Beaver Stadium will host a first-round game for Penn State, which is formally in the College Football Playoffs. However, when will the NIttany Lions begin their possible push for the CFP?
On Sunday afternoon, it was revealed that the matchup between No. 11 seed SMU and Penn State, the sixth seed in the 12-team CFP, would begin at noon on Saturday, Dec. 21.
TNT will broadcast the Nittany Lions vs. Mustangs first-round matchup.
The kickoff times for the three additional CFP games in the first round are listed below.
Friday, December 20: Notre Dame, the seventh seed, plays Indiana, the tenth seed (8 p.m., ABC).
No. 12 seed Clemson takes on No. 5 seed Texas on Saturday, December 21 at 4 p.m., TNT.
Saturday, December 21: No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 9 Tennessee (8 p.m., ABC)
Following a close defeat to Oregon in Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game, Penn State earned the sixth seed and a respectable draw. The Nittany Lions lost 45-37 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, going head-to-head with the nation’s top squad.
After the Mustangs lost to Clemson on a game-winning field goal in Saturday night’s ACC championship game, SMU entered the field over three-loss Alabama.
James Franklin’s team will play No. 3 seed Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals if Penn State defeats SMU. The Broncos are the Mountain West champs and have only lost once this season, to Oregon in September, courtesy to Heisman-caliber running back Ashton Jeanty.
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Johnny McGonigal
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