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Kirk Herbstreit reveals biggest concern for SMU vs. Penn State

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax12/20/24BarkleyTruax
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GREG SWIERCZ / USA TODAY NETWORK

Penn State is set to host SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday, and many see the ACC runners-up as underdogs heading into the matchup — including in Vegas.

There is cause for concern regarding the Ponies against the Nittany Lions in the trenches, so this high-scoring SMU team may have to outshoot Penn State in their home stadium to advance to the quarterfinals. ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit isn’t counting the Mustangs out, either.

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“My big concern for SMU in that game is, like you would think, the line of scrimmage on both sides,” Herbstreit told the Pardon My Take crew on Wednesday. “Penn State, I thought, pushed Oregon around pretty well in the Big Ten Championship game at the line of scrimmage.”

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Mother Nature has been a topic of discussion for the first-round matchups as well. While the Mustangs head to Happy Valley, the Tennessee Volunteers will also travel north to take on Ohio State in Columbus.

Herbstreit revealed his stance on this as well.

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“I looked at this morning at the forecast all three games in Columbus, South Bend and State College — no snow, but you’re talking about in the 20s. 20 degrees,” Herbstreit continued. “A lot of people think that favors Ohio State and Notre Dame. A lot of Ohio State’s roster is from Georgia, North Carolina, Florida [etc.]. I don’t know how it necessarily favors these teams in the north.”

“I guess we’ll see. It’s been a big, big conversation point.”

Whether the natural elements play a role in the first-round postseason matchups remain to be seen, Penn State will remain the favorite on paper while defending their home turf. Despite this, SMU is 5-0 in true road games this season — although they havn’t been to an environment as hostile Beaver Stadium in 2024.

Kickoff between the Mustangs and Nittany Lions is set for Saturday, Dec. 21 at Noon ET. The first-round matchup will air live on TNT and Max, kicking off a full slate of first-round matchups.