Sixth-seeded (fourth-ranked) Penn State hosts 11th-seeded (10th-ranked) SMU in the College Football Playoffs (CFP) Round One. This game will be the first playoff game at Beaver Stadium. Fittingly, it will be a White Out. The environment will be fitting for a playoff game at home in Happy Valley.
When & Where: Saturday, December 21st, Noon ET, at Penn State (Beaver Stadium)
Last Game’s Results: Both Penn State and SMU lost in their conference title games. Penn State fell to Oregon by a score of 45-37. SMU was defeated by Clemson 34-31.
Last Season’s Results: Penn State finished ranked #13 after a 10-3 season that ended with a Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss. SMU finished ranked #24 with a record of 11-3, including a loss to Boston College in the Fenway Bowl after defeating Tulane in the American Athletic Championship Game.
Series History: CFP Round One is the third time these programs will face off. The first matchup was on New Year’s Day in 1948 and finished in a 13-13 tie in the Cotton Bowl. The Nittany Lions won the last matchup, 26-21 in 1978.
#6 Penn State (11-2) Hosts #11 SMU (11-2): CFP Round One
There are a lot of similarities between these two teams. Head coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions get right back on the horse (no pun intended) taking on the SMU Mustangs. After losing the Big Ten Championship 45-37 to Oregon, Penn State has a record of 11-2 on the season. The losses were at the hands of #1 Oregon and eighth-seeded (sixth-ranked) Ohio State. However, a nagging narrative still exists. Can Franklin, quarterback Drew Allar, and the Nittany Lions win a big game against the best competition? Penn State is expected to win this game, so a win here won’t totally silence those criticisms. However, a win might quiet the comments a bit.
Similar to Penn State’s plight, SMU comes into round one as the runner-up from the ACC. The Mustangs were defeated by the Clemson Tigers by the score of 34-31 on a last-second field goal in the ACC Championship Game. That loss should not take away from the surprisingly successful season that SMU has enjoyed. Picked to finish seventh in preseason polls, head coach Rhett Lashlee pushed a lot of the right buttons to deliver an 11-2 season.
Both teams are disappointed in not winning their conferences; however, there is a lot to look forward to as well. In the immediate future, that means competing in round one of CFP. Awaiting the winner of this game is Boise State in the quarterfinals.
Key Players to Watch
Penn State Defensive Back Jaylen Reed
One of the strengths of the Penn State defense has been the secondary. Tom Allen replaced Manny Diaz as the defensive coordinator this season. He quickly identified the secondary as a strength and leader of the defense.
Jaylen Reed was going to team with KJ Winston in one of the strongest safety rooms in the country. However, a long-term injury suffered by Winston earlier this year represented an unexpected bump in the road. Reed has stepped up and become an unquestioned leader on the team.
In Allen’s hybrid 4-2-5 defensive scheme, Reed has filled a hybrid role. That role has included assignments as a safety, as well as linebacker. He has responded well to the opportunities. Reed was named second-team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. Reed’s 75 tackles lead the team, and he also has three interceptions this season.
Facing a strong SMU offense, Reed will need to continue to lead and perform at a high level. He can provide solid coverage in the passing game. Additionally, Reed provides solid support against the run. This will open opportunities for teammates like star defensive end Abdul Carter to impact the game. For that reason, Reed is a key player to watch in this game.
SMU Quarterback Kevin Jennings
Earlier this season, Lashlee doubled down on the multifaceted skills of quarterback Kevin Jennings. This has obviously paid off with SMU appearing in the CFP. With a record of 2-1 despite up-and-down quarterback play, Lashlee announced that Jennings was taking over for Preston Stone. The Mustangs have not looked back.
Jennings can extend plays with his improvisational skills. Despite not starting the season as the undisputed starter, Jennings ranks 18th in the country in passing yards with 3,050. His passing efficiency of 156.92 is good for 13th. Jennings has paired 22 passing touchdowns with only eight interceptions.
In addition to his prowess throwing the ball, Jennings has been a threat running the football. His 93 carries rank second on the team, and he is tied for second on the team with five rushing touchdowns. The dual threat presented by Jennings will give Allen another component to game plan for. His ability to extend plays and make plays running the ball will be important against Penn State. That makes Jennings a player to watch in this game.
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