How to Watch Penn State vs. SMU: CFP First Round Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 21, 2024

Updated Dec. 21, 2024 11:34 a.m. ET

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To start this year's College Football Playoff, the No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (11-2) will host the No. 12 SMU Mustangs (11-2) starting at 12 p.m. ET at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State is favored by 9 points.

Go to TNT to watch the Nittany Lions take on the Mustangs.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

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Learn more about the Penn State Nittany Lions and the SMU Mustangs.

How to Watch Penn State vs. SMU

When: Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET
Location: Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania
Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Penn State's 2024 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/31/2024	at West Virginia	W 34-12
9/7/2024	vs. Bowling Green	W 34-27
9/21/2024	vs. Kent State	W 56-0
9/28/2024	vs. Illinois	W 21-7
10/5/2024	vs. UCLA	W 27-11
10/12/2024	at USC	W 33-30
10/26/2024	at Wisconsin	W 28-13
11/2/2024	vs. Ohio State	L 20-13
11/9/2024	vs. Washington	W 35-6
11/16/2024	at Purdue	W 49-10
11/23/2024	at Minnesota	W 26-25
11/30/2024	vs. Maryland	W 44-7
12/7/2024	vs. Oregon	L 45-37
12/21/2024	vs. SMU	-

Penn State 2024 Stats & Insights

Penn State has been a handful for opposing teams, ranking top-25 in both total offense (15th-best with 448.6 yards per game) and total defense (sixth-best with 282.2 yards allowed per game) this season.
On the defensive side of the ball, Penn State has been a top-25 unit in terms of passing yards, ranking 16th-best by giving up only 178.5 passing yards per game. The Nittany Lions rank 41st on offense (246.5 passing yards per game).
The Nittany Lions have been firing on all cylinders this season, as they rank 24th-best in scoring offense (33.6 points per game) and eighth-best in scoring defense (16.4 points allowed per game).
The Nittany Lions have been a tough matchup for opposing teams in the running game, as they rank top-25 in both rushing offense (18th-best with 202.2 rushing yards per game) and rushing defense (ninth-best with 103.7 rushing yards allowed per game) this season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Penn State has been a top-25 unit in terms of third-down efficiency, ranking 13th-best in the FBS by averaging a 47.8% third-down percentage. The defense ranks 32nd on defense (34.1% third-down conversion rate allowed).
The Nittany Lions rank 38th in college football with a +5 turnover margin after forcing 17 turnovers (60th in the FBS) while committing 12 (26th in the FBS).

Penn State 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Drew Allar	QB	2,894 YDS (69.1%) / 21 TD / 7 INT 279 RUSH YDS / 6 RUSH TD / 21.5 RUSH YPG
Tyler Warren	TE	88 REC / 1,062 YDS / 6 TD / 81.7 YPG
Nicholas Singleton	RB	838 YDS / 7 TD / 64.5 YPG / 6.4 YPC 37 REC / 335 REC YDS / 5 REC TD / 25.8 REC YPG
Kaytron Allen	RB	822 YDS / 6 TD / 63.2 YPG / 4.8 YPC 15 REC / 119 REC YDS / 2 REC TD / 10.8 REC YPG
Abdul Carter	DL	47 TKL / 14 TFL / 10 SACK
Jaylen Reed	DB	54 TKL / 1 TFL / 2 SACK / 3 INT
Kobe King	LB	48 TKL / 6 TFL / 3 SACK
Tony Rojas	LB	37 TKL / 4 TFL / 1.5 SACK / 2 INT

SMU's 2024 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Score
8/24/2024	at Nevada	W 29-24
8/31/2024	vs. Houston Christian	W 59-7
9/6/2024	vs. BYU	L 18-15
9/21/2024	vs. TCU	W 66-42
9/28/2024	vs. Florida State	W 42-16
10/5/2024	at Louisville	W 34-27
10/19/2024	at Stanford	W 40-10
10/26/2024	at Duke	W 28-27
11/2/2024	vs. Pittsburgh	W 48-25
11/16/2024	vs. Boston College	W 38-28
11/23/2024	at Virginia	W 33-7
11/30/2024	vs. California	W 38-6
12/7/2024	vs. Clemson	L 34-31
12/21/2024	at Penn State	-

SMU 2024 Stats & Insights

SMU's offense has been leading the charge for the team, as it ranks 20th-best in the FBS with 443.1 total yards per contest. In terms of defense, it is allowing 326.1 total yards per game, which ranks 28th.
SMU ranks 26th in the FBS with 267 passing yards per game on offense, and it ranks 92nd with 232.7 passing yards surrendered per game on defense.
The Mustangs' offense has been paving the way for the team, as they rank sixth-best in the FBS with 38.5 points per game. In terms of defense, they are allowing 20.8 points per game, which ranks 28th.
The Mustangs have been thriving on run defense, surrendering only 93.4 rushing yards per game (fourth-best). Offensively, they rank 50th in the FBS by racking up 176.1 rushing yards per game.
Things have been going well for SMU on both sides of the ball on third down, as it is compiling a 46.5% third-down conversion percentage (17th-best) and allowing a 32.3% third-down rate (16th-best).
After forcing 21 turnovers (26th in the FBS) and turning the ball over 21 times (106th in the FBS) this season, the Mustangs sport the 61st-ranked turnover margin of 0.

SMU 2024 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Brashard Smith	RB	1,267 YDS / 14 TD / 97.5 YPG / 5.9 YPC 35 REC / 303 REC YDS / 4 REC TD / 23.3 REC YPG
Kevin Jennings	QB	3,050 YDS (66%) / 22 TD / 8 INT 379 RUSH YDS / 5 RUSH TD / 29.2 RUSH YPG
Roderick Daniels Jr.	WR	38 REC / 599 YDS / 3 TD / 46.1 YPG
Keyshawn Smith	WR	31 REC / 512 YDS / 5 TD / 39.4 YPG
Kobe Wilson	LB	92 TKL / 6 TFL / 3 SACK / 2 INT
Isaiah Nwokobia	DB	76 TKL / 3 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 3 INT
Ahmad Walker	LB	64 TKL / 3 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 1 INT
Jared Harrison-Hunte	DL	34 TKL / 8 TFL / 6 SACK / 1 INT