Follow live: Penn State closing in on spot in Fiesta Bowl

After the College Football Playoff began on Friday with No. 7 Notre Dame handling No. 10 Indiana, Saturday gives us an entire day of action with three games wrapping up the first round of the 12-team format.

Time: 4 p.m. ET | TV: TNT | Line: Texas -12 | Total: 51.5

Clemson snuck into the playoff by eking out a last-second win in the ACC title game. Texas, meanwhile, enters without many signature wins after losing twice to its best opponent: Georgia. If Clemson wants to pull the upset, it’s going to have to get RB Phil Mafah going; Texas gives up just over three yards a carry, and it’s also very stingy against the pass. The Longhorns will be counting on the steady hand of QB Quinn Ewers, but there’s a chance we see backup Arch Manning play a few situational snaps.

Time: 8 p.m. ET | TV: ABC/ESPN | Line: Ohio State -7.5 | Total: 46.5

Ohio State enters the playoff on a mission while coming off a painful loss to hated rival Michigan. Can coach Ryan Day get his team back on track? As the over/under indicates, this will not likely be the offensive shootout that many would have predicted before the season began. These two teams have offenses that can hit for a big play at any moment, but both teams have relied on excellent defenses.

Live36 updates

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 11:14 PM GMT+3

    Touchdown SMU!

    The Mustangs are finally in the end zone after a 28-yard TD throw from Kevin Jennings to Roderick Daniels Jr.

    There’s 7:30 left in this one.

    PSU 38, SMU 10

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 11:09 PM GMT+3

    Interception SMU!

    Welp. Instead of running the ball, PSU opts for a Ethan Grunkemeyer pass and it’s tipped into the hands of SMU’s Brandon Crossley.

    The Ponies will have the ball at the PSU 40-yard line.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 11:07 PM GMT+3

    The Nittany Lions have the ball back and will presumably bleed as much time off the clock as possible with this drive. Backup QB Ethan Grunkemeyer is in the game for Drew Allar

    There’s 10 minutes left in the game.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:54 PM GMT+3

    Touchdown Penn State

    This thing is all but over now. The Nittany Lions moved the ball with ease as Kaytron Allen capped off a 9-play, 75-yard drive with a short TD run.

    PSU 38, SMU 3

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:44 PM GMT+3

    End of 3Q: PSU 31, SMU 3

    The Ponies are going to need a miracle now.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:43 PM GMT+3

    Penn State moving the ball

    The Nittany Lions are over midfield and nearing the red zone now as the third quarter winds down.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:38 PM GMT+3

    SMU misses FG

    The Mustangs made it all the way down to the 2-yard line, but several miscues backed them all the way back to the 25-yard line and Collin Rogers’ FG attempt came up just short.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:34 PM GMT+3

    SMU on the march

    The Ponies are moving the ball and in the red zone after a long Kevin Jennings completion. They desperately need to get into the end zone on this drive.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:26 PM GMT+3

    PSU adds field goal

    The Nittany Lions are back up 28 after a short drive ends with a 40-yard field goal by Ryan Barker.

    PSU 31, SMU 3

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:18 PM GMT+3

    SMU on the board with FG

    The Ponies were moving the ball well and made it inside the 10-yard line before multiple false start penalties killed their momentum. They settled for a short field goal for their first points of the game.

    PSU 28, SMU 3

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:12 PM GMT+3

    SMU on the march

    The Ponies are moving the ball with pace now after a long completion and an illegal hands to the face penalty on PSU. They’re inside the red zone now.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:09 PM GMT+3

    SMU has ball first after halftime

    The second half is underway and the Ponies will start with the ball. Let’s see if they can mount a comeback like they did in the ACC title game against Clemson.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 10:04 PM GMT+3

    Lane Kiffin continues complaining

    The Ole Miss coach was harping on the CFP selection committee last night during Indiana’s loss and now he’s doing the same while SMU struggles against Penn State.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:46 PM GMT+3

    Halftime: PSU 28, SMU 0

    It was all Penn State in the first half as SMU’s Kevin Jennings threw three picks and two of them were returned for touchdowns.

    Penn State is in control at the halftime break. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)Penn State is in control at the halftime break. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)

    Penn State is in control at the halftime break. (Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo Sports)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:39 PM GMT+3

    Touchdown Penn State

    The Nittany Lions keep piling it on before the halftime break. This time it’s Nicholas Singleton who runs it in from short to cap off a 7-play, 38-yard drive.

    There’s just over a minute left in the half.

    PSU 28, SMU 0

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:28 PM GMT+3

    SMU turns it over on downs

    The Ponies decided to go for it facing a fourth-and-3 at midfield and Kevin Jennings was sacked.

    It’ll be Penn State ball at the SMU 38 with just over 3 minutes left in the half.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:21 PM GMT+3

    Touchdown Penn State!

    The Nittany Lions have their first offensive score of the game and it’s a 25-yard touchdown run by Kaytron Allen to cap off a 9-play, 75-yard drive.

    PSU 21, SMU 0

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:13 PM GMT+3

    INTERCEPTION PENN STATE!

    Kevin Jennings has thrown his third pick of the game with 8 minutes left in the second quarter and it’s Dominic DeLuca again! The junior linebacker had 1 interception all season long before this game and already has two today.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 9:10 PM GMT+3

    Penn State stuffed on fourth down!

    James Franklin just went for it on fourth-and-short at the PSU 20 and they did not get it! What a bizarre decision to go for it.

    SMU has it in great position

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:59 PM GMT+3

    TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!

    It’s ANOTHER pick-6 for Penn State! This time it’s Tony Rojas, who caught a gift of a pass from SMU’s Kevin Jennings and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown. What a nightmare start for Jennings.

    PSU 14, SMU 0

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:45 PM GMT+3

    PSU turnover on downs

    The home team was moving the ball with ease but SMU found some defensive backbone when it was most needed, forcing a fourth-and-13 and getting the ball back after a Drew Allar pass fell incomplete.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:40 PM GMT+3

    PSU gets it right back

    SMU can’t do anything with the ball on the ensuing possession and gives it back to the Nittany Lions. They’ll have it at their own 32 after a poor punt.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:33 PM GMT+3

    TOUCHDOWN PENN STATE!

    Penn State has the first points of the game on a pick-6!

    SMU QB Kevin Jennings was trying to hit his running back out of the backfield and PSU’s Dominic DeLuca came down with the ball instead before returning it 23 yards for the touchdown.

    PSU 7, SMU 0

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:21 PM GMT+3

    SMU stopped on fourth down!

    The Mustangs made it to the red zone, but their drive fizzled out there as a fourth-down pass fell incomplete. QB Kevin Jennings could’ve easily ran it and got the first down, but he opted to throw it instead.

    Penn State will take over on downs at its own 19.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:16 PM GMT+3

    SMU on the march

    The Ponies are past midfield already after a couple first downs and a pass interference penalty. They’re going uptempo early.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:14 PM GMT+3

    PSU opens with a punt

    The Nittany Lions couldn’t get anything going on their opening possession. It’s a three-and-out and a punt.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 8:11 PM GMT+3

    We are underway in Happy Valley!

    Penn State will have the ball first. The Nittany Lions are 9-point favorites in this one.

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:56 PM GMT+3

    College Football Playoff bracket picks, predictions: Who will win first 12-team playoff?

    Who will win it all in the College Football Playoff? Here's the prediction. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)Who will win it all in the College Football Playoff? Here's the prediction. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

    Click the photo to see all of our predictions. (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:40 PM GMT+3

    CFP players to watch, key to the game: Tennessee at Ohio State

    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 16: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after a reception against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field on November 16, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 16: Jeremiah Smith #4 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs with the ball after a reception against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Wrigley Field on November 16, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:33 PM GMT+3

    CFP players to watch, key to the game: Clemson at Texas

    CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 07: Phil Mafah #7 and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers high five before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 07: Phil Mafah #7 and head coach Dabo Swinney of the Clemson Tigers high five before the 2024 ACC Football Championship at Bank of America Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:25 PM GMT+3

    CFP players to watch, key to the game: SMU at Penn State

    INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 7: Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - DECEMBER 7: Nicholas Singleton #10 of the Penn State Nittany Lions runs the ball against the Oregon Ducks during the Big Ten Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:20 PM GMT+3

    Ranking the potential upsets in the first round

    COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up to take the field prior to a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up to take the field prior to a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:13 PM GMT+3

    Notre Dame’s frenzied home win proves what college football’s brass doesn’t want to hear: The postseason belongs on campus

    SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - DECEMBER 20: Jayden Thomas #83 is congratulated by Beaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Playoff First Round game at Notre Dame Stadium on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - DECEMBER 20: Jayden Thomas #83 is congratulated by Beaux Collins #5 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Playoff First Round game at Notre Dame Stadium on December 20, 2024 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:05 PM GMT+3

    Notre Dame dominates Indiana In College Football Playoff opener to set up Sugar Bowl matchup vs. Georgia

    Notre Dame players celebrate after beating Indiana 27-17 in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)Notre Dame players celebrate after beating Indiana 27-17 in the first round of the NCAA College Football Playoff, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

    Click the photo above to read the story. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Sat, December 21, 2024 at 7:01 PM GMT+3

    Good morning folks and welcome to our live tracker for the College Football Playoff Saturday games!

    We still have about an hour before the kickoff of SMU at Penn State, so here’s some reading material to catch you up on all the news from this week.

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