In addition to Ohio State’s Ryan Day, is any Faculty Soccer Playoff head coach beneath extra stress than Penn State’s James Franklin?
The Nittany Lions are 13-28 in opposition to ranked opponents beneath 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 recreation in opposition to the Mustangs represents an opportunity for Franklin to vary the narrative surrounding his program.
Quarterback Drew Allar is without doubt one of the greatest begins within the CFP area, and working backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen give the Nittany Lions one of many playoff’s greatest backfield tandems.
Tight finish Tyler Warren needs to be extraordinarily priceless.
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 greatest receiving tight ends, getting into the playoff with 88 receptions, 1,062 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
As CBS Sports activities famous, SMU has struggled in opposition to 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, will probably be an extended offseason in Completely happy Valley.
Nonetheless, Penn State’s 11-year coach is not the one one who will likely be beneath stress.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings will probably 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 the perfect CFP quarterback in opposition to stress, and he should be simply as sturdy for 11-seed SMU (11-2) to drag off the street upset.
In keeping with CFB Stats, 75.8 p.c of Penn State’s sacks got here at residence. CBS Sports activities shared that the Nittany Lions are 14th within the nation in stress charge (38.5 p.c)
Per Professional Soccer Focus knowledge, Jennings has eight touchdowns when pressured, essentially the most amongst CFP quarterbacks. His adjusted completion proportion, which accounts for receiver drops, is 65.8 p.c, the third-best.
The Mustangs are among the many greatest within the nation at beginning quick, which might shortly diminish Penn State’s residence benefit.
In keeping with Faculty Soccer Insiders, the Mustangs rank sixth within the nation in first-quarter scoring (10.2 factors per recreation). They play shortly, particularly on the street. Workforce Rankings knowledge exhibits that SMU runs a play as soon as each 22.1 seconds away from residence, the nation’s eighth-fastest charge.
The Nittany Lions had 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 Massive Ten championship recreation, Oregon scored 45 factors and had 9 move performs achieve at the least 15 yards.
SMU’s protection is healthier than marketed. In keeping 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 website video games (4.34 yards), solely trailing Texas.
If SMU jumps out to an early lead, that might imply bother for Penn State.
