close
close

Penn State vs. SMU score, live updates: First Round of the College Football Playoff

Posted on by Taylor Reeves
Penn State vs. SMU score, live updates: First Round of the College Football Playoff

After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame taking on No. 10 Indiana, we’re in for a full day of action on Saturday with three games to conclude the first round of the 12-team format.

Time: Noon ET | TV: TNT | Line: Penn State -8.5 | Overall: 54.5

SMU was the last complete team in the playoffs and the reward is a road trip to State College. This game features two exciting dual-threat quarterbacks in SMU’s Kevin Jennings and Penn State’s Drew Allar. For SMU to make a splash, it will likely need to avoid turnovers. The Mustangs have turned the ball over 21 times this season.

Time: 4pm ET | TV: TNT | Line: Texas -12 | Overall: 51.5

Clemson sneaked into the playoffs by pulling out a last-second victory in the ACC title game. Texas, on the other hand, enters the tournament without many winning records, having lost twice to its best opponent, Georgia. If Clemson wants to pull off an upset, it needs to get RB Phil Mafah going; Texas allows just over three yards per carry and is also very stingy with the pass. The Longhorns will count on the steady hand of QB Quinn Ewers, but there’s a chance backup Arch Manning plays a few situational snaps.

Time: 8:00 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Ohio State -7.5 | Overall: 46.5

Ohio State enters the playoffs with a mission while also suffering a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under ratio shows, it probably won’t be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season started. Both of these teams have offenses that can lead to a big play at any time, but both teams have relied on great defense.

Live23 updates

  • Halftime: PSU 28, SMU 0

    The first half was all about Penn State as SMU’s Kevin Jennings threw three picks and two of them were returned for touchdowns.

    Penn State is in control at halftime. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)Penn State is in control at halftime. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)

    Penn State is in control at halftime. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)

  • Penn State touchdown

    The Nittany Lions continue before halftime. This time it’s Nicholas Singleton, who completes a 7-play, 38-yard drive from close range.

    There’s just over a minute left in halftime.

    Power supply 28, SMU 0

  • SMU reverses it on bearish moves

    The Ponies decided to give it a go when there was a four-and-three in midfield and Kevin Jennings was dismissed.

    It will be Penn State ball at the SMU 38 with just over three minutes remaining in the half.

  • Touchdown Penn State!

    The Nittany Lions get their first offensive score of the game and it’s a 25-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen that caps a 9-play, 75-yard drive.

    PSU 21, SMU 0

  • INTERCEPTION PENN STATE!

    Kevin Jennings rolled his third pick of the game with eight minutes left in the second quarter and it’s Dominic DeLuca again! The junior linebacker had one interception all season long before this game and already has two today.

  • Penn State is stuffed on fourth down!

    James Franklin just tried fourth-and-short at the PSU 20 and they couldn’t do it! What a bizarre decision to do it.

    SMU is in a great position

  • TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!

    It’s another pick-6 for Penn State! This time it’s Tony Rojas, who caught a passed pass from SMU’s Kevin Jennings and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. What a nightmare start for Jennings.

    Power supply 14, SMU 0

  • PSU envelope when descending

    The home team moved the ball with ease, but SMU found defensive support when it needed most, forcing a fourth-and-13 and recovering the ball after a Drew Allar pass fell incomplete.

  • The power supply gets it back immediately

    SMU can’t do anything with the ball on the following possession and gives it back to the Nittany Lions. They’ll have it at their own 32 after a bad punt.

  • TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!

    Penn State got its first points of the game with a pick-6!

    SMU QB Kevin Jennings tried to beat his running back out of the backfield, and PSU’s Dominic DeLuca instead came down with the ball before returning it 23 yards for a touchdown.

    PSU 7, SMU 0

  • SMU stopped on fourth down!

    The Mustangs made it to the red zone, but their drive foundered there when a fourth-down pass fell incomplete. QB Kevin Jennings could have easily let it run and get the first down, but he chose to throw it instead.

    Penn State will take over the downs with its own 19 points.

  • SMU on the rise

    After a few first downs and a pass interference penalty, the Ponies are already past midfield. They pick up the pace early.

  • PSU opened with a punt

    The Nittany Lions couldn’t get anything going on their first possession. It’s a three-and-out and a punt.

  • We are traveling in Happy Valley!

    Penn State will have the ball first. The Nittany Lions are the 9-point favorite in this game.

  • College Football Playoff Picks, Predictions: Who will win the first 12-team playoffs?

    Who will win it all in the College Football Playoff? Here is the prediction. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)Who will win it all in the College Football Playoff? Here is the prediction. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

    Click on the photo to see all our predictions. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

  • CFP players to watch, key game: Tennessee at Ohio State

    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 16: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after a reception against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field on November 16, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 16: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after a reception against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field on November 16, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

    Click on the photo above to read the story. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

  • CFP players to watch, key game: Clemson at Texas

    CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 07: Phil Mafah #7 and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers high five before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 07: Phil Mafah #7 and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers high five before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

    Click on the photo above to read the story. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

  • CFP players to watch, key game: SMU at Penn State

    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 7: Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – DECEMBER 7: Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

    Click on the photo above to read the story. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

  • Ranking potential surprises in the first round

    COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OHIO – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes stands on the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

    Click on the photo above to read the story. (Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *