Desperate SMU fans call for backup quarterback after disastrous first half at Beaver Stadium

Penn State jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first half of its first-round College Football Playoff matchup with SMU, and the Nittany Lions did it without reaching the red zone offensively and only crossing midfield once. The Penn State defense has done all the scoring, interception SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings three times and returning two for scores. 

SMU’s first offensive drive stalled on fourth-and-1 from the Penn State 19-yard line when Jennings missed a wide-open receiver in the end zone. After a Penn State punt, Jennings threw a 23-yard pick-six to linebacker Dominic DeLuca, and two possesions later an errant pass found its way into linebacker Tony Rojas’s hands and the sophomore returned it 59 yards for another score. 

That disastrous start led desperate SMU fans to call for backup QB Preston Stone to enter the game. 

Like Penn State backup QB Beau Pribula, Stone is in the transfer portal, though, unlike Pribula, Stone is dressed and available to play at Beaver Stadium. Pribula decided to depart the team after entering his name into the portal to search for a starting job next season. 

James Franklin even opened the door to Jennings and SMU, with a failed fourth-down attempt from his team’s own 19-yard line, but Jennings took that opportunity and again, gave it away. While the Nittany Lions didn’t return their third interception, again courtesy of DeLuca, for a touchdown, they did parlay it into a nine-play 75-yard touchdown drive and a 21-point lead. 

Jennings returned to the field for the end of the first half, nearly fumbling the ball away on the ensuing possession, though it was overturned by replay. His nightmare first half will only intensify calls for Stone, who began the year as SMU’s starter after throwing for 3,000 yards in 2023.