SMU, Penn State history
There’s only been two meetings between SMU and Penn State, with the Nittany Lions coming out victorious in one while the other was a 13-13 tie in 1948. The Mustangs have won one national championship in their history in 1982. As for Penn State, they have two national titles – in 1982 and 1986. Yes, both of them won in the same year, but the format was a mile different 40 years ago.
Offense the name of the game for SMU
The Mustangs are one of the better offensive teams in the country and it certainly showed in 2024. SMU was 24th in total yards, 26th in passing yards, and sixth in points with 38.5 per contest. They finished in first place in the ACC with an 11-2 record but lost a heartbreaker in the title game to Clemson, 34-31. The Mustangs scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late.
SMU had just one other loss this season – to BYU in Week 2. Rhett Lashlee’s group did beat some decent programs though, taking down Florida State, Duke, Louisville, TCU, and Virginia, among others. Quarterback Kevin Jennings had a very respectable campaign, completing 66 percent of his passes for 3,050 yards and 22 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Jennings also added 379 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Mustangs aren’t a pushover, either. They only allowed 20.8 points per contest and were 33rd in the fewest total yards allowed. SMU will certainly be tested by Penn State, which is also a very good offensive squad. We’ll get into that more below. The Mustangs are an underdog for Saturday’s matchup at online betting sites.
Penn State a beast on both sides of the ball
The Nittany Lions played consistent football all year, also posting an 11-2 record. They were third in the Big Ten. Penn State’s two defeats were certainly warranted, coming against Ohio State and Oregon last weekend. James Franklin’s team is a top-25 squad in nearly every major category on both sides of the field.
Drew Allar, who just announced he’s returning in 2025, was brilliant under center for the Nittany Lions. He completed 69.1% of his throws for 2,894 yards and 21 touchdowns against seven picks. Allar is also capable of doing damage with his legs, rushing for six touchdowns. Penn State has one clear weapon downfield – Tight end Tyler Warren. He had 88 receptions for 1,062 yards and six TDs. The next-closest receiver was Harrison Wallace with 39 grabs. Needless to say, Warren is Allar’s favorite option.
Defensively, the Nittany Lions allowed just 16.2 points per game and under 300 total yards per contest. That ranks sixth in the nation. Penn State will definitely make SMU’s life difficult. Jennings does thrive under pressure, however, so it will be interesting how he handles PSU’s pass rush. The Mustangs are an 8.5-point home favorite at Sports Interaction.
