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College Football Playoff set: Penn State hosts SMU in opening round as 12-team field decided

Quarterback Drew Allar (15) and Penn State earned the sixth seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff. The Nittany Lions will host SMU. Associated Press

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — SMU will visit Penn State in the opening round of the College Football Playoff with the winner advancing to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Mustangs lost 34-31 to No. 13 Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game but earned the No. 11 seed as the CFP's last at-large selection over Alabama on Sunday. SMU's berth gave the ACC two teams in the 12-team playoff a year after unbeaten Florida State was left out of the four-team bracket.

Penn State earned the CFP's No. 6 seed after losing 45-37 to top-ranked Oregon in the Big Ten championship.

The game will be played at noon Dec. 21 at Beaver Stadium. It will be broadcast on TNT and streamed on MAX.

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