To begin this year's College Football Playoff, the No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2) will host the No. 12 SMU Mustangs (11-2) starting at 12 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. No betting line is currently available.
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- When: Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET
- Location: Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania
- TV: TNT
- Tickets: Get tickets from StubHub, Vivid Seats or Ticketmaster
Penn State Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score/Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 8/31/2024 | at West Virginia | W 34-12 |
| 9/7/2024 | vs. Bowling Green | W 34-27 |
| 9/21/2024 | vs. Kent State | W 56-0 |
| 9/28/2024 | vs. Illinois | W 21-7 |
| 10/5/2024 | vs. UCLA | W 27-11 |
| 10/12/2024 | at USC | W 33-30 |
| 10/26/2024 | at Wisconsin | W 28-13 |
| 11/2/2024 | vs. Ohio State | L 20-13 |
| 11/9/2024 | vs. Washington | W 35-6 |
| 11/16/2024 | at Purdue | W 49-10 |
| 11/23/2024 | at Minnesota | W 26-25 |
| 11/30/2024 | vs. Maryland | W 44-7 |
| 12/7/2024 | vs. Oregon | L 45-37 |
| 12/21/2024 | vs. SMU | Get tickets on StubHub |
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Penn State Offensive Insights
- Penn State has scored 33.6 points per game this season, 12.8 more than SMU has given up.
- When they meet or exceed what the Mustangs give up this season (20.8 points per game), the Nittany Lions are 11-0.
- The Nittany Lions have a 122.5-yard advantage in average yards gained versus yards allowed compared to the Mustangs (448.6 to 326.1).
- Penn State's record when they rack up over SMU's season average in yards allowed (326.1 per game): 10-0.
Top Penn State Players
- Drew Allar has tossed for 2,894 yards (222.6 per game), completing 69.1% of his throws, with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 13 games.
- In 13 games, Tyler Warren has tallied 88 catches for 1,062 yards (81.7 per game) and six touchdowns.
- In 13 games played, Nicholas Singleton has run for 838 yards (64.5 per game) with seven TDs.
- In 13 games played, Kaytron Allen has run for 822 yards (63.2 per game) and six TDs.
- In 11 games played for Penn State, Abdul Carter has amassed 10 sacks to go with 14 TFL and 47 tackles.
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SMU Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Score/Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| 8/24/2024 | at Nevada | W 29-24 |
| 8/31/2024 | vs. Houston Christian | W 59-7 |
| 9/6/2024 | vs. BYU | L 18-15 |
| 9/21/2024 | vs. TCU | W 66-42 |
| 9/28/2024 | vs. Florida State | W 42-16 |
| 10/5/2024 | at Louisville | W 34-27 |
| 10/19/2024 | at Stanford | W 40-10 |
| 10/26/2024 | at Duke | W 28-27 |
| 11/2/2024 | vs. Pittsburgh | W 48-25 |
| 11/16/2024 | vs. Boston College | W 38-28 |
| 11/23/2024 | at Virginia | W 33-7 |
| 11/30/2024 | vs. California | W 38-6 |
| 12/7/2024 | vs. Clemson | L 34-31 |
| 12/21/2024 | at Penn State | Get tickets on StubHub |
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SMU Offensive Insights
- SMU has averaged 22.1 more points scored this year (38.5) than Penn State has allowed (16.4).
- The Mustangs are 10-0 overall when scoring over 16.4 points this year.
- The Mustangs' offense has averaged 443.1 yards per game this year, 160.9 more yards than the 282.2 the Nittany Lions' defense has allowed.
- In contests where the SMU offense has totaled more than Penn State's average yard allowance this year (282.2), SMU is 10-0.
Top SMU Players
- On the ground, Brashard Smith has picked up 14 touchdowns and 1,267 yards (97.5 per game).
- Kevin Jennings has passed for 3,050 yards (234.6 per game), completing 66% of his throws, with 22 touchdowns and eight picks in 13 games.
- In the passing game, Roderick Daniels Jr. has scored three TDs, catching 38 balls for 599 yards (46.1 per contest).
- Keyshawn Smith has reached the end zone five times, catching 31 balls for 512 yards (39.4 per game).
- Defensively, Kobe Wilson has helped lead the charge with two interceptions to go with 92 tackles, six TFL, three sacks, and two passes defended in 13 games.
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