Pennsylvania State College. In the first round of the College Football Playoffs, Penn State defeated SMU, a team that frequently makes mistakes, 38–10, on Saturday thanks to touchdowns from interceptions returned by Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas.
The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (12-2) forced Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings into three turnovers, including two poorly thrown floaters in the first half that DeLuca and Rojas turned for pick-sixes, advancing to play third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve. In addition to sending SMU (11-3) into a depression from which it never fully recovered, those goals turned the white-out Beaver Stadium crowd into a frenzy.
For the Nittany Lions, Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen rushed for touchdowns. Following the transfer portal entry earlier this week of backup Beau Pribula, who occasionally and successfully replaced Allar throughout the season, Drew Allar completed 13 of 22 throws for 127 yards while playing every significant snap.
Jennings, who went 20 of 36 for 195 yards with a late score and three picks, was the driving force behind SMU’s undefeated run through the ACC during the regular season. He ended the Mustangs’ promising opening possession of the game by missing a wide-open tight end, Matthew Hibner, at the goal line, and things only went worse from there.
Penn State took the lead when his pass to Brashard Smith on SMU’s second drive flew over the running back’s head and into the arms of a waiting DeLuca, who sprinted 23 yards to the end zone. Jennings scurried to his right and threw against his body into triple coverage early in the second quarter. The Nittany Lions never came close to wasting their 14-0 advantage after Rojas caught it and ducked 59 yards.
Allar and Penn State’s running game had time to settle down after the defense’s early goal. Allen made it 21-0 with a 25-yard touchdown sprint to cap up a nine-play, 75-yard drive. Later in the first half, Singleton made it 28-0 by rushing over from a yard out.
In contrast to the ACC championship game against Clemson, where the Mustangs rallied from a 17-point deficit in the second half to equalize the score before losing on the last snap, this time there would be no comeback.
The latter two quarters were primarily an opportunity for the more than 106,000 spectators who suffered low-20 degree temperatures and a fairly constant breeze to enjoy the kind of big game victory that hasn’t occurred as frequently as they would have liked during James Franklin’s generally successful 11-year reign.
Now that one test has been completed, the final day of 2024 will bring another significant one in the desert.
KEY LESSONS
SMU: The Mustangs did little to support the CFP selection committee’s choice to include them over blue bloods Alabama and Miami, much like 10th-seeded Indiana on Friday. After switching from the American Athletic, SMU’s historic first season in the ACC came to a dismal end.
Penn State: By stifling an offense that averaged 38.5 points and 443 yards per game, the defense recovered from a lackluster showing against Oregon in the Big Ten championship game.
UPCOMING
Next autumn, when SMU’s league schedule includes games against Miami, Clemson, and Louisville, they will attempt to support their bold ACC debut.
Penn State: Heading into the Fiesta Bowl, where the Nittany Lions are 7-0 all-time, the team will attempt to win a 13th game for the first time in its 131-year history.
— AP National Writer Will Graves
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