By Andy Stine

astine@altoonamirror.com

Although it may not have the luster of Notre Dame or an SEC opponent, SMU is still a very good team coming to Beaver Stadium Saturday.

If the Mustangs would have completed a 24-7 comeback against Clemson in the ACC Championship — and they came close to winning that game before falling on a 56-yard field goal — they may have even had a first-round bye this weekend.

Here are five keys to a PSU win:

1. Protect Drew Allar at all costs

Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal earlier this week at an inconvenient time, which is another story for another day.

But the backup quarterback right now to Drew Allar would be true freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer, and he didn’t take a snap all season.

Tyler Warren could be the next guy in line should something happen to Allar, but that’s not exactly the recipe James Franklin wants to follow for the offense to be as effective as it has been.

The good news is Penn State’s offensive line has been excellent most of the season. It may need its best effort Saturday.

2. More Singleton and Allen

The Big Ten championship game may have been the best efforts for both Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. Both went for over 100 yards rushing behind a fantastic job from the Lions’ offensive line.

SMU has a solid defensive line, so this would be the kind of statement that the PSU offense could boast into the next round.

In fact, the Mustangs have the fourth-best rushing defense in all of college football. Even though the PSU offensive line has been good, this may be its biggest challenge of the season.

3. Contain Kevin Jennings

The redshirt sophomore is probably the best dual-threat quarterback the Lions have faced so far this season outside of Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel.

No, Jennings hasn’t faced a schedule quite the caliber of a Big Ten slate, but the Mustangs have only been held under 28 points once all season.

It will be imperative that the PSU defense stays on its assignments and perhaps put a spy on Jennings at times.

4. Take the wind out of their sails

Penn State is more than a touchdown favorite against SMU, which is playing its biggest game since the 1980s when the NCAA slammed the school with the infamous death penalty, and the football program ceased to exist for two years.

A fast start for Penn State would start to bring doubt to the SMU side, and it may get lopsided fast in such a scenario. If the Mustangs keep it close through the first half, it could be anyone’s ball game in the late going.

5. Outcoach Rhett Lashlee

For all of James Franklin’s faults and shortcomings, he’s still one of the game’s best coaches right now. He’ll need to bring his A game Saturday.

SMU’s Rhett Lashlee is considered one of college football’s top bright, young minds.

In 2022, he took over the Mustangs, who were making progress Sonny Dykes, who left for TCU.

Lashlee won the American Athletic Conference in their last season in the league in 2023 and made an appearance in the ACC championship game this season.

That is not easy at a school like SMU, where the Mustangs may not even be a top-five program in terms of popularity in its own state.