Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty (2) runs as Penn State linebacker Kobe King (41) pursues during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football CFP quarterfinal game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Penn State’s defense did not want to be part of Ashton Jeanty’s record-setting performance.

Jeanty, Boise State’s outstanding tailback, finished with 104 yards on 30 carries in Tuesday night’s Fiesta Bowl.

That left him at 2601 for the season — 27 shy of tying Barry Sanders’ FBS record 2028 yards set in 1988.

In the tunnel headed to the locker room, Penn State senior defensive tackle Dvon J-Thomas could be heard laughing and yelling, “Jeanty Who?”

James Franklin admitted his players were motivated to play against Jeanty.

“Everybody wants to talk about their running backs,” Franklin said. “But one of the things we talk about all the time is the game of football starts up front. Always has, always will. I think the other thing that our guys have heard about is the records that he (Jeanty) had a chance to break today, too. It was a highly motivated group.”

Jeanty gained just four yards on his first three carries.

He credited the “movement” of PSU’s front seven.

“That’s one thing we struggled with,” he said. “They have a great D-line, front seven. I mean, it wasn’t really that they did anything extraordinary. They executed. They tackled. We didn’t play our best. I didn’t take care of the ball (two fumbles). So that’s why we weren’t able to get the job done.

“We know we would get their best stuff and we did. We didn’t win one-on-ones consistently enough to be as explosive as we need in the run game. Obviously hats off to Penn State. They had a great plan going into it. We knew they would. We’ve seen really good defenses throughout the year, and they did a really good job.”

Boise did what it could to get him Jeanty the record.

Down 31-14 with three minutes left, he carried five times on the Broncos’ last possession.

Carter status

Franklin didn’t have much new information to share Wednesday morning about the status of star defensive end-linebacker Abdul Carter.

Carter went out on the first play of the second quarter Tuesday night and did not return. He was seen with a wrap on his wrist on the sidelines in the second half.

“Abdul’s going to do everything in his power to get back,” Franklin told ESPN Gameday. “If he’s able to go, I know he’ll go. We’ll get him checked out and make sure everything’s OK. I just saw him walking for breakfast, and he looks great. His attitude is great.”

When Carter went out, Penn State had a 14-0 lead, and the defense took a while to adjust as Boise pulled within 14-7 and 17-14.

J-Thomas and fellow defensive end Smith Vilbert were also injured late in the game.

NOTABLE

• Tyler Warren made six catches for 63 yards, which broke the single-season record for receptions (98), surpassing Allen Robinson’s 97 set in 2013. Warren was named the offensive player of the game and Zakee Wheatley, with an interception and a recovered fumble, won defensive honors.

• Omari Evans caught his fifth touchdown pass of the season and third in the last five games. Evans, not a frequent target earlier this season, has five TDs in just 21 receptions. He also had a chance for two other TDs on tight-window throws from Drew Allar on Tuesday night.

• Penn State now has 34 victories over the past three seasons, most in the program’s history over three years, prompting Franklin to say, “We’re very, very proud of our consistency.”

• Kaytron Allen (1026) and Nick Singleton (1015) both surpassed the 1,000-yard mark, the first time that’s happened in PSU history.

• Allar’s three touchdowns vs. Boise give him 24 on the season, tied for fourth-most in a Lions’ single season.

• The Lions improved to 8-0 in the Fiesta Bowl. Franklin: “Penn State loves the Fiesta Bowl. We’ll come every year.”