SMU at Penn State: College Football Playoff first round live updates, score, highlights

FINAL: Penn State 38, SMU 10

Penn State blows out SMU and advances to the College Football Playoff quarterfinals for a date with Boise State.

Fiesta Bowl matchup set

Early Fiesta Bowl spread

The second College Football Playoff quarterfinal is set. It will be Boise State vs. Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl, and the early point spread has been released for the matchup.

The Nittany Lions opened as 10.5-point favorites over the Broncos, according to FanDuel. The over-under also opened at 54.5.

Penn State 38, SMU 10

SMU’s first touchdown of the day comes midway through the fourth quarter, with Kevin Jennings completing a 28-yard strike to Roderick Daniels Jr. SMU trails 38-10 with 7:31 remaining in the game.

Penn State picked off

With the game out of reach, Penn State backup quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was picked off. SMU takes over on the Penn State 42-yard line.

Penn State 38, SMU 3

Penn State pieced together a 9-play, 75-yard drive spanning almost six minutes. Running back Kaytron Allen’s four-yard touchdown run was the exclamation point.

Penn State leads 38-3 with 12:56 remaining.

END 3Q: Penn State 31, SMU 3

Penn State is currently on a 5-play, 42-yard drive and on the SMU 37-yard line, taking time off the clock.

SMU misses field goal

After SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings led a 12-play, 45-yard drive that was nearly five minutes long, kicker Collin Rogers missed a 42-yard field goal attempt. Penn State leads 31-3 with 3:22 remaining and takes over on its 25-yard line.

Paul Finebaum rips CFP

SMU can’t recover onside kick

SMU’s onside kick attempt after its field goal was recovered by Penn State.

Penn State 28, SMU 3

SMU put together a 9-play, 42-yard drive to open the second half but was forced to settle for a field goal. Collin Rogers converted a 28-yard field goal. Penn State leads 28-3.

Second half underway

SMU’s Brashard Smith returned the second-half opening kick 41 yards.

END 1H: Penn State 28, SMU 0

Penn State 28, SMU 0

Penn State running back Nick Singleton punched in the 1-yard touchdown to cap off a 7-play, 38-yard drive. The Nittany Lions lead 28-0 with 1:03 remaining in the first half.

Kevin Jennings sacked on 4th down

SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings was sacked on 4th-and-3, forcing a turnover on downs. Penn State takes over with a 21-0 lead.

Penn State 21, SMU 0

Penn State running back Kaytron Allen found a big gap on the left side of the offensive line, rushing 25 yards for the score. The Nittany Lions lead 21-0 with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Kevin Jennings intercepted for 3rd time

Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca picked off Kevin Jennings for the second time Saturday, saving head coach James Franklin’s decision to go for it on 4th-and-1 on his 20-yard line.

Penn State leads 14-0 with 8:06 remaining in the first half.

Penn State goes for it inside own 20-yard line

Penn State nabs second pick-six

Facing a 3rd-and-16, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings was picked off again, this time by LJ Rojas who returned it 59 yards for the touchdowns. Penn State leads 14-0 with 13:09 remaining in the first half.

END 1Q: Penn State 7, SMU 0

Penn State leads 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. SMU is trying to piece together a drive coming out of the break.

SMU punts again

SMU was forced to punt again. Penn State will take over on its 32-yard line with 4:41 to play in the first quarter. The Nittany Lions lead 7-0.

Penn State pick-six

Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca picked off Kevin Jennings at the SMU 23-yard line, returning it to the house for a pick-six. Penn State leads 7-0 with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter.

White Out in Happy Valley

SMU fails to convert on 4th down

Facing a 4th-and-1 on the Penn State 19-yard line, SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings rolled out and had enough for the first down but instead targeted Matthew Hibner, who couldn’t pull in the pass. Penn State takes over with 11:08 left in the first quarter.

Penn State goes three-and-out

Penn State goes three-and-out on the opening drive of the game. SMU takes over on its 32-yard line.

Coin Toss

SMU won the toss and deferred to the second half. Penn State will receive to start the game.

College GameDay picks

SMU Mustangs at Penn State Nittany Lions: The whole crew believes James Franklin and Penn State take care of business against Rhett Lashlee and SMU.

Joel Klatt weighs in on Beau Pribula departure

Fox Sports’ Joel Klatt hates the situation of Beau Pribula and how the Penn State quarterback entered the transfer portal prior to the College Football Playoff. Pribula wasn’t the starter, but he played a key role in the Nittany Lions’ offense.

“I hate it for Beau Pribula, and in his tweet, he mentions the fact that he hates that he’s in this situation,” Klatt said on his podcast. “And why is he in this situation? Because the transfer portal is open during the season, and it’s going to close on December 28.

“… The NCAA has built an incredibly flawed system that is impossible to navigate for these young men. The fact that we have an open transfer portal while the season is still happening is crazy. We have to fix this. We absolutely have to fix this.”

Weather update

According to the AccuWeather forecast, both teams are going to be battling the elements. It’s expected to be 26 degrees for this weekend’s game, “Low clouds, breezy and colder with a few flurries; bitter cold; be sure to wear layers,” the full forecast reads.

Final line

Penn State is an 8.5-point favorite against SMU, according to FanDuel. The over-under is set at 52.5 points.