SMU to visit Penn State in opening CFP round with Boise State awaiting the winner in the Fiesta Bowl
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings (7) runs past Clemson defensive end Cade Denhoff (44) in the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Jacob Kupferman]
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — No. 12 Southern Methodist will face No. 5 Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoff after edging Alabama in the final rankings. The Mustangs lost 34-31 to No. 13 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game on Saturday night, but earned the No. 12 seed as the CFP’s last at-large selection over the Crimson Tide. SMU’s berth gives the ACC two teams in the 12-team playoff a year after unbeaten Florida State was left out of the final four-team bracket. Penn State earned the No. 6 seed in the CFP after losing 45-37 to top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday. The winner will face No. 8 Boise State and electric running back Ashton Jeanty in the Fiesta Bowl at Glendale’s State Farm Stadium on Dec. 31.
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Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula (9) runs up field during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Darron Cummings