The inaugural 12-team School Soccer Playoff welcomed extra groups into the hunt for the nationwide championship, and the brand new format has separated the pretenders from the contenders.
Six-seed Penn State was a type of contenders that despatched ACC runner-up SMU (11-seed) packing in a 38-10 thumping.
Listed below are some takeaways from what was principally a non-competitive matchup:
Penn State virtually superior to the CFP semifinals
Given how the bracket is laid out, Penn State advances to play the three-seed Boise State within the Fiesta Bowl. So, the Nittany Lions will play two groups that have been within the Group of 5 only a season in the past.
Boise State is an efficient workforce, Mountain West champions at 12-1, however with the standard of play Penn State put forth in smothering SMU, the Broncos’ possibilities look slimmer than ever. The luck of the draw has given head coach James Franklin the best path to the CFP semifinals, which is not his fault, however that is the truth, and his workforce ought to benefit from it.
The sport was boring however essential to weed out pretenders
Some followers might complain the first-round matchup, like Friday’s Indiana-Notre Dame sport, was much less entertaining than earlier editions of the School Soccer Playoff. Nevertheless, regardless of the dearth of dramatics, this primary spherical was essential to shed the non-contenders from the sector.
SMU had a nasty day, particularly with quarterback Kevin Jennings throwing two first-half pick-sixes, and Penn State took benefit of that. Similar to within the NCAA basketball event, some early blowouts are to be anticipated.
Was SMU deserving of a spot within the CFP?
Talking of early-round blowouts, Saturday’s end result compounded on-line discourse over 9-3 Alabama’s exclusion from the 12-team discipline. Nevertheless, SMU was fully deserving of a spot within the bracket at 11-2 as a result of it fought ACC champion Clemson to the final second and impressed all through the common season.
A 3-loss workforce, no matter convention affiliation, continues to be a three-loss workforce and never playoff-caliber. Regardless of the end result, SMU was a playoff workforce and earned its method to having an opportunity at advancing towards a nationwide title.
Penn State’s protection is nationwide championship-caliber
Even with a straightforward path, any workforce that has to face the Nittany Lion protection must be very fearful. With the No. 6 protection within the FBS and a +4 turnover margin getting into Saturday, Penn State is a power to be reckoned with.
SMU realized that the arduous means with three interceptions and struggling mightily to maneuver the ball on offense. Solely mustering 10 factors (Penn State averages 16.4 allowed per sport) was a transparent suffocation by the Nittany Lions, they usually’ll have their hardest take a look at but towards Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty and Boise State within the semifinals.
Residence-field benefit was a major issue Saturday and the suitable resolution within the CFP format
The gang at Beaver Stadium in Glad Valley was an enormous consider SMU’s failure to place up any type of a struggle. Jennings clearly could not hear the play calls, placing his palms as much as his ears a number of occasions, and that undoubtedly affected his execution.
Whereas the present CFP format might have its issues, beginning the event with 4 first-round video games hosted on-campus was the very best resolution made. Groups incomes home-field benefit ought to have that chance to dominate, and if the guests are true contenders, they will discover a method to overcome the adversity.
