Tag: SMU Mustangs

What is Penn State’s all-time record vs. SMU?

Penn State and SMU have only met a couple of times, but there is some significant history in this series.

When Penn State steps on the field of Beaver Stadium for its first-round College Football Playoff game, it will line up against a program the Nittany Lions have not faced since 1978. The SMU Mustangs, the runners-up in the ACC this season, will make their way up to State College for the second time in the small series history between the two schools. It will be just the third all-time meeting between Penn State and SMU, and Penn State has yet to lose a game to the Mustangs.

Penn State is 1-0-1 all-time against SMU. The Nittany Lions won the only meeting played on a home campus when No. 3 Penn State handed SMU its first loss of the season in a 26-21 victory in front of 77,404 fans in Beaver Stadium. Penn State went on to complete an 11-0 regular season and played Alabama in the Sugar Bowl for the national championship, only to come up short in a 14-7 defensive battle.

The only other meeting in the series occurred in the 1948 Cotton Bowl, the 12th Cotton Bowl Classic at the time. This one holds some historical significance as it was the first bowl game to feature an interracial matchup. Penn State’s Wally Triplett and Dennis Hoggard played in the game for Penn State after team captain Steve Suhey rejected a request for a team vote to be held to determine if they would play or not. Triplett scored a game-tying touchdown and rushed for 75 yards as Penn State tied SMU, which featured legendary running back Doak Walker.

And now, almost 50 years after their last meeting, Penn State and SMU will cross paths again. Penn State will host SMU on Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon Eastern for a first-round College Football Playoff matchup. The winner of the game will advance to the Fiesta Bowl to face Mountain West Conference champion Boise State in the quarterfinal round.

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How to buy No. 6 Penn State vs No. 11 SMU College Football Playoff tickets

Whether you’re a fan of Penn State, SMU, or just college football, get your College Football Playoff tickets now.

The Penn State Nittany Lions and SMU Mustangs are headed to the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

The Nittany Lions were selected to be the No. 6 seed and will host the No. 11 seeded Mustangs on Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon EST.

Tickets for the game are already available. At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the College Football Playoff first-round matchup between Penn State and SMU cost $158.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs SMU CFP tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/8jygQBN/”]

Both these teams are looking to rebound from difficult conference championship losses. Penn State fell 45-37 to Oregon, while SMU lost on a last-second 55-yard field goal against Clemson.

Get your Penn State vs SMU College Football Playoff tickets now before they sell out.

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How to buy No. 6 Penn State vs No. 11 SMU College Football Playoff tickets

Whether you’re a fan of Penn State, SMU, or just college football, get your College Football Playoff tickets now.

The Penn State Nittany Lions and SMU Mustangs are headed to the 2024-25 College Football Playoff.

The Nittany Lions were selected to be the No. 6 seed and will host the No. 11 seeded Mustangs on Saturday, Dec. 21 at noon EST.

Tickets for the game are already available. At the time of publication, the cheapest available tickets for the College Football Playoff first-round matchup between Penn State and SMU cost $158.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs SMU CFP tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/8jygQBN/”]

Both these teams are looking to rebound from difficult conference championship losses. Penn State fell 45-37 to Oregon, while SMU lost on a last-second 55-yard field goal against Clemson.

Get your Penn State vs SMU College Football Playoff tickets now before they sell out.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop Penn State vs SMU CFP tickets” link=”https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/8jygQBN/”]

Wisconsin kept Alabama out of the College Football Playoff

Wisconsin kept Alabama out of the College Football Playoff

The Wisconsin Badgers are to thank for the Alabama Crimson Tide missing the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Imagine reading that sentence back in August before the season began. The likely reason for that reality, if projecting forward, would have been Wisconsin notching a signature win over Alabama when the Crimson Tide visited Madison.

Related: Major takeaways from Wisconsin hiring Kansas’ Jeff Grimes as its new offensive coordinator

Nope, that did not happen. Alabama dominated Wisconsin 42-10 in the Week 3 meeting. The Badgers lost starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke on the opening drive to a season-ending injury. The team showed some fight, holding the score within 11 points in the minutes approaching halftime. But the Crimson Tide struck quickly for an end-of-half score to broaden its lead to 21-3, then added another seven points to start the third quarter to break the game open.

At the time, it was a strong win for the Crimson Tide. A road nonconference win against a strong Big Ten program usually would be a resume-booster.

But in this case, Wisconsin’s end-of-season five-game losing streak and final 5-7 record took the shine away from Alabama’s win. It made the win mostly unimpressive, which proved to be a significant factor when the CFP committee held the Crimson Tide out of the 12-team field in favor of an 11-2 SMU team.

The Crimson Tide and Mustangs were the final two teams in contention for the last at-large bid. SMU is 11-2 with a ACC title game loss to Clemson, while Alabama is 9-3 with losses to Vanderbilt, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

Many believe that the committee’s precedent of adding Alabama over an undefeated ACC champion Florida State in 2023 would lead to them favoring the Crimson Tide again this season.

Whether they should have or not, Alabama’s resume was deemed less impressive than SMU’s. Connecting the dots, that win over Wisconsin could have been the difference, had the Badgers gone on to finish 8-4 or 9-3. Instead, the Badgers missed a bowl game, and held Alabama out of the playoff.

Wisconsin and Alabama will meet in Tuscaloosa in 2025.

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Penn State officially in College Football Playoff, will host first-round game

Penn State will get a favorable path in the College Football Playoff. Here is who Penn State will face in the playoff!

Penn State will make its first appearance in the College Football Playoff in program history. what felt inevitable as Penn State played for a Big Ten title this weekend became official as the College Football Playoff bracket was formally unveiled by the selection committee on Sunday afternoon. Penn State was given the no. 6 seed and will host SMU in a first-round matchup in Beaver Stadium.

This is the first year the College Football Playoff will field a 12-team bracket, and it came at a good time for Penn State, who will enter the bracket with a record of 11-2 after coming up short against top-ranked Oregon in Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game. Oregon, the only undefeated team in college football this season, secured the top spot in the bracket.

Other teams receiving a first-round bye will include SEC champion Georgia, Mountain West Conference champion Boise State, and ACC champion Arizona State.

The bracket is set up so the winner of Penn State’s first-round matchup with will advance to play no. 3 seed Boise State in the quarterfinal.

Here are the first-round matchups.

  • 5. Texas vs. 12. Clemson (ACC champion) – Winner faces Arizona State
  • 6. Penn State vs. 11. – Winner faces Boise State
  • 7. Notre Dame vs.  10. Indiana – Winner faces Georgia
  • 8. Ohio State vs. 9. Tennessee – Winner faces Oregon

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Alabama football ranked above SMU Mustangs in Week 16 AP Poll

Alabama ranked No. 11 in Week 16 AP Poll over SMU Mustangs.

Conference championship weekend is over, and Selection Sunday is here! It’s as stressful a day as possible for the Alabama Crimson Tide as they are hanging onto the final Playoff spot for dear life.

However, with the Clemson Tigers beating the SMU Mustangs on a walk-off field goal in the ACC Championship and stealing the auto-bid, the committee must decide between 11-2 SMU and 9-3 Alabama for the final spot. While the Mustangs have played a rather poor schedule, does the committee want to set the precedent of punishing teams for playing an extra game?

Ultimately, I believe Alabama will get in due to their ranked wins and strength of schedule, but the losses to Oklahoma and Vanderbilt sting right now. If the AP Poll is any indicator of how the CFP Committee feels, then it’s a good sign for Alabama fans as they are ranked at No. 11 this week, one spot ahead of SMU.

If the Crimson Tide were to miss the playoffs, it seems as if they will end up in Jacksonville, FL for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. But the entire Alabama season now comes down to the discretion of the committee, and truthfully, I don’t think any of the other 11 teams would want to face the Crimson Tide.

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How does Alabama’s CFP resume compare to SMU?

How do Alabama’s and SMU’s resumes stack up against one another?

As the Alabama Crimson Tide sat idle Saturday, multiple ranked teams from across college football were in action during conference championship week, with some of those games having College Football Playoff implications.

Among the most notable of those games came was for the ACC title, which featured the SMU Mustangs colliding with the Clemson Tigers in a Top 25 showdown.

Clemson would also go on to win the game as well by a final score of 34-31, setting up a decision for the College Football Playoff committee for the final spot between the Crimson Tide and SMU for the final spot in the field.

An argument that is likely to take place throughout Sunday morning leading up to the CFP bracket release, let’s compare the resumes for both Alabama and SMU.

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Record Comparison

  • Alabama: 9-3 overall (5-3 in SEC)
  • SMU: 11-2 overall (8-0 in ACC), ACC Championship Game loser

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Stats Comparison

  • Alabama: 35.5 PPG (No. 17 in NCAA), 17.2 PPG Allowed (No. 11 in NCAA)
  • SMU: 39.2 PPG (No. 4 in NCAA), 19.8 PPG Allowed (No. 19 in NCAA) – Prior to ACC Championship Game

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Ranking Comparison

  • Alabama: No. 11 in College Football Playoff Rankings, No. 11 in AP Poll, No. 11 in US LBM Coaches Poll
  • SMU: No. 8 in College Football Playoff Rankings, No. 8 in AP Poll, No. 7 in US LBM Coaches Poll

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs ESPN FPI Comparison

  • Alabama: No. 4 in NCAA
  • SMU: No. 13 in NCAA

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Strength of Schedule Comparison

  • Alabama: No. 18 in NCAA
  • SMU: No. 75 in NCAA

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Best Wins Comparison

  • Alabama: 41-34 vs. Georgia (11-2 overall, SEC Champion), 27-25 vs. South Carolina (9-3 overall), 34-0 vs. Missouri (9-3 overall)
  • SMU: 28-27 at Duke (9-3 overall), 34-27 at Louisville (8-4 overall), 66-42 vs. TCU (8-4 overall)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Losses Comparison

  • Alabama: 40-35 at Vanderbilt (6-6 overall), 24-17 at Tennessee (10-2 overall), 24-3 at Oklahoma (6-6 overall)
  • SMU: 18-15 vs. BYU (10-2 overall), 34-31 vs. (N) Clemson (10-3 overall, ACC Champion)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Record Against Current Top 25 Teams Comparison

  • Alabama: 3-1 overall (Wins vs. Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri – Loss at Tennessee)
  • SMU: 0-2 overall (Loss vs. BYU, Clemson)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Record Against Bowl-Eligible Teams Comparison

  • Alabama: 6-3 overall (Wins vs. Western Kentucky, South Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, at LSU – Loss at Vanderbilt, at Tennessee, at Oklahoma) – Also defeated 11-2 FCS Mercer
  • SMU: 6-2 overall (Wins vs. TCU, at Louisville, at Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, California – Loss vs. BYU, Clemson)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Record Against Then Top 25 Teams Comparison

  • Alabama: 3-1 overall (Wins vs. Georgia, Missouri, at LSU – Loss at Tennessee)
  • SMU: 2-1 overall (Wins at Louisville, vs. Pittsburgh – Loss vs. Clemson)

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. SMU Mustangs Combined Opponent Record Comparison

  • Alabama: 94-53 overall
  • SMU: 83-75 overall

Alabama Crimson Tide or SMU Mustangs? CFP Prediction

In conclusion, it’s clear to see why this could be a tough decision for the CFP committee, as Alabama has some advantages when it comes to the caliber of their resume compared to the Mustangs, but SMU holds the edge when it comes to prior ranking, as they were ranked higher than the Crimson Tide, as well as having just played in a conference championship game Saturday.

As to what I think happens, I believe the CFP committee will end up going with SMU over Alabama for the final spot, meaning that the Crimson Tide miss the College Football Playoff.

Clemson kicks field goal as time expires to upend SMU in ACC Championship Game

Clemson survives SMU’s charge to win ACC Championship

Clemson had the ACC Championship in its collective hands. The Tigers saw SMU try and rip if from them. A 56-yard field goal by Nolan Hauser saved the day.

The Tigers downed the Mustangs 34-31 in a thrilling ACC Championship Game on Saturday in Charlotte.

The win guarantees Clemson a spot in the CFP. It also ensures there will be controversy when the 12 teams are announced on Sunday.

SMU, which scored 17 straight points in the fourth quarter to tie the game, finishes 11-2. Will that be enough to get the Mustangs one of the coveted 12 spots or will the committee leave them out?

So, an ACC team, Clemson, could be responsible for knocking out a team that has a better record than it by one game, SMU.

Adam Randall of Clemson returned a kickoff 41 yards to the 45 after SMU tied the game. A pass to Antonio Williams nioved the ball to the SMU 38 setting the stage for Hauser.

 

ACC championship game: Players to know, predictions and more

The most consequential conference championship game kicks off in Charlotte on Saturday.

The ACC championship is by far the most consequential of all the title games on Saturday. When No. 8 SMU and No. 17 Clemson meet in Charlotte, there are multiple playoff spots on the line.

In the most simple terms: if SMU wins, both the Mustangs and Alabama Crimson Tide will punch their ticket to the 12-team College Football Playoff. If Clemson wins, the Tigers will earn the ACC’s automatic berth, leaving the committee to decide between Alabama, SMU and South Carolina for the final at-large bid.

Of course, there’s also a ton of pride at stake, too. Clemson won the conference championship in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022. The Tigers feel they own the ACC and it’s tough to argue that point. SMU waltzing into the ACC and winning the conference in Year 1 would be quite an ego bruise for the more long-time members.

Players To Watch

Clemson: Cade Klubnik, QB

Klubnik has taken a step forward as a junior, cutting his interceptions nearly in half and piling 10 more scores on his total from last season. Klubnik has thrown for 3,041 yards and 29 touchdowns to just five interceptions. He’s also been more aggressive as a runner this year, totaling 437 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground, including his game-winning scramble against Pitt earlier this season that kept the Tigers’ CFP hopes alive.

SMU: Brashard Smith, RB

Smith does it all for SMU’s offense and has proven to be potent as a runner and receiver. He leads the Mustangs’ offense with 1,426 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns, the latter of which leads the ACC. After having a supporting role at Miami for the previous three seasons, Smith has become a star for SMU and has them on the cusp of making the College Football Playoff for the first time ever.

Staff Picks


Opening Line: Clemson -1.5

Blake Schuster: SMU -2.5

I was all set to pick Clemson until South Carolina turned the Tigers’ defense into Swiss cheese.

Mitchell Northam: Clemson +2.5

I think SMU is good and deserves a CFP spot. Whether the committee agrees with me is another matter. But this is turf that Clemson dominates on, and I think we’re about to witness a classic, “Screw you, we’re still Clemson” type performance. The Tigers are 8-0 in ACC championship games since 2011. Their only loss in Charlotte in that span was in 2021 to Georgia — and SMU ain’t Georgia.

Christian D’Andrea: Clemson +2.5

SMU AIN’T PLAYED NOBODY, PAWLLLLLL.

Michelle Martinelli: Clemson +2.5

I am begging SMU to make me wrong on another pick involving Clemson.

Tyler Nettuno: SMU -2.5

The Mustangs truly have skated by on a weak schedule; there’s no denying it. But they’re also a well-rounded team, and I think this is a good matchup for them.

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Duke football closes in on the AP Poll Top 25 after Wake Forest win in Week 14

The Duke Blue Devils, after their nine-win regular season, almost made their way into the top 25 of the AP Poll on Sunday.

After three straight wins to close the 2024 regular season, the Duke Blue Devils nearly cracked the top 25 of the updated AP Poll on Sunday.

After only receiving six votes last week, leaving them as the unofficial No. 31 team in the rankings, Duke shuffled up to 28th thanks to 30 votes this week.

The Blue Devils appeared to be in danger in Winston-Salem on Saturday, dropping behind in-state rival Wake Forest 17-3 early in the third quarter after an inopportune fumble. However, quarterback [autotag]Maalik Murphy[/autotag] orchestrated three touchdown drives over the final 18 minutes for the comeback victory. On the final play of the game, he found senior wideout Jordan Moore for a 39-yard touchdown to clinch the 23-17 win.

Only four other ACC schools won nine games during the regular season, but each of the others ended up in this week’s top 25. The Syracuse Orange vaulted up to 23rd after a home upset of the Miami Hurricanes, who tumbled down to 14th and out of the conference title game with their second loss in three games.

The SMU Mustangs (No. 8) and Clemson Tigers (No. 18) will meet in Charlotte to decide the conference’s automatic berth into the College Football Playoff.