Gameday Coverage: No. 4 Penn State Football vs. No. 10 SMU
It’s finally here, folks.
The new era of college football arrives in Happy Valley on Saturday as Penn State football hosts SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Both teams are coming off losses in their last outing with Penn State dropping the Big Ten Championship 45-37 to Oregon and SMU losing the ACC championship 34-31 to Clemson.
It’s gearing up to be a cold, and possibly snowy, day for a White Out inside Beaver Stadium. Here’s everything you need to know before Saturday’s historic game.
Television
Saturday’s contest will kick off at noon and will be broadcast on TNT and streaming on Max. Mark Jones will be the play-by-play announcer while Roddy Jones will serve as the analyst. Quint Kessenich will be the sideline reporter.
Radio
Penn State Sports Network — Steve Jones and Jack Hamm
Local: 99.5 & 103.7 FM/1450AM, Sirius/XM: 80/82/84
Weather
Saturday will have periods of clouds and sun with a high of 27° and a RealFeel of 14°, according to AccuWeather. There’s also a 65% chance of snow.
Injuries
Trey Wallace returned for the Big Ten Championship, and there were no new names on the availability report before the game.
With Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal, Ethan Grunkemeyer will serve as the No. 2 quarterback as Jaxon Smolik isn’t cleared for game action yet. James Franklin said Penn State won’t have a designated third option against SMU.
Betting Lines
The Nittany Lions opened as 8.5-point favorites over the Mustangs, according to DraftKings. The over/under 54 points with Penn State’s money line set at -310.
Last Meeting
This is the third meeting all-time between Penn State and SMU with the Nittany Lions leading 1-0-1. Penn State won the last meeting 26-21 on September 23, 1978.
Media Coverage
Onward State will have you covered throughout today’s game. Find big plays, analysis, photos, and more on our main Twitter account @OnwardState as well as play-by-play commentary from @OnwardStSports.
Football writers CJ Doebler (@CDoebler), Nolan Wick (@nolan_wick), Joe Lister (@iamjoelister), and Mitch Corcoran (@MitchCorc18) will provide you with coverage from inside the press box, photographers Hailey Stutzman (@stutzhailey) and Mikey DeAngelis (@mikey_deangelis) will provide visual updates from the field.
Onward State
- College Football Playoff Staff Predictions: No. 4 Penn State vs. No. 10 SMU
- Previewing The Enemy: SMU Mustangs
- Beaver Stadium Announces Operating Procedures Ahead Of College Football Playoff
- Penn State Football Preparing For Frigid Conditions Against SMU
- Ethan Grunkemeyer Named Penn State Football’s Backup Quarterback Against SMU
- Penn State History Lesson: ‘We Are’ Chant
- James Franklin Named George Munger Award Semifinalist
- Abdul Carter & Tyler Warren Named To Sporting News All-American First Team
- Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 15 Roundup
- What SMU Head Coach Rhett Lashlee Said About Penn State Ahead Of The College Football Playoff
- ‘We Definitely Want To Get To Four’: Penn State Football Wanting To Create Depth At Defensive Tackle
- Abdul Carter & Tyler Warren Named To FWAA All-American First Team
- As Beau Pribula Moves On, Drew Allar Focuses On SMU
- Penn State Football Playoff Parking Passes On Sale
- Penn State Football Set As 8.5-Point Favorite Against SMU
- TNT Sports To Host Pregame Show For Penn State-SMU
- News & Notes From James Franklin Ahead Of SMU In The College Football Playoff
- Penn State Football’s Offensive Line Aiming To Carry Success Into College Football Playoff
- ‘He’s One Of The Best Coaches I’ve Ever Had’: Andy Kotelnicki Sticking With Penn State Football Despite Head Coaching Rumors
- Three-Star Wide Receiver Kyron Hudson Transfers To Penn State Football From USC
- James Franklin & Players Defend Beau Pribula After Transfer Decision
- Drew Allar To Return To Penn State Football In 2025
- Getting To Know Penn State Football Backup Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer
- Beau Pribula’s Pre-Playoff Departure Highlights Ridiculous College Football Portal Timeline
- Beau Pribula Entering Transfer Portal
- Tyler Warren Receives One First-Place Vote For Heisman Trophy
- Tyler Warren Places Seventh In Heisman Voting
- Abdul Carter & Tyler Warren Named Walter Camp All-Americans
- Nick Dawkins Wins Wuerfful Trophy
- Tyler Warren Wins John Mackey Award
- KJ Winston Declares For NFL Draft
- Onward State’s 2024 College Football Playoff Hub
- Big Ten Releases Penn State Football 2025 Conference Schedule
- United Airlines Adds Flights To & From State College For College Football Playoff
- Abdul Carter Named AP Big Ten Defensive Player Of The Year
- Official Penn State College Football Playoff Merch Now On Sale
- Nittany Lions In The NFL: Week 14 Roundup
- Student Section Seating Reduced Ahead Of Penn State Football Playoff Game Against SMU
- Analyzing Post-Oregon Reactions For Penn State Football
- Offensive Coordinator Andy Kotelnicki To Remain With Penn State Football
- Penn State Football Defensive Lineman T.A. Cunningham Entering Transfer Portal
- Gameday Observations: Oregon
- Penn State Football Playoff Tickets To Go On Sale December 9
- Penn State Football’s Post-Oregon Report Card
- [Photo Story] Penn State vs. Oregon In The Big Ten Championship
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