After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, Saturday gives us an entire day of action with three games wrapping up the first round of the 12-team format.
No. 11 SMU (11-2) at No. 6 Penn State (11-2)
Time: Noon ET | TV: TNT | Line: Penn State -8.5 | Total: 54.5
SMU was the last at-large team into the playoff, and its reward is a road trip to State College. This game features two exciting dual-threat quarterbacks in SMU’s Kevin Jennings and Penn State’s Drew Allar. For SMU to pull the upset, it will likely have to avoid turnovers. The Mustangs have turned the ball over 21 times this season.
No. 12 Clemson (10-3) at No. 5 Texas (11-2)
Time: 4 p.m. ET | TV: TNT | Line: Texas -12 | Total: 51.5
Clemson snuck into the playoff by eking out a last-second win in the ACC title game. Texas, meanwhile, enters without many signature wins after losing twice to its best opponent: Georgia. If Clemson wants to pull the upset, it’s going to have to get RB Phil Mafah going; Texas gives up just over three yards a carry, and it’s also very stingy against the pass. The Longhorns will be counting on the steady hand of QB Quinn Ewers, but there’s a chance we see backup Arch Manning play a few situational snaps.
No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) at No. 8 Ohio State (10-2)
Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Ohio State -7.5 | Total: 46.5
Ohio State enters the playoff on a mission while coming off a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under indicates, this will not likely be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season began. These two teams have offenses that can hit for a big play at any moment, but both teams have relied on excellent defenses.
Live25 updates
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SMU has ball first after halftime
The second half is underway and the Ponies will start with the ball. Let’s see if they can mount a comeback like they did in the ACC title game against Clemson.
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Lane Kiffin continues complaining
The Ole Miss coach was harping on the CFP selection committee last night during Indiana’s loss and now he’s doing the same while SMU struggles against Penn State.
Way to keep us on the edge of our seats Committee …. Riveting
— Lane Kiffin (@Lane_Kiffin) December 21, 2024
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Halftime: PSU 28, SMU 0
It was all Penn State in the first half as SMU’s Kevin Jennings threw three picks and two of them were returned for touchdowns.
Penn State is in control at the halftime break. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports) -
Touchdown Penn State
The Nittany Lions keep piling it on before the halftime break. This time it’s Nicholas Singleton who runs it in from short to cap off a 7-play, 38-yard drive.
There’s just over a minute left in the half.
PSU 28, SMU 0
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SMU turns it over on downs
The Ponies decided to go for it facing a fourth-and-3 at midfield and Kevin Jennings was sacked.
It’ll be Penn State ball at the SMU 38 with just over 3 minutes left in the half.
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Touchdown Penn State!
The Nittany Lions have their first offensive score of the game and it’s a 25-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen to cap off a 9-play, 75-yard drive.
PSU 21, SMU 0
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INTERCEPTION PENN STATE!
Kevin Jennings has thrown his third pick of the game with 8 minutes left in the second quarter and it’s Dominic DeLuca again! The junior linebacker had 1 interception all season long before this game and already has two today.
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Penn State stuffed on fourth down!
James Franklin just went for it on fourth-and-short at the PSU 20 and they did not get it! What a bizarre decision to go for it.
SMU has it in great position
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TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!
It’s ANOTHER pick-6 for Penn State! This time it’s Tony Rojas, who caught a gift of a pass from SMU’s Kevin Jennings and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. What a nightmare start for Jennings.
PSU 14, SMU 0
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PSU turnover on downs
The home team was moving the ball with ease but SMU found some defensive backbone when it was most needed, forcing a fourth-and-13 and getting the ball back after a Drew Allar pass fell incomplete.
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PSU gets it right back
SMU can’t do anything with the ball on the ensuing possession and gives it back to the Nittany Lions. They’ll have it at their own 32 after a poor punt.
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TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!
Penn State has the first points of the game on a pick-6!
SMU QB Kevin Jennings was trying to hit his running back out of the backfield and PSU’s Dominic DeLuca came down with the ball instead before returning it 23 yards for the touchdown.
PSU 7, SMU 0
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SMU stopped on fourth down!
The Mustangs made it to the red zone, but their drive fizzled out there as a fourth-down pass fell incomplete. QB Kevin Jennings could’ve easily ran it and got the first down, but he opted to throw it instead.
Penn State will take over on downs at its own 19.
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SMU on the march
The Ponies are past midfield already after a couple first downs and a pass interference penalty. They’re going uptempo early.
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PSU opens with a punt
The Nittany Lions couldn’t get anything going on their opening possession. It’s a three-and-out and a punt.
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We are underway in Happy Valley!
Penn State will have the ball first. The Nittany Lions are 9-point favorites in this one.
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College Football Playoff bracket picks, predictions: Who will win first 12-team playoff?
Click the photo to see all of our predictions. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports) -
CFP players to watch, key to the game: Tennessee at Ohio State
Click the photo above to read the story. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) -
CFP players to watch, key to the game: Clemson at Texas
Click the photo above to read the story. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
