Postgame Notes: No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Boise State (CFP First Round)Postgame Notes: No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Boise State (CFP First Round)

Postgame Notes: No. 6 seed Penn State vs. No. 11 seed Boise State (CFP First Round)

TEAM

  • Penn State is now 2-0-1 all-time against SMU.
  • The Nittany Lions are 11-6 in full-stadium Penn State White Out games, including six-straight wins.
  • Penn State is 6-2 when wearing its Generations of Greatness uniforms.
  • Penn State earned its first win in a College Football Playoff game and improved to 32-20-2 all-time in postseason games (bowls + CFP).
  • Head Coach James Franklin earned his 100th win at Penn State.
    • Franklin reached 100 wins in 141 games at Penn State.
    • He is one of seven current FBS coaches with 100+ wins at their current school, joining Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (204), Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (179), Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy (169), Utah’s Kyle Whittingham (167), Air Force’s Troy Calhoun (135) and Georgia’s Kirby Smart (104).
    • Among current FBS coaches with 100+ wins at their current school, Franklin was the third-fastest to 100 wins behind only Smart (117) and Swinney (129).
  • Penn State reached 12 wins in a season for the fourth time in program history, joining the 1973, 1986 and 1994 seasons.
    • The Nittany Lions won 12 games in a season for the first time under James Franklin.
  • With today’s win, Penn State has won 33 games over the last three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024). It marks the second time in program history that Penn State has won at least 33 games over a three-year span, joining 1971-73 (33).
    • Penn State joins Georgia (39; plays in Sugar Bowl on 1/1), Michigan (35; plays Alabama in ReliaQuest Bowl on 12/31) and Oregon (34; plays in Rose Bowl on 1/1) among FBS teams with 33+ wins over the last three seasons.
    • Alabama (32; plays Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl on 12/31) and Ohio State (32; plays Tennessee at 8 p.m.) could also reach 33 wins over the last three seasons.
  • Since 2014, Penn State is 52-1 when leading by 10+ points at halftime.
  • QB Ethan Grunkemeyer made his collegiate debut. He is one of 30 Nittany Lions who have made their collegiate debut this season and one of 17 true freshmen who have played this year.

 

STREAKS

 

Special Teams

  • Penn State has not allowed a special teams touchdown in 74-straight games, dating back to the start of the 2019 season.

 

BOWL/CFP RECORDS

 

TEAM

  • With today’s attendance of 106,013, that is the largest bowl/CFP crowd Penn State has played in front of, topping 102,247 in the 1995 Rose Bowl vs. Oregon.

 

OFFENSE

  • With two rushing touchdowns, RB Kaytron Allen tied for the second-most in a Penn State bowl/CFP game. The last Nittany Lion to rush for two or more touchdowns in a Bowl/CFP game was Nicholas Singleton in the 2023 Rose Bowl.

 

DEFENSE

  • Penn State allowed 58 rushing yards, its third-lowest in a bowl/CFP game, behind only allowing 27 rushing yards in the 1959 Liberty Bowl and 39 rushing yards in the 1923 Rose Bowl.
  • LB Dominic DeLuca picked off a pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was Penn State’s first interception return for a touchdown in a postseason game (bowl/CFP) since Garrett Taylor’s 15-yard return against Memphis in the 2019 Cotton Bowl.
  • DeLuca added an interception in the second quarter. He became PSU’s first player with two interceptions in a game since Ji’Ayir Brown against Arkansas in the 2022 Outback Bowl.
  • DeLuca’s two interceptions are tied for the most in a Penn State bowl/CFP game. Fourteen previous Nittany Lions have recorded two interceptions in a bowl/CFP game. The last was Ji’Ayir Brown in the 2022 Outback Bowl.
  • LB Tony Rojas intercepted a pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
  • Rojas’ 59-yard return for a touchdown is Penn State’s longest interception return for a touchdown in a bowl/CFP game.
  • Rojas’ 59-yard return is the third-longest defensive score in a Penn State bowl/CFP game, behind only Andre Collins’ 102-yard return of an interception on a two-point conversion in the 1989 Holiday Bowl and Tony Davis’ 88-yard fumble return in the 2007 Outback Bowl.
  • With the two interception returns for touchdowns, Penn State is the first team in the College Football Playoff to have two interception returns for a touchdown since 2022, when Bud Clark and Dee Winters each had interception returns for TCU in a victory over Michigan in the VRBO Fiesta Bowl/CFP Semifinals on Dec. 31.
  • DE Abdul Carter had two tackles for loss, totaling 19 yards. The 19 yards rank sixth in PSU bowl/CFP history.
  • Carter’s 18 sack yards are tied with Justin Kurpeikis (18; 1999 Alamo Bowl) for second-most in a PSU bowl/CFP game.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

  • K Ryan Barker converted five extra-point attempts. He is tied with John Reihner (5; 1975 Cotton Bowl), Tyler Davis (5; 2017 Fiesta Bowl) and Jake Pinegar (5; 2023 Rose Bowl) for the fourth-most in a Penn State bowl/CFP game.

 

 

OFFENSE

Team

  • Penn State had two plays of 20+ yards on Saturday (one passing, one rushing) giving them 67 plays of 20+ yards this season (48 passing, 19 rushing).

 

Drew Allar

  • QB Drew Allar completed 13-of-22 passes for 127 yards.
  • With 5,996 career passing yards, Allar ranks sixth all-time at Penn State. On the day, he broke a tie with Tony Sacca (5,869; 1988-91).
  • Allar’s 3,021 passing yards this season are good for fifth at PSU. On the day, he jumped Christian Hackenberg (2,955; 2013/2,977; 2014) and Daryll Clark (3,003; 2009).
  • Allar went over 500 career completions and now owns 505 completions.
  • His 237 completions this season rank fifth at PSU. He moved past Trace McSorley (224; 2016), Sean Clifford (226; 2022), Christian Hackenberg (231; 2013), Daryll Clark (232; 2009), Drew Allar (233; 2023) and Anthony Morelli (234; 2007).
  • Allar’s 22 pass attempts on Saturday give him 346 for the season, good for 14th place at Penn State. He jumped Zack Mills (333; 2002) and Wally Richardson (335; 1995).
  • Allar had 137 yards of total offense on Saturday (127 passing, 10 rushing) giving him 3,310 this season, moving him into 4th place for a single season at Penn State. Allar passed Daryll Clark (3,214; 2009), Matt McGloin (3,220; 2012) and Sean Clifford (3,270; 2021).
  • Allar’s 25-yard completion to Harrison Wallace III today gives him 45 completions of 20+ yards this season.
  • With today’s performance, Allar is now 32-of-62 for 422 yards, 2 TD, 1 Int in his career in Bowl/CFP games. He also has 12 rushes for 50 yards and 1 reception for 10 yards.

 

Kaytron Allen

  • RB Kaytron Allen scored on a 25-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give Penn State a 21-0 lead.
  • Allen added a 4-yard touchdown rush in the fourth quarter. Allen has eight rushing touchdowns this season and 24 for his career.
  • Allen earned his fourth career game with multiple rushing touchdowns.
  • Allen finished the game with 70 yards on the ground, giving him 2,661 career rushing yards, good for 13th all-time at Penn State. He passed John Cappelletti (2,639; 1972-73) today.
  • Allen’s 24 career rushing touchdowns are tied for 15th with Franco Harris (1969-71) and Curt Warner (1979-82). He passed Lenny Moore (23; 1953-55) today.
  • Allen now has 32 rushes for 158 yards and 3 TD (long of 25 today) in his career in Bowl/CFP games. Allen also has 5 receptions for 44 yards in his career in Bowl/CFP games and 2 kick returns for 33 yards.

 

Nicholas Singleton

  • RB Nicholas Singleton scored on a 1-yard rush in the second quarter. It was his 28th career rushing touchdown and his eighth this season.
  • He tallied 90 rushing yards on 14 carries, averaging 6.4 per rush.
  • Singleton’s 122 all-purpose yards on Saturday give him 1,580 season all-purpose yards, moving him into 11th place at Penn State. On the day, he passed Curtis Enis (1,501; 1996/1,578; 1997) and Blair Thomas (1,535; 1989).
  • His touchdown today gives Singleton 37 career total touchdowns (28 rushing, 8 receiving, 1 kick return), moving him into sole possession of fourth place at Penn State. He broke a tie with Larry Johnson (36; 1999-2002).
  • Singleton moved to 29 rushes for 260 yards and 3 TD (long 87) in his career Bowl/CFP appearances. He also has 6 receptions for 93 yards and 1 TD as well as two kick returns for 26 yards.

 

Tyler Warren

  • TE Tyler Warren has made a catch in each of his last 30 games and has at least one catch of 14+ yards in each of his last 20 games.
  • Warren’s four catches on Saturday give him 141 career receptions, most among PSU tight ends. He moved in eighth all-time among Big Ten tight ends, passing Michigan’s Jake Butt (138; 2013-16).
  • His 92 receptions this season move him to second place at Penn State, passing Jahan Dotson (91; 2021) on the day. Warren trails Penn State single-season leader Allen Robinson by five catches (97; 2013).
    • Warren’s 92 receptions are 12th in a season among Big Ten players.
    • His 92 receptions rank fifth in a season among FBS tight ends. On the day, he moved past Kentucky’s James Whalen (90; 1999), Missouri’s Chase Coffman (90; 2008), Missouri’s Michael Egnew (90; 2010) and Colorado State’s Trey McBride (90; 2021).
  • The senior now has 1,095 season receiving yards, moving into fourth place at Penn State. On the day, Warren passed Bobby Engram (1,084; 1995).
    • Warren’s 1,095 receiving yards this season are ninth-most by an FBS tight end. On the day, he moved past Utah’s Dennis Smith (1,091; 1989), BYU’s Chris Smith (1,090; 1989) and BYU’s Dennis Pitta (1,083; 2008).
  • In Warren’s career in Bowls/CFP, he has 11 receptions for 175 yards (long 75).

 

Harrison Wallace III

  • Wallace’s career Bowl/CFP stats improve to 10 receptions for 162 yds, 1 TD (long 29)

 

DEFENSE

 

Team

  • LB Dominic DeLuca picked off a pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was DeLuca’s second career interception return for a touchdown. He had a 26-yard return for a touchdown against Delaware in 2023.
  • DeLuca added an interception in the second quarter. He became PSU’s first player with two interceptions in a game since Ji’Ayir Brown against Arkansas in the 2022 Outback Bowl.
  • LB Tony Rojas intercepted a pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was Rojas’ first career pick-six.
  • Penn State returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game for the first time since 1998 vs. Michigan State (David Macklin, 55 yards; Anthony King, 25 yards).
  • Penn State has returned four interceptions for touchdowns this season (S Jaylen Reed, 19 yards at Wisconsin; CB Zion Tracy 31 yards vs. Ohio State).
  • The last time Penn State returned four interceptions for touchdowns in a season was 1998 (LaVar Arrington, 16 yards vs. Bowling Green; Joe Dawkins, 30 yards; David Macklin, 55 yards vs. Michigan State; Anthony King, 25 yards vs. Michigan State)
  • Penn State has forced 20 takeaways this season (15 interceptions, 5 fumbles).
  • Since 2022, Penn State has forced 70 takeaways (41 interceptions, 29 fumbles).
  • Since 2022, Penn State has recorded three or more takeaways in 13 games and is 19-1 when forcing multiple takeaways in a game.
  • Since 2014, Penn State has forced multiple takeaways in a game on 62 occasions, including seven times this season.
  • Penn State forced a turnover on downs on SMU’s opening drive and again in the middle of the second quarter. The Nittany Lions have 11 fourth-down stops this season.
  • The Nittany Lions forced three red-zone stops, one on SMU’s opening drive, a second on DeLuca’s second quarter interception, and a third in the third quarter when forcing a missed SMU field goal attempt. Penn State owns nine red-zone stops this season.
  • Penn State has allowed just 79 second-half points and 25 points in the third quarter this season.
  • The Nittany Lions gave up 12 rushing yards on nine carries in the third quarter and 5 rushing yards on 15 carries in the second half. Penn State has allowed 184 rushing yards on 90 attempts (2.04 per rush) in the third quarter and 530 rushing yards on 208 attempts (2.55 per rush) in the second half this season.
  • PSU registered 11 tackles for loss. Since 2014, PSU has tallied 10 or more tackles for loss in 35 games.
  • Penn State held SMU to 58 rushing yards today, the 28th opponent the Nittany Lions have held under 100 rushing yards since the start of the 2022 season and the 66th time holding an opponent under 100 rushing yards since 2014.
  • Penn State limited SMU to 253 yards of total offense, the 68th time holding an opponent under 300 total yards since 2014. SMU entered the game averaging 443.1 yards per game.
  • The Nittany Lions allowed 195 passing yards to SMU, the 81st time keeping an opponent under 200 passing yards since 2014.

 

Dominic DeLuca

  • LB Dominic DeLuca picked off a pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. It was DeLuca’s second career interception return for a touchdown. He had a 26-yard return for a touchdown against Delaware in 2023.
  • DeLuca added an interception in the second quarter. He became PSU’s first player with two interceptions in a game since Ji’Ayir Brown against Arkansas in the 2022 Outback Bowl.
  • He has five career interceptions and three interceptions this season.
  • DeLuca had three tackles in the first half and ended the game with five stops.
  • The redshirt junior had a half-sack in the second quarter.
  • Deluca now has 11 tackles, 1.5 TFL, a half-sack and two interceptions (1 TD) in his career Bowl/CFP games.

 

Tony Rojas

  • LB Tony Rojas intercepted a pass and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was Rojas’ first career pick-six.
  • It was Rojas’ fourth career interception and third interception this season.
  • Rojas moves to nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception (one TD), one pass breakup and two QB hurries in his career in Bowl/CFP games.

 

Abdul Carter

  • DE Abdul Carter tallied a solo sack in the third quarter.
  • Carter collected a solo tackle for loss in the second quarter. He owns 37.5 career tackles for loss and 21.5 tackles for loss this season.
  • Carter has 22 career sacks and 11 sacks this season.
  • He registered his ninth career game with multiple tackles for loss and his sixth this season.
  • Carter’s two tackles for loss give him 37.5 career tackles for loss, moving him into 11th place at Penn State. Carter passed Matt Millen (36; 1976-79), Tamba Hali (26; 2002-05) and Yetur Gross-Matos (37; 2017-19) on Saturday.
  • The junior’s 21.5 season tackles for loss tie him for sixth in the Penn State annals with Maurice Evans (21.5; 2007). On the day, Carter moved out of a tie for 13th with Carl Nassib (19.5; 2015) and passed six players, all tied with 20.0 tackles for loss (Bruce Clark, 20.0; 1978/Todd Atkins, 20.0; 1994/LaVar Arrington, 20.0; 1999/Aaron Maybin, 20.0; 2008/Yetur Gross-Matos, 20.0; 2018), as well as Tyoka Jackson (21.0; 1993).
  • Carter’s 22.0 career sacks move him into a tie with Matt Millen (22.0; 1976-79) for sixth place at Penn State. He moved out of a tie with Todd Atkins (21.0; 1992-95) for seventh.
  • The PA native’s 11.0 season sacks break a tie for 13th at Penn State with Brad Scioli (10.0; 1998) and move him into a tie for 10th with three other players (Mark D’Onofrio, 11.0; 1989/Terry Killens, 11.0; 1995/Tamba Hali, 11.0; 2005).
  • In Carter’s Career in Bowl/CFP games, he now has seven tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, one pass breakup and one QB hurry.

 

Dani Dennis-Sutton

  • DE Dani Dennis-Sutton tallied four tackles, all in the first half.
  • He recorded a solo sack on fourth down in the second quarter.
  • Dennis-Sutton added a half-sack in the second quarter.
  • He has 5.5 sacks this season and 12 for his career.
  • The junior owns 18 career tackles for loss, including 8.5 tackles for loss this season.
  • Dennis-Sutton now has five career games with multiple tackles for loss and two with multiple sacks.
  • Dennis Sutton’s career Bowl/CFP stats move to eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one QB hurry.

 

Coziah Izzard

  • DT Coziah Izzard notched four tackles in the first half and finished the contest with five stops, tying his career high of five, registered vs. Illinois in 2021.
  • Izzard registered a solo tackle for loss in the second quarter and assisted on a tackle for loss in the first quarter.
  • He has 16 career tackles for loss, including 5.5 this season.
  • He now has six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in his career in Bowl/CFP games.

 

Kobe King

  • LB Kobe King recorded seven tackles in the first half and finished the game with eight stops.
  • King now has 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup in his career in Bowl/CFP games.

 

Cam Miller

  • CB Cam Miller notched a solo tackle for loss in the second quarter and added another tackle for loss in the third quarter. He has eight career tackles for loss, including four this season.
  • Miller earned his second career game with multiple tackles for loss.
  • Miller now has seven tackles and two tackles for loss in his Bowl/CFP career.

 

Audavion Collins

  • CB Audavion Collins recorded a solo tackle for loss in the third quarter. It was his third career tackle for loss and second this season.

 

Zane Durant

  • DT Zane Durant tallied a solo tackle for loss in the fourth quarter. He has 16.5 career tackles for loss, including 10 this season.
  • Durant has four tackles, one tackle for loss, and one QB hurry in his career in Bowl/CFP games.

 

SPECIAL TEAMS

 

Ryan Barker

  • K Ryan Barker converted a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter. He is 5-of-7 from 40+ yards this season.
  • Barker was 5-5 today on extra points and is 41-42 on extra-point attempts this season.
  • Barker is now 13-16 on field goal attempts (long of 49), including 5-7 from 40+.

 

Nicholas Singleton