Penn State vs. SMU playoff matchup: Tale of the Tape

It was snowing in State College on Friday as the SMU Mustangs arrived for their first college football playoff game against Penn State. That’s part of it Environmental experience The Mustangs will face each other in the playoffs and play a mostly real away game.

But once Penn State and SMU kickoff just after noon ET on Saturday at Beaver Stadium, the tape will tell the story. Penn State football has some key advantages (and is therefore favored), but the Mustangs have the attention of the Nittany Lions.

“Obviously they’ve earned the right to be in the playoffs, just like us,” Penn State quarterback Drew Allar said. “They’re a really good team, so I’m just excited for the opportunity we have to play at Beaver Stadium again.”

This year again for the Nittany Lions at home. How do they fit into SMU? Let’s get to the history of the tape.

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When Penn State is on offense

Defensively, SMU is known for stopping the run and winning the ball. SMU led the ACC in run defense (93.4 yards allowed per game) and forced 21 takeaways, which the team turned into 72 points. The Mustangs can also strike quickly defensively, ranking fifth in the FBS with five defensive touchdowns.

Three players have three interceptions each, with Ahmaad Moses being the potential game-breaker. He scored on a 60-yard pick-6. SMU’s secondary limits completion percentage (56.3 percent) but gives up passing touchdowns (24 in 13 games). Allar said he sees speed in a defense that requires him to look for multiple targets.

“They are extremely quick on the back end, especially at linebacker,” Allar said. “Their linebackers can run from sideline to sideline, and they’re a physical team. So they’re doing a lot of good things defensively and they’ve got a lot of really good players on that side of the ball.”

Size could be an issue with SMU’s back seven, especially with a group of 5-10 linebackers and defensive backs. This is the matchup Penn State is looking to take advantage of with 6-6 tight end Tyler Warren. Tight ends have had success against SMU’s defense this season.

Defensive back Jahfari Harvey is SMU’s pass-rush specialist, a seven-sack edge rusher who also recorded 12 tackles for loss and blocked a potential game-winning field goal against Duke that kept the Mustangs undefeated in the ACC.

Penn State vs. SMU in numbers

When Penn State is on defense

The player Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen is most concerned about is quarterback Kevin Jennings. Allen admitted he didn’t know much about Jennings until he started watching the SMU film last week. What impressed him most was Jennings’ ability to turn negatives into positives.

“His creative ability is what really impresses me when things maybe aren’t going the way they’re supposed to,” Allen said. “He’s really dangerous and forces you to be extremely disciplined if you want to prevent plays like that.”

This is where Penn State’s linebackers will be important. Starters Kobe King and Tony Rojas will have to be extremely disciplined to control Jennings’ ability to improvise either a run or a throw. The second is where Jennings really shines. Watch his eyes and his posture as he climbs. Jennings rarely looks down, following his receivers and giving them extra time to get open. To do this, cornerbacks AJ Harris and Jalen Harris will again have to expect long coverage downs, similar to what they did against Oregon.

Jennings’ main contributors are running back Brashard Smith, who can also catch the ball, and receiver Roderick Daniels Jr. Both are fast and can score. Smith has 18 touchdowns, Daniels five. And because of Jennings’ talent for climbing, he doesn’t get fired often; SMU only allows 1.1 per game.

Where the Mustangs are vulnerable is in protecting the football. Despite its remarkable takeaway numbers, SMU has a net-zero turnover margin because it also gives the ball away. The Mustangs threw nine interceptions (eight by Jennings) and lost 12 fumbles. They also fumbled an astounding 23 times, almost twice per game. Penn State coach James Franklin has pressured his defense to force more takeaways all season. Franklin certainly sees an opportunity here.

Penn State hosts SMU on Saturday in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on TNT.

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