The No. 6 ranked Penn State team achieved a significant 38-10 victory over No. 11 SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff, highlighting their formidable defense with two defensive touchdowns.

This win propels the Nittany Lions into the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinals, where they will face No. 3 Boise State and star running back Ashton Jeanty.

Penn State dominated the first half, establishing a 28-0 lead by scoring twice on interceptions and adding another touchdown right before halftime. The Nittany Lions’ defense proved tough against one of the Bowl Subdivision’s leading offenses, limiting SMU to just 252 total yards and allowing a mere 1.6 yards per carry.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that SMU found the end zone with a touchdown pass. The Mustangs had managed to score at least 28 points in all but one regular-season matchup.

Alongside No. 7 Notre Dame’s impressive victory over No. 10 Indiana, this overwhelming win adds weight to the ongoing debate regarding the selection committee’s choices to include Indiana and SMU in the playoffs instead of three-loss SEC teams like Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

After struggling to defeat Ohio State and Oregon earlier in the season, this 28-point victory solidifies Penn State’s position as a serious contender for the national championship.

However, the Nittany Lions faced challenges offensively, with quarterback Drew Allar’s performance falling short. He completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards but managed to extend drives effectively with his ability to scramble.

Due to Allar’s difficulties in making big plays through the air, Penn State relied heavily on their strong running attack and robust defense. The Nittany Lions, led by Nicholas Singleton’s 90 rushing yards and a touchdown, accumulated a total of 189 yards on the ground from 40 attempts, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. Kaytron Allen contributed with 70 yards and two touchdowns.

As anticipated, SMU struggled against Penn State’s All-America defensive end Abdul Carter and their impressive rush defense.

SMU’s quarterback, Kevin Jennings, after a promising season that included a near comeback against Clemson in the ACC championship game, completed 20 of 36 passes for 195 yards, averaging 5.4 yards per attempt, with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Although SMU was the only FBS team that had recorded over three completions of 70 yards or longer during the regular season, their longest pass against Penn State only reached 28 yards.