Penn State is 7-0 in the Fiesta Bowl, having last played in the contest at the end of the 2017 season. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions defeated Washington 35-28 in the game. ESPN will broadcast the game with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. (EST) on New Year’s Eve.

In the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff, the No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2) will play the No. 8 Boise State Broncos (12-1) in the Fiesta Bowl, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET in

Boise State Broncos assistant head coach Stacy Collins spent two seasons with the Penn State Nittany Lions. "Coach Collins was my guy," Penn State's Dom DeLuca said.

Daryus Dixson, LaVar Arrington II and Braz Thomas have already made their way to Happy Valley. Many more 2025 signees are expected by January.

When Ioane, a native of the Seattle area, de-committed from the University of Washington, Collins suggested he speak to Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. Ioane wound up committing to the Lions in February 2022.

Boise State and Penn State are two of the top rushing offenses in the country, but the Fiesta Bowl participants use different approaches to shred teams on the ground. The third-seeded Broncos (12-1) rely on Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty to do most of the work.

Penn State has enlisted Tyler Holzworth, a junior, to mimic Jeanty on the scout team. It’s an impossible ask, but the 6-0, 219-pound Nittany Lions back can help present some of the same looks that Boise State gives with Jeanty.

The Nittany Lions and Broncos are a combined 10-0 at the Fiesta Bowl, where they will meet for the first time.

The Boise State defense gave up nearly 30 points a game in their first five games, but in their final eight games they have only allowed 17 points per game as the defense improved through out the year.

Penn State's defense will have a huge task in trying to slow down Boise State star Ashton Jeanty in Tuesday's Fiesta Bowl.