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Penn State will face SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff

Penn State will face SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (WPVI) — Eleventh-seeded SMU visits sixth-seeded Penn State on Saturday in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.

Both teams come into the game with 11-2 records.

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The Mustangs made a splash in their first season in the ACC, going undefeated in conference play before falling to Clemson in the championship.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prepares to play against SMU in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in State College, Pennsylvania.

Penn State quarterback Drew Allar prepares to play against SMU in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in State College, Pennsylvania.

(AP Photo/Barry Reeger)

Penn State is finally in the CFP. The Nittany Lions finished in the top 12 in the final CFP rankings six times when the field was limited to just four teams.

Penn State’s dynamic duo of junior running backs Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton take on SMU’s strong rushing defense.

The Mustangs lead the ACC and rank fourth nationally while giving up 93.4 yards rushing per game, tied for the lowest in program history. They only allow 2.74 yards per carry. Singleton ranks ninth in the Big Ten with 839 yards rushing, just ahead of Allen’s 822.

READ MORE: Penn State QB Drew Allar returns for senior year

Both had 100-yard games against No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game. The only individual 100-yard rushing game against the Mustangs was Louisville’s Isaac Brown, who managed 117 yards on October 5.

The winner will face Boise State in the quarterfinals of the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report.

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