Get ready for some ACTION college football fans! The inaugural season of the 12-team format of the College Football Playoff is quickly approaching. So expect the drama to be at an all-time high. One of the more anticipated matchups in the first round will be a battle between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Southern Methodist University Mustangs.
The Penn State Nittany Lions have been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the 12-team format. After years of narrowly missing the College Football Playoff, James Franklin and company have finally crossed the threshold of the postseason. But one major concern for the Nittany Lions has been their ability to perform well against equally talented teams. The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes were the only two top-10 opponents the Nittany Lions played this year and they dropped both games.
SMU was one of the surprises of the 2024 College Football season. They finished the season with an 11-2 record and went undefeated in conference play with an 8-0 record. However, it is worth noting that the Mustangs have only played one ranked opponent this season — the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars. And they unfortunately lost that game. In addition, the Mustangs are coming off a bitter loss in the ACC Championship Game at the hands of the 9-3 Clemson Tigers.
Penn State enters this game as the 8.5-point favorite.
