Penn State's defense sparked their emphatic victory over SMU, showcasing its prowess with key interceptions as the Nittany Lions sailed past the Mustangs, winning 38-10 during the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday at Beaver Stadium.
The No. 6 seed Nittany Lions intercepted SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings three times within the first half, returning two of those for touchdowns, effectively shattering any hope for the 11th-seeded Mustangs early on.
Penn State wasted no time asserting dominance when defensive back Dominic DeLuca returned the first interception of the day 23 yards for the opening touchdown, sending the Beaver Stadium crowd of 106,013 fans—a majority being passionate students—into frenzy.
Just over eight minutes later, linebacker Tony Rojas added to the highlight reel, intercepting Jennings and running it back 59 yards for another touchdown. Social media erupted as fans shared the explosive defensive plays, heightening the environment under the stadium’s White Out conditions, which added to the electric atmosphere.
Despite having the opportunity to regain some traction, SMU quickly fell victim to its own mistakes. After Penn State failed to convert on fourth-and-short deep inside its territory, Jennings had a chance to throw back at the Nittany Lions. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, DeLuca’s second interception halted what could have been momentum-generative drives.
The Nittany Lions capitalized on SMU's mistakes, scoring again courtesy of Kaytron Allen’s 25-yard touchdown run after the interception return set up favorable field position. By halftime, the Nittany Lions had cemented their lead to 28-0 with Nick Singleton punching it across the goal line on a one-yard run after Drew Allar's creative scramble on third down kept the drive alive.
SMU’s performance was riddled with frustrations; they struggled to move the ball effectively against Penn State’s punishing defense, clocking just 252 total yards throughout the game. Outside of three interceptions, the Mustangs punted three times and failed on two fourth downs, struggling heavily inside the red zone.
Despite the setbacks, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee later remarked, "The crowd was definitely a factor there," directly referring to how the student section's energy significantly impacted his team's offensive execution, particularly during the pivotal third quarter.
During this period, SMU made two attempts to rally, reaching the Nittany Lions' red zone, but false start penalties helped stall both drives. The Mustangs saw their first drive conclude with only three points — certainly not the turnaround they were hoping for with the scoring opportunity from first-and-goal at the two-yard line.
Penn State's offense was not without its own faults. Positioning beyond the formidable SMU defensive line proved challenging, yet running backs Singleton and Allen combined for 160 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, averaging 6.4 yards per carry. While quarterback Allar threw no interceptions, he managed only 127 yards from 22 attempts.
Hearkening back to the pregame concerns, head coach James Franklin initially expressed skepticism about the student turnout for such cold conditions; temperatures hovered between the high 20s and low 30s. But students proved their school spirit by packing the stands, rendering the uncertainty moot. “The environment was phenomenal, the turnout was unbelievable,” Franklin shared appreciatively.
Saturday’s result not only showcased the might of Penn State’s defense but marked the culmination of SMU’s impressive season. The Mustangs wrapped up their year at 11-3 following their disappointing loss, one stained by the bitter memories of missed opportunities against the Lions.
Looking forward, the Nittany Lions advanced to face No. 3 Boise State on December 31, hoping to carry the momentum from this strong playoff opening. They leave behind the Mustangs, whose hard-fought effort throughout the season now serves as motivation for what lies next for both teams.
