The New Year’s Six bowl games always feature a slate of great lineups, but the Fiesta Bowl might have this year’s most interesting matchup.
Boise State’s long been a college football Cinderella, but with the advent of the 12-team playoff, they’re finally heading to the ball and grabbed a first-round bye in the process. As for Penn State, they soundly dispatched SMU last weekend, but enter the quarterfinals with a lot to prove.
What’ll Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos do for an opening act in the playoffs? Can Penn State shut down the doubters with a big win in Arizona? Here’s what you need to know about watching or streaming the Fiesta Bowl.
What channel shows the Fiesta Bowl?
The Broncos had a season for the books, as they swept the Mountain West and won the conference for the second year in a row. If that wasn’t enough, running back and Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty led the nation with a whopping 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground.
They’ll face off against a tough Penn State squad that took care of SMU in a resounding 38–10 win. After dropping games to Oregon and Ohio State earlier this season, the Nittany Lions will look to get past Boise State and prove they can play up to playoff-caliber competition.
The Fiesta Bowl will be on Tuesday, December 31. It’ll air on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET, and the game will be at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
#3 Boise State vs. #6 Penn State (Fiesta Bowl)
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free
Are you interested in watching the Fiesta Bowl for free on TV? The game airs exclusively on ESPN, so you’ll need a cable or streaming subscription with ESPN to catch the Fiesta Bowl. You can use the ESPN app to watch the Fiesta Bowl for free with a qualifying subscription.
Do you prefer to stream the Fiesta Bowl? We recommend Fubo because the live TV streaming service has a seven-day free trial, and you can install the service on devices like web browsers, streaming sticks, and smart TVs. Check out our Fubo Free Trial guide to learn more.
Fiesta Bowl ESPN Megacast schedule
ESPN will have a full Megacast slate of programming across ESPN platforms for every quarterfinal game. Here’s what you can expect on Tuesday night for the Fiesta Bowl.
| Channel | Event |
|---|---|
| ESPN | Main broadcast |
| ESPN2 | Command center |
| ESPNU | Skycast |
| ESPN Deportes | Spanish-language broadcast |
| ESPN Radio | National radio broadcast |
| ESPN app | Marching band performances |
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Fiesta Bowl 2024 preview: Boise State vs. Penn State
Boise State took care of its business in the Mountain West, but the Broncos open the playoffs with a draw that they can’t overlook. Here are our biggest questions ahead of the Fiesta Bowl.
Boise State vs. Penn State by the stats
| Stat |
 Boise State |
 Penn State |
|---|---|---|
| ESPN FPI | 24th | 9th |
| Passing yards per game | 219.6 (78th) | 246.5 (41st) |
| Rushing yards per game | 250.5 (5th) | 202.2 (18th) |
| Points scored per game | 39.1 (7th) | 35.2 (22nd) |
| Passing defense | 246.8 (110th) | 178.5 (16th) |
| Rushing defense | 115.1 (23rd) | 103.6 (9th) |
| Points allowed per game | 21.9 (37th) | 16.4 (8th) |
Believe in Boise
If you’re looking for an underdog team to bandwagon in the playoffs, it’s hard to find a more deserving candidate than the Broncos.
Behind Jeanty, quarterback Maddux Madsen, and a stout rush defense, the 12–1 Broncos handled the competition all season. They even gave playoff frontrunner Oregon their second-toughest game of the season in a 37–34 loss that saw Jeaty go for 192 yards and three touchdowns.
Nittany Lions took care of business
Keep the Big Game James Franklin memes in storage for another week, as Penn State suffocated the Mustangs in a blowout win and will move on to Glendale. This year’s Nittany Lions team falls in the mold of past clubs, as it features an elite defense and great offense. Headliners include Mackey Award-winning tight end Tyler Warren, quarterback Drew Allar, and defensive end Abdul Carter.
Boise State vs. Penn State prediction: Penn State favored in Fiesta Bowl
With Ashton Jeanty, Boise State arguably has the best player on the field in its corner. But after a weekend that featured multiple chalk wins, is that enough to reach the semifinals?
| Source | Game pick |
|---|---|
| Point spread | Penn State by 10.5 |
| ESPN Matchup Predictor | 65% Penn State win expectancy |
| Bill Connelly/SP+ | TBD |
| CFB Insiders | 81.2% Penn State win expectancy, 33–21 projected score |
Against Penn State, the Broncos will get another chance to show their mettle against a tough opponent. The Nittany Lions are generally elite by the stats but not invulnerable. USC, Ohio State, and Oregon managed to crack four yards per carry against Penn State, which is good news for Jeanty and the Broncos’ offensive line. Despite spending much of the game on the field, the SMU defense managed to hold Allar without a touchdown and sack him three times.
But Warren and receiver Harrison Wallace III are more than capable of feasting on a soft Broncos secondary. Warren (1,062 yards, 88 catches, six touchdowns) is the centerpiece of the Penn State passing game, and he’ll be the best receiver Boise State has faced by a mile. Carter and the Penn State defense also had few issues with SMU’s explosive offense last weekend.
The Nittany Lions have a considerable on-paper talent advantage over the Broncos and should be able to lean on that for the win. But if Boise wants to play the spoiler, they’ll need to have Jeanty go off, keep Warren in check, and make sure Madsen keeps the sticks moving against an elite Penn State defense.
How to watch the Fiesta Bowl FAQ
When is the Fiesta Bowl?
The 2024 Fiesta Bowl is on Tuesday, December 31. The game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Who’s playing in the Fiesta Bowl?
Boise State will play the winner of SMU vs. Penn State in this year’s Fiesta Bowl, which is part of the College Football Playoff.
What channel is the Fiesta Bowl on?
The Fiesta Bowl will air exclusively on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Where is the Fiesta Bowl?
The Fiesta Bowl is in Glendale, Ariz. The Arizona Cardinal’s State Farm Stadium will host the game.
