SMU, a 17-point underdog, plays Penn State in the first round of the College Football Playoff. This is a rematch of a 1978 game where SMU upset Penn State.
It's been a lifetime since SMU visited the Penn State football program, but the stakes were similarly high then. The Mustangs last played at Beaver Stadium in 1978, when third-ranked Penn State was chasing its first national championship. SMU, a 17-point underdog, tensed the crowd by taking a 21-12 third-quarter lead on an interception return for a touchdown. Penn State scored the next two touchdowns, one after going for a 4th-and-1 from their 36-yard line, to steal a 26-21 victory.
That was among the closest calls of Penn State's 11-0 regular season, which ended with a 14-7 loss to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to decide the national championship. Once again, SMU stands in the way of a potential Penn State title run. The Mustangs return to Beaver Stadium 46 years later for a first-round game of the College Football Playoff. Penn State coach James Franklin was 6 years old the last time these teams played. SMU coach Rhett Lashlee wouldn't be born for another five years. The Mustangs present a unique challenge for Penn State, one with speed, defensive skill, a reputation for being mistake-prone and a secret weapon. What should Penn State fans know about the SMU Mustangs? Here's a look. Jennings is a dual-threat quarterback, sure, but he ranks 10th nationally in passing yards per attempt, 13th in efficiency and has four 300-yard passing games. But this is the part that gives Penn State's defense pause, particularly in getting its pass rush too far upfield. 'They go as he goes,' Franklin said. 'He's an explosive athlete, can make all the throws, but also can pull it down and run, can really run.'Brashard Smith transferred to SMU from Miami, where he played receiver while Lashlee was the offensive coordinator. Lashlee wasn't sure he'd have a roster spot for Smith at receiver, so he made Smith at running back. Wise decision. Smith has rushed for 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns, averages 5.85 yards per carry and was first-team All-ACC. He's more than a running back, thoug
COLLEGE FOOTBALL SMU MUSTANGS PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS BEAVER STADIUM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF
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