A College Football Playoff field that started with 12 teams has been trimmed down to 10.
No. 6 Penn State routed No. 11 SMU at Beaver Stadium on Saturday with a 38-10 win in the first- ound of the CFP. With its first ever playoff win, Penn State not only matches its record for most wins in a single-season at 12, but also improves its overall record to 12-8 in White Out games.
The Nittany Lions will now advance to the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve against No. 3 Boise State at 7:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
Winning a College Football Playoff game — or any postseason game — is an important feat in itself. But Penn State’s win over SMU on Saturday likely means more to the Nittany Lions, who have had difficulty winning big games under James Franklin. Saturday’s win against the Mustangs was also Franklin’s 100th career win at Penn State, improving his overall record with the Nittany Lions to 100-41.
Penn State linebacker Dominic DeLuca was at the right place and right time all afternoon for the Nittany Lions’ defense. The walk-on-turned-scholarship player had a career afternoon against the SMU offense, as he picked off Mustangs quarterback twice — including a pick-6 in the first quarter. On top of his two interceptions, DeLuca added three tackles and half a sack.
Here’s what to know about who Penn State will play next in the CFP quarterfinals, including a full look at the CFP schedule
Who will Penn State play in CFP quarterfinals?
Penn State will meet up with No. 3 Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, which is serving as one of the four CFP quarterfinals this season, on Dec. 31.
The Broncos, who earned one of the four first-round byes after winning the Mountain West championship, are led by Heisman runner-up Ashton Jeanty. The Broncos running back has had a historic season in his final year at Boise State, and is 131 rushing yards away from tying Barry Sanders’ NCAA single-season rushing record.
It will be interesting to see if Jeanty can tie or break Sanders’ record in the Fiesta Bowl against the Nittany Lions’ defense, which entered Saturday’s CFP game with the No. 9-ranked rushing defense in the country.
The Fiesta Bowl will mark the first meeting between Penn State and Boise State.
College Football Playoff schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, Dec. 20
No. 7 Notre Dame 27, No. 10 Indiana 17
Saturday, Dec. 21
No. 6 Penn State 38, No. 11 SMU 10
No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas | 4 p.m. ET
No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State | 8 p.m. ET
CFP quarterfinals
Tuesday, Dec. 31
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. No. 6 Penn State | 7:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Jan. 1
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona vs. winner of No. 12 Clemson-No. 5 Texas | 1 p.m. ET
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. winner of No. 9 Tennessee-No. 8 Ohio State | 5 p.m. ET
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. No. 7 Notre Dame | 8:45 p.m.
Buy CFP quarterfinals tickets with SeatGeek
CFP semifinals
Thursday, Jan. 9
Orange Bowl: Sugar Bowl winner vs. Fiesta Bowl winner | 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Jan. 10
Cotton Bowl: Rose Bowl winner vs. Peach Bowl winner | 7:30 p.m. ET
CFP championship game
Monday, Jan. 20
CFP championship game: Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner | 7:30 p.m. ET
Updated CFP 12-team bracket
With its loss Saturday, SMU became the second team to be knocked out of the first ever 12-team CFP bracket. Here’s a look at what the CFP bracket looks like after Penn State’s win:
Oregon (13-0)
Georgia (11-2)
Boise State (12-1)
Arizona State (11-2)
Texas (11-2)
Penn State (12-2)
Notre Dame (12-1)
Ohio State (10-2)
Tennessee (10-2)
Indiana (11-2)
SMU (11-3)
Clemson (10-3)
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