The SMU Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions kick off the first Saturday edition of the 12-team College Football Playoffs. With the Nittany Lions hosting the Mustangs in a ‘whiteout game’ midway through December, weeks after the transfer portal opened, it’s fair to wonder if each team will actually be at full strength.
Top SMU Players Not Playing in College Football Playoffs
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Mustangs won’t be in action in the playoffs.
SMU should be at full strength from their end-of-season form, just look past the fact that they lost their starting quarterback from the first three weeks of the season.
- Omari Abor, EDGE (transfer portal)
- Preston Stone, QB (transfer portal)
- Jahari Rogers, CB (transfer portal)
Of note, however, is the fact that neither three players who have entered the transfer portal have signed or even committed elsewhere. As we’ve seen from around the country so far this season, those players who have not committed may still choose to compete with their team in the postseason.
For SMU, however, their portal athletes haven’t been the biggest contributors to their 2024 season success. Stone started the first three games but was historically pulled in favor of Kevin Jennings. He’ll be a coveted athlete in the portal but the Mustangs clearly fared much better without him in their lineup in favor of Jennings.
Abor and Rogers combined for just five total tackles this season as depth players on the defense.
Top Penn State Players Not Playing in College Football Playoffs
Thanks to the CFN Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker, we know which players from the Nittany Lions won’t be in action in the playoffs.
Just like SMU’s list, the Penn State list of players in the portal aren’t as noteworthy as some other postseason games have been.
- Beau Pribula, QB (transfer portal)
- T.A. Cunningham, DL (transfer portal)
- Feyisayo Oluleye, WR (transfer portal)
Yes, Beau Pribula stepped up earlier in the season to help out, but Drew Allar is the man for this PSU team this year and, apparently, next season. Elsewhere, Oluleye nor Cunningham registered any statistics for the Nittany Lions this season.
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