STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State is set to host its first-ever College Football Playoff game against No. 11 seed Southern Methodist on Saturday (noon, TNT/Max).
The No. 6 Nittany Lions (11-2, 8-1 Big Ten) and SMU (11-2, 8-0 ACC) are both coming off conference championship losses. Both are looking to prove themselves worthy of their respective seedings. With that, there are several storylines to follow that could create major impacts throughout the game.
Here are three we’re focusing on:
How will Penn State’s offense look without QB Beau Pribula?
Penn State fans were left conflicted when redshirt sophomore quarterback Beau Pribula announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. In a typical world, the backup quarterback isn’t the topic of conversation (just as SMU lost Preston Stone to the portal), but Pribula has been a big part of Penn State’s offense.
It started with designed runs and gadget plays for Pribula, but his role expanded as the year went on.
The York native was given the reins officially when junior quarterback Drew Allar went down with an injury against Wisconsin. In that game, he was 11-for-13 for 98 yards and one touchdown. With Pribula leaving, not only does it change the offense, but it also eliminates the belief that he would become the full-time quarterback if Allar was unable to return. That hope is now gone.
Freshman quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer is now the team’s backup quarterback — but has yet to appear in a game. Penn State head coach James Franklin was often asked about getting Grunkemeyer first-team practice reps, but he’s said if teams try to get three quarterbacks ready, they’ll get none ready.
With Pribula out, should Allar, who’s returning from injury, go down, Grunkemeyer would debut in a College Football Playoff game.
Kevin Jennings vs. Penn State’s defense
SMU hasn’t had the hardest schedule in the world, and despite a loss to BYU, quarterback Kevin Jennings has had the Mustangs offense rolling. Jennings has shown the ability to escape and make plays not just with his legs but, more often than not, in the air.
His 3,050 passing yards and 379 rushing yards have helped the Mustangs score 38.5 points per game. The last time Penn State played a quarterback with the ability to make plays under pressure, it was Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.
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Though Gabriel had a better supporting cast, he displayed a style similar to Jennings’ in terms of exclusivity. Penn State’s pass rush got to Gabriel once as he threw for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Not to mention its defensive backs struggled being forced to cover so long.
Junior defensive end Abdul Carter will assuredly make his presence felt. But if Penn State’s pass rush can’t get home Saturday, watch out.
SMU’s adjustment to weather
The projected temperature for Saturday’s game is 24 degrees (feels like 13). In Dallas where SMU resides? A balmy 49 degrees.
Beaver Stadium has always given an extra home-field advantage with its crowd, which’ll get an even bigger boost against the nonconference opponent.
SMU’s coldest kickoff temperature in recent memory was last season, a 24-23 loss to BYU, at 34 degrees. Pairing that with the White Out atmosphere, if SMU doesn’t come ready, it could be sent packing with a bus blasting heat.
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