UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – No. 6 seed Penn State takes on No. 11 seed SMU in a College Football Playoff First Round game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, December 21. Kickoff is set for noon on TNT/MAX.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State meets SMU for the third time in program history and the second time in a postseason game. The Nittany Lions and Mustangs tied 13-13 in the 1948 Cotton Bowl. In the last matchup, in 1978, Penn State won 26-21. Matt Bahr hit four field goals, all in the first half, while Scott Fitzkee scored on a 16-yard reception and Matt Suhey found the end zone on a 3-yard run.
CARTER, WARREN COLLECT ALL-AMERICA HONORS: Defensive end Abdul Carter and tight end Tyler Warren became Penn State’s 103rd and 104th players to selected as a first-team All-American by an NCAA-recognized outlet. With first-team honors by the AFCA, Associated Press and Walter Camp Football Foundation, Carter has qualified to be Penn State’s 45th consensus All-American. Warren earned second-team accolades by the AFCA, AP and Walter Camp Football Foundation. Under head coach James Franklin, PSU has earned 18 All-American selections by 16 players and has multiple All-American selections in each of the last four seasons.
WARREN WINS MACKEY AWARD: Tyler Warren was announced as the John Mackey Award winner, the first Nittany Lion to ever win the award. The Mackey Award recognizes the top tight end in college football. Among FBS tight ends in 2024, Warren is tied for first in total touchdowns (10; 1st in Power Four) and ranks second in receiving yards (1,062; 1st), receiving yards per game (81.7; 1st) and yards per reception (12.1; 1st, min. 70 catches) and third in receptions (88; 1st). He owns PSU tight end career records for receptions (137), receiving yards (1,668), receiving touchdowns (17) and 100-yard receiving games (5) and PSU and Big Ten tight end season records for receptions (88) and receiving yards (1,062).
THE OPPOSITION: SMU enters the College Football Playoff as the No. 11 seed with an 11-2 overall record. The Mustangs went 8-0 in the ACC and fell 34-31 against Clemson in the ACC Championship. Kevin Jennings threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a rushing touchdown. Brashard Smith added 113 rushing yards.
BY THE NUMBERS
1,062 – Warren broke the Big Ten tight end season record with 1,062 receiving yards.
45th – With first-team All-America selections by the AFCA, AP and Walter Camp Football Foundation, Abdul Carter has qualified to be PSU’s 45th consensus…
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