Penn State's football team showcased its prowess with a decisive 38-10 victory over SMU, advancing to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.
University Park, Pa. - The No. 6 seed Penn State Nittany Lions (12-2, 8-1) dominated No. 11 seed SMU (11-3, 8-0) during their College Football Playoff first-round matchup at Beaver Stadium, drawing over 106,000 fans.
The win highlighted the Nittany Lions’ powerful defense and ground game, helping them clinch their first-ever playoff victory. This matchup marked the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff with all first-round games hosted at campus sites.
Early on, Penn State’s defense set the tone, intercepting three passes from SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings, with two of those returned for touchdowns. Linebacker Dominic DeLuca returned the first interception 21 yards, opening the scoring at 7-0. His teammate Tony Rojas added another pick-six of 59 yards, pushing the lead to 14-0 by the second quarter.
“I said to DeLuca, 'That was a violent run' after he returned his first interception,” said head coach James Franklin, who celebrated his 100th career victory at Penn State. “He screamed at me, ‘I’m a violent man.’”
With SMU reeling from the turnovers, the Nittany Lions continued their offensive assault. Quarterback Drew Allar led the team to another score, culminating with a 25-yard rushing touchdown from Kaytron Allen, which extended the lead to 21-0 late in the first half.
Penn State's defense was relentless, holding the Mustangs to just 253 total yards and only 58 rushing yards. Defensive ends Dani Dennis-Sutton and Abdul Carter applied consistent pressure, tallying three sacks and 11 tackles for loss overall.
“I believe, truly believe, we are the best defense by far,” said defensive tackle Dvon J. Thomas. “Today was just another opportunity to show it.”
Entering the halftime break, the Nittany Lions boasted a commanding 28-0 advantage, with 21 of those points directly attributable to SMU's turnovers.
After halftime, the Mustangs managed to score their first points of the game with a 28-yard field goal early in the third quarter. Penn State responded with Ryan Barker connecting from 40 yards to restore the lead to 31-3. And as the fourth quarter progressed, Nicholas Singleton rushed for another touchdown to give the Nittany Lions their final points, putting them up 38-3.
SMU finally broke its scoring drought halfway through the fourth quarter when Jennings connected with wide receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. for a 28-yard touchdown pass, finalizing the score at 38-10.
Penn State’s offense primarily focused on the ground game, with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton combining for 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Allen rushed for 70 yards on 11 attempts and Singleton added 90 yards, providing an effective one-two punch against the SMU defense.
Allar, meanwhile, completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards, effectively managing the game, even if he didn’t shine statistically.
The Nittany Lions’ victory over SMU propels them to the Fiesta Bowl, where they will face no. 3 seeded Boise State on December 31. This matchup presents another opportunity for Franklin’s squad to make history, as they seek their first national championship victory since the 1990s.
“We want to keep this momentum going,” said Allar. “We’ve learned from our previous losses and are prepared to tackle every challenge heading our way.”
Looking back, this victory holds great significance for the Nittany Lions as it not only demonstrates their ability to perform under pressure but also highlights their aspirations for success on the national stage.
The 2024 season has been one of growth for Penn State football, consistently honing their skills against top-tier opponents and providing fans with thrilling action. With their impressive win against SMU, the Nittany Lions head to the Fiesta Bowl focused and hungry for more.
