SCOTTSDALE, AZ (December 8, 2024) – Boise State, a three-time Fiesta Bowl champion and 2024 Mountain West Conference Champions, earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye into the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at State Farm Stadium. The first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal kicks off at 5:30 p.m. MST and will be broadcast live on ESPN and its digital platforms from Glendale.

The Broncos will meet the winner of the CFP first round matchup between No. 6 Penn State and No. 11 SMU. The Nittany Lions host the Mustangs on Saturday, December 21, at 10 a.m. MST.

Tickets and premium seating options for the 54th Annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl are available by visiting fiestabowl.org/tickets or calling 480.350.0911. Fans can start their New Year's Eve with the free Fan Fest Pregame Party for all ages or the premium Club '71 pregame party. Both pregame parties open at 12:30 p.m.

"The new era of college football is upon us and having Boise State in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl to kick off the first-ever College Football Playoff Quarterfinal raises the level of excitement even further. Fans can come early for pregame fun and ring in the New Year with us," said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. "Boise State has had an impressive season and is poised to start its national championship journey against the winner of a first-round matchup between Penn State and SMU. This is the best time of the year!"

Ten years after its most recent appearance, Boise State returns to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl for the first time since 2014. The Broncos defeated Arizona, 38-30, in 2014 marking their third Fiesta Bowl victory in nine seasons. Boise State previously claimed Fiesta Bowl wins, most notably in 2007 versus Oklahoma and in 2010 against TCU.

With a 3-0 all-time Fiesta Bowl record, Boise State is one of three schools, along with Penn State (7-0) and Oklahoma State (3-0), with an undefeated record in at least three appearances.

The Broncos are bowl eligible for the 27th consecutive season, the second-longest active streak behind Georgia (28). Boise State owns a 13-8 Bowl Season record since moving up to FBS in 1996.

Boise State earned its place in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl with its sixth Mountain West Conference championship in a 21-7 win over No. 20 UNLV. The victory clinched a first-round playoff bye into the quarterfinals for Boise State (12-1) as one of the four highest-ranked conference champions.

The Broncos will bring one of the top offenses to Arizona, ranking fourth in the FBS in scoring offense (39.1) and sixth in total offense (470.2). Leading the charge is Ashton Jeanty, the nation's leading-rusher with 2,497 yards – only 131 yards shy of Barry Sanders' FBS all-time record of 2,628 set in 1988. Jeanty has six games with at least 200 yards rushing this season and six games with at least three touchdowns as part of a 29-touchdown season to date.

While Jeanty, the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year and finalist for the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp Awards, garners the headlines, Maddux Madsen has excelled in his first full season as Boise State's starting quarterback. Madsen has thrown for 2,714 yards with 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Head Coach Spencer Danielson – the Mountain West Coach of the Year – has a stout Broncos defense as well. The former Boise State defensive coordinator has guided the Broncos to the 24th-ranked run defense in the country allowing 115.1 yards per game. Boise State pressures opposing quarterbacks as well as any team in the nation, ranking second with 51 team sacks led by All-Mountain West defensive ends Jayden Virgin-Morgan and Ahmed Hassanein, who both rank in the top 20 nationally 10.0 and 8.5 sacks apiece.

"The expanded College Football Playoff brought great excitement to the season and the Playoff will be even more captivating. We are proud to host the first-ever CFP Quarterfinal here at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and to do so with our hallmark Yellow Jacket hospitality for student-athletes, coaches, families and fans," said Judy Bernas, Chair of the Fiesta Sports Foundation. "Boise State has a history of success at the Fiesta Bowl and we will welcome Bronco Nation on and off the field. There is no better way to spend New Year's Eve than witnessing history with two of college football's best teams."

Boise State awaits the winner of a matchup between Penn State and SMU. Penn State and SMU will meet for the third time with Penn State leading the all-time series, 1-0-1.

Penn State (11-2) heads into the College Football Playoff following a 45-37 loss to No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship game. The Nittany Lions boast one of the nation's top defenses, ranking sixth in total defense (282.1) and eighth in scoring defense (16.4). At the head of the unit is Abdul Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and finalist for the Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Lombardi Award. Carter is a force, leading the team with 19.5 tackles for loss and 10.0 sacks. Tight end Tyler Warren, with totals of 88 receptions and 1,062 yards, is a finalist for the Mackey and Paul Hornung Awards and was named the Big Ten Tight End of the Year.

SMU's nine-game winning streak came to an end in a 34-31 loss to then No. 17 Clemson in the ACC Championship, but an undefeated 8-0 debut conference campaign lifted the Mustangs (11-2) to the College Football Playoff. SMU is the sixth-highest scoring team in the country at 38.5 points per game and are led by Kevin Jennings, who has thrown for 3,050 yards and 22 touchdowns. Brashard Smith, a First Team All-ACC running back, averages nearly six yards per carry with totals of 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns.

No school has more Fiesta Bowl victories than Penn State, who sports a perfect 7-0 record. The Nittany Lions' most recent appearance was 2017, a 35-28 win over Washington, that featured Saquon Barkley setting a Bowl record with a 92-yard touchdown run. SMU would make its first appearance in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl with a win at Penn State.

A number of college football's most memorable moments have occurred at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, which dates back to 1971. In recent memory, five of the last seven games have been decided by one score.

Three days prior to the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe will take place in Central Phoenix on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m. MST. The Fiesta Bowl Parade will be headlined by Anthony Robles, this year's Grand Marshal.

All tickets purchased for the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and the Rate Bowl, to be held on Thursday, December 28 in downtown Phoenix, helps amplify the impact of Fiesta Bowl Charities.

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.