Blog Article
The Chess Match: Two Coaches, Two Programs, One Bowl Game Collision – SMU at Penn State
Nobody expected SMU’s Rhett Lashlee to pull off what might be college football’s most remarkable transformation story of 2023.
In just three years, Lashlee has engineered what old-guard football minds considered impossible:
- Transforming a middling SMU program into an 11-2 powerhouse
- Dominating their inaugural ACC season with swagger and style
- Accumulating a jaw-dropping 21-3 conference record that has athletic directors nationwide reaching for their checkbooks
The Established Empire Watches
Meanwhile, in Happy Valley, James Franklin continues orchestrating Penn State’s methodical march toward college football supremacy. His Nittany Lions mirror their coach: disciplined, relentless, and utterly predictable in their pursuit of excellence.
A Tale of Two Systems
What makes this bowl matchup fascinating isn’t just the clash of programs – it’s the statistical symmetry that shouldn’t exist:
The offenses move like twins separated at birth: SMU churning out 443.1 yards per game, Penn State barely ahead at 448.6. But defense? That’s where Franklin’s philosophy reveals itself in cold, hard numbers. His unit surrenders just 282.1 yards per game, while SMU’s gives up 326.1.
The X-Factor That Changes Everything
Here’s where the story takes its dramatic turn. SMU lost quarterback Preston Stone, the architectural centerpiece of their offensive explosion. Into this vacuum steps Kevin Jennings, talented but untested, facing a trial by fire against one of college football’s most sophisticated defensive machines.
The Ground Game Chess Match
Football often reveals its true nature in the running game, and here’s where the contrasts sharpen:
- SMU rides Brashard Smith’s explosive 1,270 yards and 14 touchdowns
- Penn State counters with a two-headed monster: Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, combining for over 1,600 yards of controlled destruction.
The Final Act
The smart money sees Penn State emerging victorious, 31-17, not because they’re the better program—but because they’re the more complete program at this precise moment in time. The loss of Stone isn’t just about missing a quarterback; it’s about missing the keystone of an offensive architecture that took three years to perfect.
Ultimately, this game might tell us less about who wins and more about where college football is heading. Lashlee’s SMU represents the bold new challengers, while Franklin’s Penn State embodies the power of systematic, year-over-year excellence. And that’s the real story worth watching.
Game at a Glance
Game: SMU at Penn State
Time: Noon Eastern
TV: TNT
| SMU | Penn State | |
| Record | 11-2 | 11-2 |
| Points Per Game | 38.54 | 34.38 |
| Points Allowed | 20.85 | 16.38 |
| Total Offense | 443.1 ypg | 448.6 ypg |
| Total Defense | 326.1 ypg | 282.1 ypg |
| SRS Rating | 16.66 (8th) | 17.20 (6th) |
| Strength of Schedule | 2.51 (49th) | 4.20 (30th) |
Key Personnel Changes
SMU Impact Losses:
- QB Preston Stone (3,471 yards, 27 TDs, 9 INTs)
- Kevin Jennings steps in (3,050 yards, 22 TDs, 8 INTs)
- CB Jahari Rogers
- DL Omari Abor
Penn State Impact Losses:
- QB Beau Pribula (275 yards, 5 TDs, 242 rushing yards)
- Drew Allar remains the starter (2,894 yards, 21 TDs, 7 INTs)
Key Matchups
Quarterback Battle:
Kevin Jennings must lead SMU’s offense against Penn State’s elite defense that allows only 16.38 points per game
Ground Game:
- SMU: Brashard Smith (1,270 yards, 5.9 avg, 14 TDs)
- Penn State: Nicholas Singleton (838 yards, 6.4 avg, 7 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (822 yards, 4.8 avg, 6 TDs)
Defensive Edge:
Penn State’s defense allows only 103.6 rushing yards per game and has accumulated 33 sacks.
Final Score:
Penn State 31 SMU 17
