On Saturday at Beaver Stadium, Penn State and SMU will play one other in the College Football Playoffs’ opening round. The victor will play Boise State in the quarterfinals of the CFP.
We chatted with Jacob Richman, an SMU beat writer from Lone Star Live, to help shed more light on the Nittany Lions opponent before Penn State plays SMU as a noteworthy favorite.
We questioned him. He provided us with answers.
The Mustangs made it to the College Football Playoffs in their debut season in the ACC. To what extent has this season been unexpected?
If I claimed that this season hasn’t been incredibly unexpected, I would be lying. I believe I had a pretty good impression of the roster, including the schedule, who stayed, and the transfer changes they made. If everything had gone according to plan, I probably would have predicted eight or nine victories.
Much of it undoubtedly stems from Kevin Jennings’s greatest quarterback change this season, which helped SMU develop an offensive identity.
However, I believe that the X-factor in all of this has been the defense’s buy-in and the coaching staff’s rapid ability to spot talent and nurture it across the board. Up until recently, SMU didn’t have that.
When did you think that SMU could actually make it to the CFP this year?
It began to feel genuine after the Pitt game. After just avoiding Duke, they completely destroyed an unbeaten ACC squad, which had the greatest schedule roster on their hands.
It appeared as though they were nearly certain to make the run after responding to a subpar effort in that way and clearing the road at that moment.
That game demonstrated that they had to be regarded seriously and that this wasn’t just beginner luck, but I can’t say I was positive they would be selected if they didn’t win the ACC Championship.
Fans of Penn State may be seeing SMU for the first time this season. What should those fans understand about the Mustangs’ offensive and defensive schemes?
The most important thing to understand about the offense is how quick and effective it is. Rhett Lashlee is renowned for his ability to move the ball swiftly, and he has an excellent quarterback and supporting group to help him achieve this. Running back Brashard Smith will help SMU establish the run early on, and a number of run-pass option plays will be incorporated to give Jennings a chance to observe the Penn State secondary early on and determine where to launch his attack.
Since the Mustangs love to spread the ball about and have opponents play the entire field, it has been fantastic that they don’t have a go-to receiver.
When it comes to defense, you’re looking at a team that is primarily concerned with playing with sound fundamentals, making tackles, and attempting to limit minor errors. Scott Symons, the defensive coordinator, tends to attack an offense rather than respond to it, although he doesn’t plan things out in a very intricate manner.
It’s difficult to beat SMU’s front seven. They primarily play three-down and have many diverse edge rushers that can contribute to a well-balanced pass rush and help hide looks. The most remarkable thing about that team is that they lead college football in quarterback pressures despite blitzing at a relatively low rate—just over 27%.
One of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks who can make plays is Kevin Jennings. What aspect of his game is the most impressive?
Over the course of the year, it has most likely been observing his patience grow. We’ve all witnessed his ability to rush to a first down and prolong a play with his legs.
However, his ability to prolong plays while still waiting for his receivers to get open and ultimately make the stronger play is his greatest area for improvement and what makes him a quarterback capable of winning at a high level.
Unlike many rookie quarterbacks, he has faith in both his arm and his receivers. Before Jennings makes a huge play, it has resulted in numerous instances where even the coaches wearing headsets are yelling, “Oh no, oh no.”
Which underappreciated offensive and defensive player for SMU has the ability to win the game?
Matthew Hibner is my choice at tight end on offense. RJ Maryland has stepped up significantly since his injury a few months ago, becoming just another weapon in Jennings’ offensive arsenal.
We observed him as a blocking tight end for the majority of the season, but the coaching staff always assured us that they had faith in his receiving skills. As it happens, they were correct. In the last five games, he has now caught 20 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns. After years of playing seldom at Michigan, he is now showcasing his athleticism by making another run in the CFP.
I’ll go with safety Jonathan McGill on defense. At five feet ten inches and 186 pounds, McGill doesn’t exactly stand out on paper, and SMU boasts a very strong bunch of safeties. But compared to most players I’ve ever seen, he plays with greater heart and football IQ.
I’ve watched him make open-field tackles on players weighing thirty pounds or more during the last two seasons since he transferred from Stanford. He also reads passing plays accurately before the ball is snapped, putting him in position to make a play at the ball.
The SMU safety team isn’t scared to get tough, and McGill is a true representation of what this group aspires to be. Even although they may not be as strong or large as their opponent, they always make up for it with their physicality and strategy.
Complete this sentence. SMU will pull off a shock victory on Saturday if…
They keep the ball safe.
SMU’s inability to force opponents into poor or even neutral field positioning has been the main cause of their troubles and losses in games.
Take the ACC Championship game, SMU outplayed Clemson thoroughly in the second half. However, with two turnovers and a few special teams penalty problems in the first half, they handed the Tigers starting field position in Mustang territory four times out of seven possessions.
The offense gives up chances to score points, while the defense finds it more difficult to get going on their own end. There is no reason why SMU couldn’t pull off an upset if Kevin Jennings doesn’t cough up the ball early and the offense is moving the ball methodically.
You can read Jacob Richman’s work here and follow him on social media at @JacobHRichman.
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