SMU’s College Football Playoff bid was dealt a significant blow on Saturday, as the Mustangs suffered a crushing 38-10 loss to Penn State at Beaver Stadium. Despite being favored by many to win, SMU struggled against the Nittany Lions’ high-powered offense and defense.
Quarterback Kevin Jennings had two interceptions in the first half alone, including a pick six that sealed the game for Penn State. The Mustangs were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities, including a missed fourth-down touchdown attempt that went to waste.
“We didn’t play well enough to say anything that isn’t going to be written,” said head coach Rhett Lashlee. “We had a good team, we deserved to be here, but we didn’t play to the level that validates that.”
Penn State’s defense was relentless, with 11 tackles for loss and multiple chances to make plays on Jennings. The Mustangs’ offense, meanwhile, struggled to move the ball effectively against the Nittany Lions’ strong pass rush.
Despite the lopsided score, SMU still managed to hold Penn State to just 5.0 yards per play in garbage time. However, that was little consolation for Lashlee and his team, who left with a clear understanding of how much work they have ahead of them if they want to reach the College Football Playoff.
“We don’t have an Abdul Carter,” Lashlee said of Penn State’s All-America edge rusher, referring to the player who constantly pressured Jennings out of the pocket. “We’ll spend the next few months working on that and seeing how far we can take it.”
For Jennings, the loss was a tough pill to swallow, with him blaming himself for the turnovers. The quarterback acknowledged that he made careless mistakes and gave away too many points.
SMU’s College Football Playoff dreams may be over for this season, but the team will have time to regroup and refocus before next year’s postseason push begins.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6011708/2024/12/21/smu-football-playoff-resume-penn-state