In addition to Ohio State’s Ryan Day, is any Faculty Soccer Playoff head coach below extra stress than Penn State’s James Franklin?
The Nittany Lions are 13-28 towards ranked opponents below Franklin, together with 1-2 this season.
Six-seed Penn State (11-2) has hit a ceiling, with Franklin’s groups constantly outplayed in large video games.
Saturday’s CFP first-round sport towards the Mustangs represents an opportunity for Franklin to alter the narrative surrounding his program.
Quarterback Drew Allar is likely one of the finest begins within the CFP subject, and working backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen give the Nittany Lions one of many playoff’s finest backfield tandems.
Tight finish Tyler Warren needs to be extraordinarily worthwhile.
Not solely is he a succesful runner — Warren has 23 dashing makes an attempt in the course of the common season, gaining 191 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and 4 touchdowns — however he is additionally one of many nation’s finest receiving tight ends, getting into the playoff with 88 receptions, 1,062 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
As CBS Sports activities famous, SMU has struggled towards tight ends, rating 129th in FBS in receiving yards allowed to tight ends (627). Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki ought to use the Mustangs’ deficiencies to his benefit and make Warren the offense’s point of interest.
The Nittany Lions have a golden path to the semifinals. The winner of SMU-Penn State will play 3-seed Boise State (12-1) within the Fiesta Bowl.
If Franklin squanders this chance, it is going to be a protracted offseason in Pleased Valley.
Nevertheless, Penn State’s 11-year coach is not the one one who shall be below stress.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings will possible be hounded by Penn State defensive ends Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton.
Carter leads Penn State in sacks (10), whereas Dennis-Sutton leads the Nittany Lions with eight quarterback hurries.
Jennings is arguably one of the best CFP quarterback towards stress, and he should be simply as robust for 11-seed SMU (11-2) to drag off the street upset.
In accordance with CFB Stats, 75.8 % of Penn State’s sacks got here at dwelling. CBS Sports activities shared that the Nittany Lions are 14th within the nation in stress fee (38.5 %)
Per Professional Soccer Focus knowledge, Jennings has eight touchdowns when pressured, probably the most amongst CFP quarterbacks. His adjusted completion proportion, which accounts for receiver drops, is 65.8 %, the third-best.
The Mustangs are among the many finest within the nation at beginning quick, which might rapidly diminish Penn State’s dwelling benefit.
In accordance with Faculty Soccer Insiders, the Mustangs rank sixth within the nation in first-quarter scoring (10.2 factors per sport). They play rapidly, particularly on the street. Workforce Rankings knowledge exhibits that SMU runs a play as soon as each 22.1 seconds away from dwelling, the nation’s eighth-fastest fee.
The Nittany Lions have been pushed round of their two losses, permitting Ohio State to burn the ultimate 5 minutes of their 20-13 Week 9 loss with an 11-play drive. Within the Huge Ten championship sport, Oregon scored 45 factors and had 9 go performs acquire at the very least 15 yards.
SMU’s protection is best than marketed. In accordance with CFB Stats knowledge, it has performed 912 snaps. Solely Western Kentucky and UNLV, groups which have already performed of their bowl video games, have performed extra defensive snaps.
In the meantime, like SMU, Penn State has performed 13 video games however solely 788 defensive snaps.
The groups are tied for ninth in yards allowed per play (4.65), and SMU is second in yards per play allowed on the street and impartial web site video games (4.34 yards), solely trailing Texas.
If SMU jumps out to an early lead, that might imply bother for Penn State.
