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Penn State Vs. SMU Live Updates: Follow the College Football Playoff

The Nittany Lions host the Mustangs in a first-round playoff game at Beaver Stadium. Keep pace with playoff updates.
Mark Wogenrich|
Penn State fans sing along to a song in the fourth quarter of a Big Ten football game against Illinois.
Penn State fans sing along to a song in the fourth quarter of a Big Ten football game against Illinois. | Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Penn State Nittany Lions

STATE COLLEGE | Finally, it's here. The first College Football Playoff game at Beaver Stadium, where Penn State is hosting SMU in the opener of a playoff tripleheader Saturday. Settle in for Penn State-SMU at noon, Texas-Clemson at 4 p.m. and Ohio State-Tennessee at 8 p.m.

We'll be updating the scene from State College all afternoon, so visit early and often to follow Penn State football throughout the day. Here we go.

Kaytron Allen scores his second TD

Penn State's run game is taking control. The Nittany Lions drove 75 yards on nine run plays by Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, with Allen capping the series with his second touchdown of the game. The Nittany Lions have run for 174 yards against the nation's fourth-ranked run defense and lead 38-3.

Abdul Carter joins the parade

Penn State's defensive pressure has been relentless. Abdul Carter punctuated the domination with an 18-yard sack in the third quarter that withered another SMU red-zone possession. The Mustangs had 1st-and-goal at the Penn State 2-yard line. They finished the possession by missing a 42-yard field goal after Carter's enormous sack. SMU has as many red-zone false starts (3) as points.

SMU gets on the board

The Mustangs started the second half with their third red-zone trip, finishing with a short field goal. However, SMU made their third trip to the red zone, with kicker Colling Rogers hitting from 28 yards. However, SMU false-started twice inside the 10-yard line, eliminating its progress and squelching momentum. Penn State responded with a Ryan Barker field goal, pressing its lead to 28-3.

Nick Singleton gives Penn State a 28-0 lead

The Nittany Lions have seized the throat of this game, with Nick Singleton scoring on a 1-yard run to stretch the lead to 28-0. Penn State's offense took advantage of a fourth-down sack by Dani Dennis-Sutton at the SMU 38-yard line. Quarterback Drew Allar made the drive's key play, dodging a weak attempted push-out from a SMU lineman to scramble for a first down on third-and-long.

Penn State's offense joins the party

It had been a tough half for the Nittany Lions' offense. Allar isn't seeing the field, the run game stalled (and disappeared) and SMU stuffed a 4th-and-1 sneak. But Penn State kept grinding and finally reached the end zone.

Allar hit Trey Wallace for his biggest play of the half, a 25-yard completion on 3rd-and-10, that kickstarted the drive. Running back Kaytron Allen capped the drive with a 25-yard touchdown, giving the Nittany Lions a 21-0 lead.

Penn State's third gift

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings is having a momentum-killing day. Gifted a short field by Penn State's inability to convert a 4th-and-1 sneak, the Mustangs took possession at the Nittany Lions' 19-yard line. Then Penn State linebacker Dom DeLuca did this. It was his second interception of the half.

Penn State pick-6, part II

Penn State linebackers are havin a half. Sophomore Tony Rojas produced the game's second pick-6, making SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings pay for a third mistake. Rojas tiptoed through a bunch of traffic for a stunning 59-yard touchdown, giving the Nittany Lions a 14-0 lead. That was Jennings' 10th interception of the season.

SMU money's still on the way

Front left, wearing the Cypress Point hat: Bryson DeChambeau?

First Quarter Update: Penn State 7, SMU 0

Linebacker Dom DeLuca's pick-6 was the only scoring of the first quarter, though SMU blew a terrific chance on its opening drive. Likewise, Penn State drove deep into SMU territory late in the quarter but gave up a huge third-down sack. In no man's land, Penn State went for a 4th-and-13, but quarterback Drew Allar had nowhere to throw.

Penn State's second gift

SMU generally has played a better first quarter than Penn State, but two mistakes have cost them. The second: Quarterback Kevin Jennings floated a ball toward running back Brashard Smith, who paused his route briefly. That was enough for Penn State linebacker to become the intended receiver.

DeLuca an easy road to the end zone, giving Penn State a 7-0 lead. The turnover was SMU's 22nd of the season and Jennings' ninth interception. It was DeLuca's second major interception of the season; he had one at Minnesota as well. Penn State generated pressure on the play, notably from Coziah Izzard.

Penn State's first whew moment

SMU's offense froze Penn State on its opening drive with its pace, which is at another gear from anything the Nittany Lions have seen this season. But on 4th-and-1, Penn State caught a break. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings had an easy first down on a play-action run and also had a potential touchdown throw to tight end Matthew Hibner.

He chose the pass, which Hibner could not collect. Penn State safety Zakee Wheatley finished the play with a hit, though that was a drop.

A playoff debut on Joe Paterno's birthday

Penn State will play its first playoff game on what would have been the 98th birthday of Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions' late football coach. Paterno lobbied for a playoff decades ago, as the crew at FightonState noted in unearthing this quote:

Penn State's starting lineups

The Nittany Lions are going with got them here. Today's starting lineups for the Nittany Lions:

Penn State offense

  • Offensive line: Left tackle Drew Shelton, left guard Vega Ioane, center Nick Dawkins, right guard Sal Wormley, right tackle Nolan Rucci
  • Tight end: Tyler Warren
  • Receivers: Liam Clifford, Trey Wallace, Omari Evans
  • Running back: Nicholas Singleton
  • Quarterback: Drew Allar

Penn State defense

  • Defensive line: Abdul, Zane Durant, Dvon J-Thomas, Dani Dennis-Sutton
  • Linebackers: Dom DeLuca, Kobe King, Tony Rojas
  • Secondary: A.J. Harris, Jalen Kimber, Jaylen Reed, Zakee Wheatley

Two pregame numbers

Penn State has a decided home advantage against lower-ranked opponents born from recent history. The Nittany Lions have won 20 consecutive games at Beaver Stadium against lower-ranked opponents dating to 2021 (you remember Illinois in nine overtimes). One factor to watch: SMU as an early starter. The Mustangs are 9-0 this year when scoring first.

Penn State basketball, by the way

Penn State men's basketball has a cool game scheduled today vs. Drexel at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, tip-off is scheduled for noon, same time as the football game. Penn State coach Mike Rhoades told reporters this week that he "tried a couple different things" to reschedule the game, to no avail. Instead, Rhoades has another plan.

"Hopefully, we get a W in 40 minutes and I'll go right over to Chickie's and Pete's and watch the rest of the football game," Rhoades said.

Penn State arrives at Beaver Stadium

The Nittany Lions drew a nice crowd for their arrival to Beaver Stadium. Penn State's buses pulled in just before 10 a.m.

A freshman receiver is out for Penn State

Penn State looks relatively healthy for today's game vs. SMU, though a freshman receiver is out against the Mustangs. Tyseer Denmark, who played 15 snaps in the regular-season finale against Maryland, will not play. Denmark caught a touchdown pass against Maryland and had returned a few punts, so Penn State might miss him from a depth perspective on offense. Cornerback Elliot Washington II and linebacker/special teams player Tyrece Mills are listed as questionable.

Otherwise, the long-term injured Nittany Lions remain out, including tackle Anthony Donkoh, receiver Kaden Saunders and running back Cam Wallace. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik is not listed on the availability report, though James Franklin said this week that the redshirt freshman is not cleared to play.

A morning view of Beaver Stadium

The College Football Playoff logos are on the field at Beaver Stadium, as is a morning burst of snow. Field staff are spending the morning blowing that snow off the turf, which was replaced in November. So SMU and Penn State should get a good track today. SMU arrived about 10 a.m., and a few players did their pregame walk shirtless.

Playoff merch is moving at Beaver Stadium

The pregame crowd moved gradually into State College, where morning snow flurries made an appearance. But fans are getting their first look at a College Football Playoff scene, which includes merchandise. Here's a glimpse.

Penn State is throwing back the uniform

The Penn State football social media accounts teased the possibility often Friday. And then Penn State confirmed it: The Nittany Lions will wear their "Generations of Greatness" throwback uniforms Saturday against SMU.

Penn State will wear the uniforms for the second time this season, which is a first. They're usually the official dress code of Homecoming, but the playoff merits something special.

A refresher on the fit. The "Generations of Greatness" uniform recognizes several periods of Penn State football history. The helmet numbers go back to the late 19550s and another stretch from 1967-74. TThe white cleats honor the 1979 Sugar Bowl footwear. The gray facemask was a staple from 1959-86. And the gloves feature the Nittany Lions shrine on the palm. They should be a hit.

What will the Beaver Stadium crowd look like?

Unless a late big buyer swoops in, the game is an unlikely to sell out. Resale tickets started at $40, before fees, on Ticketmaster as of Friday night. That's less than half of face value. Plenty of student-section tickets were available as the sections did not sell out. Though the game won't set an attendance record, Beaver Stadium still will be rowdy.

“We’ve been knocking on the door [of the College Football Playoff] for a long time,” Ethan Connor, president of the student organization Nittanyville, said. “I know people at Nittanyville are ready to run through a brick wall. I know I am. But even the casuals that I talk to are really excited because we’re competing for a national championship.”

Penn State vs. SMU pregame story lines

Here's the Gameday guide, with everything you need to know before kickoff. Plus predictions.

Penn State's three keys to the game skew toward offense and exploiting an SMU weakness.

How's the weather in State College? Cold and breezy. SMU isn't concerned. But the White Out is something they just couldn't replicate during practice in Dallas.

Need numbers? Here's a Penn State vs. SMU tale of the tape.

Penn State was forced to get a new backup quarterback up to speed this week. He's a true freshman who hasn't played a college snap. Meet Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Who will be the best player on the field? Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will tell you he's the best player in college football.

Published | Modified
Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is the editor and publisher of Penn State on SI, the site for Nittany Lions sports on the Sports Illustrated network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs, three Rose Bowls and one College Football Playoff appearance.

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