State College, PA – In front of a vociferous, white-out Nittany Lion crowd on a day with temperatures in the low 20s, Penn State’s defense took control of this First Round College Football Championship (CFP) meeting early with two pick sixes. They went on to defeat the SMU Mustangs, runners-up of the Atlantic Coast Conference, 38-10. The big crowd and the vaunted student section raised the volume. With the cold, they stunted the performance of SMU QB Kevin Jennings. This offense averaged 38.5 points per game. Their output in this game were SMU’s lowest of the season in points and total yards (256).

PSU’s offense started off slow. However, following a 13-yard return of a Jennings pass by LB Dominic De Luca for a TD, and then by fellow LB Tony Rojas early in the second, the Nittany posted a 14-0 lead before their offense got on track. Rojas’s return came on a winding, twisting course through SMU Ponies for 59 yards. Of course, there were a couple of foibles we’ll attribute to HC James Franklin before the offense got going.

De Luca thwarts SMU again

The Nittany Lions forced the Mustangs to punt. They fair caught the ball on their own ten. Franklin decided to go for a first down on fourth and one on their 19. However, SMU, reminiscent of the Ohio State debacle, stopped him short to take over in field goal range. On a second and goal at the PSU seven, De Luca, a former walk-on, picked off another Jenning’s attempt and put the Lions on their 25 to start again. Nine plays later, the PSU offense struck paydirt with Kaytron Allens’ 25-yard TD run (11 for 70 yards, two TDs).

Now trailing, 21-0, SMU desperately needed a score before the half. They drove out to their 46. On fourth and three, DE Dani Dennis-Sutton sacked Jennings for eight yards, and the Lions were back in business on offense. Seven plays later, Nick Singleton (14 for 90 yards, one TD) finished the Nittany Lions’ drive with a one-yard TD run to put Penn State up, 28-0, at halftime.

A slight spark in the cold

To open the second half, Brashard Smith gave SMU some new life with 41-yard return to the Ponies’ 47. The Mustangs got down to the Nittany Lion 11. There Collin Rogers put up a field goal for 3 points from the 28 to put a crooked digit on the scoreboard for SMU. The Lions responded with a 40-yard FG by Ryan Barker on their subsequent possession. Following a missed three-point attempt forced by another sack of Jennings by PSU All-American LB Abdul Carter for 18 yards, PSU started its next possession from the 25. A steady diet of runs by Allen and Singleton ate up 5:26 off the clock overlapping into the fourth quarter. Allen capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown run to put the Lions up, 38-3.

Not “Gronk”, “Grunk”

With 12:56 left to play and the game pretty much in hand for the Nittany Lions, Franklin looked to get his frosh QB Ethan Grunkemeyer some reps. “Grunk” needed to get some playing time under his belt following the departure of second-string QB Beau Pribula into the transfer portal. His first pass went for an interception. Chalk that up to experience. With other clean jerseys appearing on the Penn State defensive unit, SMU drove 42 yards topped by a Jennings TD pass for 28 yards to Roderick Daniels, Jr. for a score. Both teams punted on subsequent series, and that’s how it ended, 38-10.

Fiesta time will be hard work

The Nittany Lions, 12-2, head west to Glendale, Arizona to meet Boisie State, 11-1 in the Fiesta Bowl for the CFP quarterfinals. The Broncos (12-1), champions of the Mountain West, took a bye week as the pre-determined third seed of the CFP. Their only loss came against No. 1 seed Oregon back in Week Two by a score of 37-34. It was an exciting game featuring big plays. Gabriel Dillon tossed a 59-yard TD pass to Traeshon Holden. Tez Johnson scored on an 85-yard punt return. Ashton Jeanty ran for a 70-yard TD among his 192 rushing yards and three TDs. An Oregon kick-off return was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown. Atticus Sappington booted a 25-yard FG as time expired to win it for the Oregon Ducks.

These Nittany Lions fell to the same Ducks for the Big Ten Championship two weeks ago in Indianapolis, 45-37. Oregon led 31-24 at the half. The Lions closed the score to 45-37 with 3:42 to play, but the Ducks Nikko Reed intercepted a Drew Allar pass with 1:56 remaining, and they ran out the clock. The spread is -10.5 in favor of the Lions, but this could go either way.

Pre-game festivities

With a two-hour drive to State College that morning, fellow PSU fans and friends John Massimilla, his son Brian, Wayne Hoover, (fellow Juniata alum) and his daughter, Lydia, came well prepared for the anticipated elements of this game. With little time for our pregame, we planned accordingly with libations and tasty snacks to warm our innards. We all threw on multi layers of clothing and extra footwarmers to fend off the cold temps and forecasted, gusty winds. Luckily, the sun stayed out. Not as bad as expected.

We met up with my son-in-law Zach and friends, PSU grads, on our way to Beaver Stadium. Zach and my daughter Alex visited his parents this week early for Christmas so he could be at this game to cheer for his Nittany Lions as well. Regretfully for Alex, she will have to skip seeing her beloved South Carolina Gamecocks play where they live down near Orlando. Then, we worked our way over to visit John and Wayne’s friend, Dunc and family. Dunc owns a refitted ambulance for his tailgate needs. We’ve partied with him before. His Mother led us in several toasts to many things including Joe Paterno’s birthday on this date.

SMU visitors and memories

We met up with some SMU fans nearby who had trekked up to find out how cold Central Pennsylvania could be in December (we were glad this wasn’t an 8 pm kick-off, for sure). We shared stories as well. I told them how years ago (2006, now that I checked my records – Ha! Told them 10-12 years ago – Wrong!) There, I attended a game and met a group of guys tailgating on the Boulevard. We had a beer together and then I got invited to join “The Pony Club.” For $25, I got two tickets for the game, two tickets for the basketball opener that evening, all the wings I could eat and beer I could drink! What a deal! How could I refuse? I was in. The $25 was worth five beers alone!

Good thing I record my adventures

I told the SMU fans I had met a great bunch of guys still smarting from the SMU Death Penalty administered in the 80s. The Mustangs hadn’t been to a bowl game since. I mentioned how I met their QB from the previous year who won their first game against hated TCU the previous year. I couldn’t remember his name, but now that I’m home I checked my book. His name was Jared Romo. Records show that they beat TCU, 21-10, in 2005. It turns out that was TCU’s only loss that season! SMU went 5-6, no bowl game. I saw the Ponies defeat Tulsa that day, 34-24.

By the way, I couldn’t use the basketball tickets that evening. I had planned a previous engagement already. I whisked off to Denton, Texas right after this one. Florida Atlantic at North Texas fell into my docket that night to add two more new teams for the first time. Great trip. Great memories! You can read about it in my latest book and even more subsequent SMU anecdotes starting on Page 336! Click here to get your copy of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly on Amazon.

As for today’s SMU memories against the Nittany Lions

SMU QB Kevin Jenning’s family also tailgated nearby. What I’ll remember most about him in this game was watching him cover the earholes on his helmet to hear communications from his sideline. Once he did that, the denizens of Beaver Stadium, particularly the students in their section not far from him, raised the decibel level. I’m sure this experience was unlike any other for him. Kirk Herbstreit awards his “Herbies” annually and basically, he favors the PSU student section as the best in the land every season. All in Beaver Stadium raised the crescendo. It was fun! I enjoyed being part of a post-season experience where we didn’t have to travel south for warmer climes to attend a contest in the footprint of the SEC domain. That will change in my upcoming experiences.

2024-25: All CFP, “No Bowls”

Historically, I’ve traveled to 49 different bowl games over the years. Bowls are changing now, however. They are not the fun, festive experiences for people to visit and attend over a long holiday weekend. They have morphed into weekday evening prime time games for the benefit of television audiences and ratings. Also, now that over 40 exist, the competitiveness becomes diluted. There are more teams than ever playing bowl games, and they no longer feature the best of the best. Some play despite sub-.500 records.

Bowls used to be awards for stellar seasons. I would plan two to five games over the course of consecutive days. I could drive to each within hours. It’s no longer worth it. Coaches leave, players follow, stars opt out to save their bodies to play pro ball, and times are convenient for television audiences, not fans in the stands. Post-season games became glorified try-outs for remaining players who may come back to play for this program again next season.

Last season, I attended the Liberty, the Birmingham and the nearby Music City. Because of these aforementioned factors, most games are no longer entertaining. I thought of at least going to the Birmingham next Friday, Vanderbilt vs Georgia Tech. Then, I asked myself why spend the money on tickets and travel when even the players don’t really seem like they want to be there? Besides, there are five games on TV including Navy vs. Oklahoma, the one I want to watch most.

Collegefootballfan.com 2024 post-season

I already procured a ticket in advance to the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9. A CFP Semi-final. Most featured players plan to play. Coaches still remain with these teams aiming for the national championship. Games will have meaning and will most likely be competitive. Winners between the Broncos and the Nittany Lions and between the Fighting Irish and Georgia Bulldawgs will compete in this one. Winner goes to the national title game. I’ll take a short flight to Miami, stay a few nights, visit family and friends. Then I thought, well a quarterfinal game comes to the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, a four-hour drive away. Heck, I’ve driven 7-8 hours to see other regular season games this year.

I figured I’d wait until Texas or Clemson would win. Against Arizona State, if the latter won, the game would be tough to buy a ticket for. Then I thought, well, how many Arizona State Sun Devil fans will venture out to Atlanta for this one? Maybe, they would hold off and come back out instead preferring to go to the championship on January 20. I found a lot of seats available for the quarter final on January 1. Saint Laurie has to work with a client over the phone that day. So, I booked it. I’m going to see Texas of the SEC face Arizona State of the Big XII. Ha! I still have memories of this being the old Southwest Conference (SWC) against the Sun Devils of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Wow! How times have changed during the course of my lifetime.

Only games that count this season

No “bowl travels” this year! Only three games in the College Football Playoff (CFP) where players show up and the games mean something. All teams have that final shot at winning the 2024 National Championship! Can’t wait! Have to think about the final on January 20. I may have to budget more accordingly in the future. But’ I’ll see! I’ve gone this far. And Atlanta is only four hours away…

Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly. It tells the stories of seeing every Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Team in most of his first times and in some of their most very memorable games he’s attended. He summarizes current changes taking place, for better or worse in college football, in two very in-depth essays: “Vision of the Future” and “For the Love of the Game.” Click on the title to purchase your copy today! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy the Bowl Season, too!