SCOTTSDALE, AZ (December 21, 2024) – With a 38-10 win in the College Football Playoff First Round, No. 6 Penn State punched its ticket to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. No. 3 seed Boise State awaits Penn State in the 5:30 p.m. kickoff in the 54th installment of the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.

The first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal will be broadcast live on ESPN and its digital platforms. Tickets and premium seating options are available by visiting fiestabowl.org/tickets or emailing tickets@fiestabowl.org. Fans will have two pregame options including the free Fan Fest Pregame Party for all ages or the premium Club '71 pregame party with both pregame parties opening at 12:30 p.m.

"In the historic first-ever CFP Quarterfinal, it is fitting that we have two schools in Boise State and Penn State that have rich histories and have never lost in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "We are excited to host and kick off the next step in this year's playoff journey with two teams that are responsible for some of the most memorable games in college football history at the Fiesta Bowl. These are complete football teams with passionate fan bases. College football fans are in for a New Year's Eve treat in the next step on the road to the CFP National Championship featuring two highly motivated, tough teams competing for a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinals."

The Nittany Lions (12-2), making their eighth all-time appearance in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, advanced in the College Football Playoff by virtue of a First Round home win against No. 11 SMU. Penn State stifled SMU, allowing 253 offensive yards and recording three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Dominic DeLuca was responsible for two of the Nittany Lions' three interceptions, including the first pick-6 that put Penn State on the board first.

Penn State pulled away early and held a 28-0 halftime lead. Complementing a strong defensive effort, Penn State was effective on the ground with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen combining for 160 yards rushing and all three of Penn State's offensive touchdowns.

The New Year's Eve showdown pits two of Vrbo Fiesta Bowl's most storied schools, both deeply rooted in the Bowl's history. Penn State (7-0) and Boise State (3-0) are two of three schools with unblemished Fiesta Bowl records with a minimum of three appearances.

Penn State's seven Fiesta Bowl victories are the most of any school and the Nittany Lions return to the Valley of the Sun for the first time since a 35-28 victory over Washington in 2017. Penn State notably defeated Miami, 14-10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl, which doubled as the national championship game.

Boise State claimed all three of its previous Fiesta Bowl wins in a nine-season span starting with the dramatic 43-42 overtime win over Oklahoma in 2007 – one of the most memorable games in college football history. Boise State then defeated TCU in 2010 and Arizona in 2014.

The CFP Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matches one of the nation's top offenses against one of the country's stiffest defenses. Boise State (12-1) is fourth in scoring offense (39.1), fifth in rushing offense (250.5) and sixth in total offense (470.2). Meanwhile across the line of scrimmage, Penn State will combat strength with strength, ranking in the top 10 in scoring defense (15.9), rush defense (100.4) and total defense (280.0).

Boise State's Ashton Jeanty, the Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award winner, leads the Broncos into Arizona. The Heisman Trophy runner-up and the Broncos' first unanimous All-American is No. 1 in the country with 2,613 all-purpose yards and 30 total touchdowns. His 2,497 yards rushing is the fourth-most in FBS single-season history and he needs 132 yards to break Barry Sanders' all-time record (2,628) set in 1988.

Abdul Carter, a unanimous All-American in his own right, headlines Penn State's defense as one of college football's premier pass rushers. Carter's 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss are top 10 in the nation with the latter placing him second. Carter was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award.

"The energy and enthusiasm in Beaver Stadium is electric! We experienced the Penn State passionate fan base who show up to support the Nittany Lions," said Judy Bernas, Board Chair of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. "Boise State's fanbase has been purchasing and planning for the trip to Arizona for two weeks to give us an exciting atmosphere. On behalf of the Board of Directors, our dedicated Yellow Jacket Committee members and the countless Fiesta Sports Foundation volunteers and staff, we are excited to host the student-athletes, coaches, families and fans from both universities. We can't wait for the CFP Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl."

Boise State and Penn State advanced to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal behind talent on both sides of the ball.

The Broncos, the Mountain West Conference champions, rank second in the country with 51 sacks with all-conference performers Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Ahmed Hassanein combining for 18.5 sacks between them. The Nittany Lions boast a top 20 rushing offense and feature the Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren. Warren paces Penn State with 92 receptions and 1,095 yards, the latter a Big Ten single-season record by a tight end.

The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl will not only be the site of the first-ever CFP Quarterfinal, but also will serve as the first all-time meeting between Boise State and Penn State.

Boise State is led by Head Coach Spencer Danielson, the Mountain West Coach of the Year, in his first full season at the helm. James Franklin, fresh off his 100th win as Penn State Head Coach against SMU, is wrapping up his 11th season in Happy Valley.

ABOUT THE FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION
Since 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation is a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision for the importance of community outreach and service. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, such as the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the organization provides charitable giving to enhance Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through youth, sports and education.