Penn State is three wins away from a national championship, and the next hurdle is Boise State.
Neither PSU or Boise State has ever lost in the Fiesta Bowl, with Penn State being 7-0 and Boise 3-0.
One could argue that the biggest win in the history of each school took place in Arizona.
Penn State’s second and most recent national title was won in the Fiesta Bowl in a legendary game against Miami in January 1987. Boise State also won a legendary Fiesta Bowl, stunning Oklahoma in January 2007. This year, the teams have the same amount of wins at 12. But one team is a heavy favorite.
THE SPREAD
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 30: Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin speaks to the crowd after the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl college football game between the Washington Huskies and the Penn State Nittany Lions on December 30, 2017, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ. The Nittany Lions defeated the Huskies 35-28. (Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire)
Penn State comes into this game as an 11.5-point favorite per FanDuel Sportsbook. which on the surface, might seem like a surprise. But it shouldn’t be.
For one, despite being the lower seed, Penn State is the higher-ranked team in the AP Poll (No. 4 vs. No. 9). Penn State also gets more inherent respect because it’s in the Big Ten compared to Boise State’s conference, the Mountain West.
But Boise State does have maybe the best player in College Football.
Ashton Jeanty finished runner-up to Colorado’s Travis Hunter in the Heisman Trophy voting and plenty feel he should have won it.
Through 13 games, Jeanty has rushed for— you’re not about to misread this— 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He’s 133 yards away from Barry Sanders’ single season NCAA record.
So, yeah, Penn State will have its hands full. But people are questioning if Boise State has enough behind Jeanty to stand up to a team of Penn State’s caliber.
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Beaver Stadium — David Hague
As always, Penn State will have a big following in Arizona. For those who won’t be there, here’s information on how to watch, stream and listen to the game.
Kickoff: 7:30
TV: ESPN
TV announcers: Bob Wischusen, Louis Riddick, Kris Budden
Streaming: ESPN App, ESPN+
Radio: Penn State Football Radio Affiliates
Radio announcers: Steve Jones (PXP), Jack Ham (color), Brian Tripp (sideline)Â
Sirius/Internet: Channel 82 (Penn State broadcast), 84 (Boise State broadcast).Â
