The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff has presented some good matchups. Here is the CFP First Round Preview: SMU at Penn State.
SMU won 11 games and made the ACC Championship Game to get selected for the CFP. They defeated six bowl-eligible teams this season: TCU, Louisville, Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College and California. The Mustangs had two losses, both of which were to teams who were over .500: BYU and Clemson.
On offense, the Mustangs score 38.5 points per game, ranking sixth in the FBS. They pass for 267 yards (ranked 26th) and rush for 176.1 yards per game (ranked 49th).
Kevin Jennings took over the starting quarterback job after dueling with Preston Stone. This season, he has passed for 3,050 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 66 percent completion. Eight players had at least 200 receiving yards on the season for the Mustangs. Roderick Daniels Jr. and Key’Shawn Smith each have over 500 yards.
Converted receiver Brashard Smith has been the leading receiver for SMU with 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jennings has helped the rushing attack from the quarterback position with 379 yards and five touchdowns. If Smith needs a break, L.J. Johnson has done well with his opportunities with 277 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Defensively, the Mustangs allow 20.9 points per game, ranking them 28th in the country. They give up 93.4 rushing yards (ranked fourth) and 232.7 passing yards per game (ranked 91st). Linebacker Kobe Wilson leads the team with 110 tackles on the season. Jahfari Harvey paces the team with seven sacks. Deuce Harmon has made plays on the ball in the secondary with eight passes defended and one interception.
Penn State won 11 games and made the Big Ten Championship Game before being selected as an at-large team for the CFP. They defeated seven bowl-eligible teams this season: West Virginia, Bowling Green, Illinois, USC, Washington, Minnesota and Maryland. Their only two losses, to Ohio State and Oregon, where to teams who are also in the CFP field.
The Nittany Lions score 33.6 points per game, ranking 25th in the country. They pass for 246.5 yards (ranked 41st) and rush for 202.2 yards per game (ranked 19th).
Drew Allar has been the starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions this season after playing solidly last year. He has passed for 2,894 yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 69.1 percent completion. Five receivers have at least 200 receiving yards on the season for Penn State. Tight end Tyler Warren was a star this season with 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and six touchdowns.
Two running backs lead the way for the Penn State rushing attack. Nicholas Singleton leads the team with 838 yards and seven touchdowns. Kaytron fallen has also been successful with 822 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The rushing attack will be missing one wrinkle, as Beau Pribula is in the transfer portal. He would come in sporadically to mostly run the football.
The Penn State defense allows 16.4 points per game, ranking eighth in the country. They give up 103.6 rushing yards (ranked ninth) and 178.5 passing yards per game (ranked 16th). Jaylen Reed and Kobe King have been the leading tacklers with 79 and 72 tackles respectively. Abdul Carter just started playing edge rusher full-time this season and has produced with 10 sacks. Elliott Washington has been good in the secondary with five passes defended and one interception.
Penn State has the talent to lean on and win this game. SMU can keep it close because they have a good run defense. If Jennings can make some key plays they can stay in the game til the end. The Nittany Lions have struggled against good competition this season, but should be able to win a close one.
Penn State Nittany Lions 31 SMU Mustangs 24
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