State that concerns me as a Boise State fan.

— Dayton Robison (@DaytonRobison) December 21, 2024

The Fiesta Bowl will mark the first time Penn State and Boise State have faced one another. A trip to the semifinals will be on the line when these two teams kick off in State College on Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.