COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF: No. 11 SMU Meets No. 6 Penn State In CFP First Round (Preview)

Eleventh-seeded SMU makes its College Football Playoff debut on Saturday, facing No. 6 Penn State at Beaver Stadium (11 a.m., TNT). The Mustangs earned the 11th seed as an at-large selection in the inaugural 12-team CFP format after finishing 11-2 and ranked No. 10 nationally.

SMU’s season highlights include a program-best No. 7 ranking since 1985, an ACC Championship appearance, and a 10-game road winning streak, second only to Texas in the FBS. Offensively, quarterback Kevin Jennings leads an explosive unit, ranking 10th nationally in yards per attempt (8.87), while Brashard Smith nears SMU’s single-season all-purpose yards record.

On defense, SMU has forced 21 turnovers, including four defensive touchdowns, and ranks 26th nationally in turnovers gained. Kicker Collin Rogers, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, leads the nation in field goals over 50 yards.

Penn State enters at 11-2 after a close Big Ten Championship loss to Oregon. The Nittany Lions hold a 1-0-1 advantage in the all-time series against SMU.

With a high-powered offense and strong road record, the Mustangs aim to make history in their CFP debut.