The countdown continues.

In the days leading up to Penn State’s bout with SMU in the College Football Playoff, players and coaches from both teams have taken to the stand to discuss their opponents. James Franklin, offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, defensive coordinator Tom Allen, and a slew of players have all voiced their opinions on Saturday’s first-round matchup.

Similarly, SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee took to the stand on Tuesday morning to discuss a slew of issues, including Beaver Stadium’s fans and weather and Penn State’s players.

On Beaver Stadium’s Atmosphere Fan-Wise

SMU plays in Gerald J. Ford Stadium, which holds a capacity of 32,000 and has never hosted more than 36,742 fans. Beaver Stadium holds, well, a few more.

Lashlee was open in saying his team had never played in an environment like Penn State but noted that the Mustangs were doing whatever they could to get up to speed.

“We’ll try to do the best we can. We went indoors and cranked up the noise for half the practice for the offense,” Lashlee said. “You do the best you can. We’ve not been in this environment. We’ve had some good environments, even the championship game a week ago. It’s helpful.

“There’s really nothing you can do to prepare for it. You just got to get there, you got to adjust to it, and you got to compete. We’re doing all the things you do to try and prepare, but obviously, it’s a huge home-field advantage, and that’s why they’ve earned the right to be at home.”

After SMU’s practice on Monday, local reporters snagged video of “Mo Bamba” blasting through the practice facility.

SMU just wrapped practice and is playing “Mo Bamba.”

They’re getting ready… pic.twitter.com/eeZmnA5kJu

— Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) December 17, 2024

On Beaver Stadium’s Atmosphere Weather-Wise

In addition to the fans, SMU will have to prepare for chilly conditions on Saturday, something it isn’t used to in Dallas, Texas.

While Lashlee said his team had some acclimation to colder temperatures, they haven’t experienced much northern cold as a team. This week, Dallas is expecting highs between 55º and 75º. Saturday’s weather forecast in State College predicts a high of 28º with the RealFeel peaking at 15º, according to AccuWeather.

“We practice in the morning, so we were able to practice in the 30s and 40s, and I think that helped us,” Lashlee said. “I don’t think the weather was an issue in Charlotte (for the ACC Championship) when it was 37º when the game ended, and I think our guys handled it great. This is going to be different. It’ll probably be 25º.

“Here’s the deal. They’re playing in the same weather we are. They got to play in it just like we do. I don’t think they’ve played a game on December 21 at home before. I don’t think the weather’s a big deal. Both team’s are playing in the same conditions, whether it’s snow or not snow, whether it’s cold or kind of cold. It is what it is.”

Lashlee said he also told his players that if they want to play in the NFL, cold weather awaits them no matter where they end up professionally.

“I know our guys do, and I know their guys do, aspire to play in the NFL. They aspire to play championship, playoff football, which we’re getting to do right now. Well, this January, guess what? The playoffs are going to go through Arrowhead, Kansas City, they’re going to go through Buffalo, and they’re going to go through Lambeau (in Green Bay),” Lashlee said. “Just like they do most years, and you’re either on one of those teams, if you’re in the playoffs, or you’re playing one of those teams, and the best in the world do it.”

On Tyler Warren

At this point, Tyler Warren needs no introduction. The Mackey Award winner and Heisman Trophy finalist has been the first player who reporters have asked about in press conferences throughout this season.

Lashlee, like many head coaches before him, was frank in saying that SMU can’t completely stop Warren. The Mustangs can, however, hope to slow him up.

“He’s going to get his. I mean, he’s a matchup problem,” Lashlee said. “I don’t think we’re going to stop him by any means, but maybe we can make it hard on him, maybe we can slow him down. Maybe we can keep him from just totally dominating the game and try to make some other guys have to make some plays.”

On Abdul Carter

As complimentary as he was about Warren, Lashlee raved about Abdul Carter, who Lashlee said was “the best defensive player” he’s faced during his time at SMU. Even past Carter, Lashlee expressed concerns for the abilities of Carter’s fellow defensive ends down the line.

“The other couple of ends are really special. If they didn’t have Abdul, we’d be worried about them. We are worried about them. But Abdul is so dominant,” Lashlee said. “He’s physical, he flies around and makes plays, and then they move him to defensive end this year, and he’s got as good a get off as anybody in college football. There’s a reason he’s a top-five, top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. And on top of it, our tackles have to deal with the noise of trying to hear the snap count, and so there’s a lot of things in his favor that he doesn’t need, on top of the fact that he’s just probably as talented a pass rusher as there is.

“But that’s not all he is. He’s an all-around player, and what really stands out to me is his motor. He plays the game the right way. You got a lot of respect for how hard he plays. He’ll chase down plays from the backside. So just like we got issues with with Tyler Warren and a lot of other guys on their offense, we’ve got some we got our work cut out for us on their defensive front and really their overall team speed on defense.”

On Penn State’s Running Backs

Lashlee, while complimentary talking about Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, seemed more comfortable dealing with Penn State’s running back duo. Regardless, he had high praise for both the running backs and how Kotelnicki has used them in his offense.

“When you can run for 300 yards on Oregon, you’re pretty good,” Lashlee said. “They compliment each other with that one-two punch… They end up running the same couple of run plays over and over. It’s just they window dress it and get to it a bunch of different ways. And so whether they shift in motion or or give you unique pictures to still run inside zone or counter or stretch or whatever the run plays are, to them, they’re running the same plays over and over again, but to the defense, they’re presenting different pictures.”

Despite the issues that Penn State’s ground game presents, Lashlee felt comfortable giving his team a fighting chance of winning the battle at the line of scrimmage.

“Most of our games have come down to the more physical team. Who can win the run game, the team that can value the football and the turnover margin, and the team that can be the most explosive, or limit explosives, usually is going to win the football game, and this one’s going to be no different,” Lashlee said. “We got to find a way to slow those guys down and not let them just control the game flow at all times with what they want to do on offense.”