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For the first time in its history, **Penn State** is advancing to the College Football Playoff. Announced as the sixth seed in the newly expanded 12-team playoff field on Sunday (December 8), the Nittany Lions will host the eleventh-seed Southern Methodist University (SMU) Mustangs in the first round. The game is scheduled for Saturday, December 21, at noon in Beaver Stadium, Happy Valley.
The playoff selection committee's decisions this year have sparked discussions, particularly due to the inclusion of SMU, which lost the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship game to Clemson. Despite this, SMU secured the eleventh seed, surpassing other teams like Alabama and Clemson, the latter of which beat SMU in the championship game. The committee valued SMU's 11 victories over teams with tougher schedules but fewer wins, such as Alabama and Mississippi.
Penn State, which lost to Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game, was rewarded for its 11-1 regular season, earning a favorable playoff path. The Nittany Lions will avoid facing top seeds Oregon and Georgia until the semifinals, should they advance. According to The New York Times, Penn State has a 67 percent chance of reaching the second round.
Head coach James Franklin expressed optimism about hosting the playoff game, highlighting the advantage of playing at home. "Having a home game is huge for us for a ton of reasons," Franklin said. The game is expected to be a "White Out," a tradition at Penn State, despite the noon kickoff time.
The matchup will be the third-ever between Penn State and SMU, with their last meeting in 1978. SMU, led by head coach Rhett Lashlee, averaged 38.5 points per game this season and finished 28th in total defense. Penn State, ranked sixth in total defense, will aim to capitalize on its home-field advantage and advance in the playoffs.