Boise State has built a proud legacy at the Fiesta Bowl, a cornerstone of its FBS history. The Broncos have appeared in this iconic bowl game three times, winning each outing. These victories are immortalized in the Bleymaier Football Center at Albertsons Stadium, where the trophies symbolize the program’s rise on the national stage. Adding a fourth would be monumental as Boise State (12-1), the No. 3 seed, faces No. 6 Penn State (12-2) in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal of the expanded College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve.
Penn State, too, boasts an unrivaled Fiesta Bowl tradition. The Nittany Lions have appeared seven times and remain undefeated, a feat no other team has matched. “Our guys are very aware of our history here,” head coach James Franklin emphasized. Penn State’s victories span decades, beginning in 1977 with a win over Arizona State and culminating in 2017 when they bested Washington 35-28.
Boise State’s victories are legendary, none more so than their 43-42 overtime triumph over Oklahoma in 2007, considered one of college football’s greatest games. Their other wins came against TCU in 2010 and Arizona in 2014, all as underdogs. Once again, Boise State faces steep odds, entering the matchup as 10.5-point underdogs.
Head coach Spencer Danielson is undeterred. “We might not have what everybody else has, but we definitely have enough,” he said. The Broncos will don their signature Fiesta Bowl uniforms: blue helmets, white jerseys, and orange pants.
Franklin, who once coached at Idaho State, praised Boise State’s culture of success. “It’s embedded in the university and community,” he said. Both teams carry rich traditions into this high-stakes matchup, where one perfect Fiesta Bowl record must fall.
