STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Rhett Lashlee, the head coach of SMU, believes that his team merited consideration for the College Football Playoff, even though their performance on Saturday did not reflect that. The Mustangs faced a tough 38-10 defeat against No. 6 Penn State in the opening round of the playoffs, showcasing several errors that could hinder similar programs from making a case for future playoff appearances.
Lashlee expressed concern about the implications this game might have on the perception of non-traditional football programs. “If we’re on the edge in the future, we might not get that chance because of our performance today,” he remarked. The coach recognized that his team failed to secure a victory the week prior, which ultimately contributed to their current situation and left them unable to advance to the next phase of the playoffs.
No. 12 SMU (11-3), which finished as the ACC’s runner-up and was the last at-large team selected for the expanded 12-team playoff format, struggled to pose a threat to Penn State (12-2) in the frigid conditions of Beaver Stadium. The Nittany Lions capitalized on turnovers, scoring 21 points from mistakes made by SMU, while the Mustangs were ineffective on offense, managing just 325 total yards.
“It’s unfortunate that one poor game might overshadow our achievements,” Lashlee stated. “I am not in a position to influence the narrative surrounding our performance. We were fortunate to be selected for the playoffs, but today, we were decisively beaten by a strong team.”
The Mustangs entered the game with high spirits, having won their last 10 road games, the second-longest streak in FBS, just behind No. 4 Texas. Additionally, SMU made history as the first team to go unbeaten (8-0) in a major conference after shifting to the ACC from the Group of Five. There was hope among players to silence any lingering doubts about their standing among the top 12 teams in the nation.
As stadium workers cleared the field of snow flurries, many SMU players chose to warm up without shirts. Despite falling to a halftime deficit of 28-0, after quarterback Kevin Jennings threw two interceptions returned for touchdowns, the Mustangs continued to fight. However, further mistakes hampered their efforts. They managed only a field goal on their initial second-half drive after advancing inside the 10-yard line and similar inaccuracies led to another failed drive, culminating in a missed field goal following a series of setbacks.
The Mustangs finally reached the end zone when Jennings connected with Roderick Daniels for a 28-yard touchdown with just 7:31 remaining in the game. Post-game, Jennings sat quietly, his eye black running down his face. “We came in with many doubting our abilities throughout the season, but we showed what we are capable of. We’ve set a standard for ourselves for next year,” Jennings reflected.
Lashlee expressed hope that this season’s experience will change the narrative surrounding SMU football. The program once thrived in the 1980s, finishing with an impressive record and ranking second nationally, only to suffer severe penalties from the NCAA which resulted in an extended period without bowl game appearances and a lengthy absence from the AP Top 25 rankings.
“I hope this gives a fresh story for everyone to discuss,” Lashlee stated, adding that the past is now behind them. “We’ve turned the page; that chapter is closed. Now we look forward, and this team has elevated the standards and expectations for the future of SMU football.”
Defensive end Elijah Roberts, who will be departing after this season, shared a positive outlook for the program, stating, “SMU is in a solid position for the years to come. Although today didn’t go according to plan, I believe recruits and transfers looking for a special place to play should seriously consider coming here.”
