All Penn State

Penn State Vs. SMU Live Updates: Follow the College Football Playoff

The Nittany Lions host the Mustangs in a first-round playoff game at Beaver Stadium. Keep pace with playoff updates.

Mark Wogenrich

Penn State fans sing along to a song in the fourth quarter of a Big Ten football game against Illinois.
Penn State fans sing along to a song in the fourth quarter of a Big Ten football game against Illinois. / Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In this story:

STATE COLLEGE | Finally, it's here. The first College Football Playoff game at Beaver Stadium, where Penn State is hosting SMU in the opener of a playoff tripleheader Saturday. Settle in for Penn State-SMU at noon, Texas-Clemson at 4 p.m. and Ohio State-Tennessee at 8 p.m.

We'll be updating the scene from State College all afternoon, so visit early and often to follow Penn State football throughout the day. Here we go.

Penn State's starting lineups

The Nittany Lions are going with got them here. Today's starting lineups for the Nittany Lions:

Penn State offense

  • Offensive line: Left tackle Drew Shelton, left guard Vega Ioane, center Nick Dawkins, right guard Sal Wormley, right tackle Nolan Rucci
  • Tight end: Tyler Warren
  • Receivers: Liam Clifford, Trey Wallace, Omari Evans
  • Running back: Nicholas Singleton
  • Quarterback: Drew Allar

Penn State defense

  • Defensive line: Abdul, Zane Durant, Dvon J-Thomas, Dani Dennis-Sutton
  • Linebackers: Dom DeLuca, Kobe King, Tony Rojas
  • Secondary: A.J. Harris, Jalen Kimber, Jaylen Reed, Zakee Wheatley

Two pregame numbers

Penn State has a decided home advantage against lower-ranked opponents born from recent history. The Nittany Lions have won 20 consecutive games at Beaver Stadium against lower-ranked opponents dating to 2021 (you remember Illinois in nine overtimes). One factor to watch: SMU as an early starter. The Mustangs are 9-0 this year when scoring first.

Penn State basketball, by the way

Penn State men's basketball has a cool game scheduled today vs. Drexel at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center. Unfortunately for the Nittany Lions, tip-off is scheduled for noon, same time as the football game. Penn State coach Mike Rhoades told reporters this week that he "tried a couple different things" to reschedule the game, to no avail. Instead, Rhoades has another plan.

"Hopefully, we get a W in 40 minutes and I'll go right over to Chickie's and Pete's and watch the rest of the football game," Rhoades said.

Penn State arrives at Beaver Stadium

The Nittany Lions drew a nice crowd for their arrival to Beaver Stadium. Penn State's buses pulled in just before 10 a.m.

A freshman receiver is out for Penn State

Penn State looks relatively healthy for today's game vs. SMU, though a freshman receiver is out against the Mustangs. Tyseer Denmark, who played 15 snaps in the regular-season finale against Maryland, will not play. Denmark caught a touchdown pass against Maryland and had returned a few punts, so Penn State might miss him from a depth perspective on offense. Cornerback Elliot Washington II and linebacker/special teams player Tyrece Mills are listed as questionable.

Otherwise, the long-term injured Nittany Lions remain out, including tackle Anthony Donkoh, receiver Kaden Saunders and running back Cam Wallace. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik is not listed on the availability report, though James Franklin said this week that the redshirt freshman is not cleared to play.

A morning view of Beaver Stadium

The College Football Playoff logos are on the field at Beaver Stadium, as is a morning burst of snow. Field staff are spending the morning blowing that snow off the turf, which was replaced in November. So SMU and Penn State should get a good track today. SMU arrived about 10 a.m., and a few players did their pregame walk shirtless.

Playoff merch is moving at Beaver Stadium

The pregame crowd moved gradually into State College, where morning snow flurries made an appearance. But fans are getting their first look at a College Football Playoff scene, which includes merchandise. Here's a glimpse.

Penn State is throwing back the uniform

The Penn State football social media accounts teased the possibility often Friday. And then Penn State confirmed it: The Nittany Lions will wear their "Generations of Greatness" throwback uniforms Saturday against SMU.

Penn State will wear the uniforms for the second time this season, which is a first. They're usually the official dress code of Homecoming, but the playoff merits something special.

A refresher on the fit. The "Generations of Greatness" uniform recognizes several periods of Penn State football history. The helmet numbers go back to the late 19550s and another stretch from 1967-74. TThe white cleats honor the 1979 Sugar Bowl footwear. The gray facemask was a staple from 1959-86. And the gloves feature the Nittany Lions shrine on the palm. They should be a hit.

What will the Beaver Stadium crowd look like?

Unless a late big buyer swoops in, the game is an unlikely to sell out. Resale tickets started at $40, before fees, on Ticketmaster as of Friday night. That's less than half of face value. Plenty of student-section tickets were available as the sections did not sell out. Though the game won't set an attendance record, Beaver Stadium still will be rowdy.

“We’ve been knocking on the door [of the College Football Playoff] for a long time,” Ethan Connor, president of the student organization Nittanyville, said. “I know people at Nittanyville are ready to run through a brick wall. I know I am. But even the casuals that I talk to are really excited because we’re competing for a national championship.”

Penn State vs. SMU pregame story lines

Here's the Gameday guide, with everything you need to know before kickoff. Plus predictions.

Penn State's three keys to the game skew toward offense and exploiting an SMU weakness.

How's the weather in State College? Cold and breezy. SMU isn't concerned. But the White Out is something they just couldn't replicate during practice in Dallas.

Need numbers? Here's a Penn State vs. SMU tale of the tape.

Penn State was forced to get a new backup quarterback up to speed this week. He's a true freshman who hasn't played a college snap. Meet Ethan Grunkemeyer.

Who will be the best player on the field? Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter will tell you he's the best player in college football.

Published |Modified
Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is Editor and Publisher of AllPennState, the site for Penn State news on SI's FanNation Network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs and three Rose Bowls.

Home/Football