Penn State football announces availability, injuries for historic playoff matchup

Penn State football is hours away from history as the Nittany Lions prepare to take the field against SMU in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.

On Saturday morning, the Nittany Lions released the team’s availability report mandated before each game by the Big Ten. There aren’t too many surprises on the list after the program had an extra week’s rest between Saturday and the conference championship game at the beginning of the month.

Beyond the names who have been on the list for weeks, Penn State added freshman receiver Tyseer Denmark to the list of players ruled as out, while defensive backs Elliot Washington and Tyrece Mills are both labeled as questionable. 

OUT:

• KJ Winston, S
• Tyseer Denmark, WR
• Kaden Saunders, WR
• Cam Wallace, RB
• Keon Wylie, LB
• Zuriah Fisher, DE
• Andrew Rappleyea, TE
• Anthony Donkoh, RT
• Alonzo Ford, DT
• Kaleb Artis, DT

QUESTIONABLE:

• Elliot Washington, CB
• Tyrece Mills, S

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© Chris Eutsler / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

Perhaps the most significant impact injuries may have on Saturday’s playoff matchup comes from a name not listed on the Nittany Lions’ report.

With Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal last Sunday, Penn State football has only one quarterback on its roster behind Drew Allar with any in-game experience. Jaxon Smolik has not taken a snap since September 9, 2023. Recovering from a lower leg injury during the spring, the redshirt freshman has been cleared for practice but not game action.

Instead, Ethan Grunkemeyer will back up Allar against the Mustangs. Yet to make his college debut, the true freshman will likely not see the field during the postseason unless absolutely necessary.

“We don’t have a third option right now,” James Franklin said of the Nittany Lions options at quarterback after Grunkemeyer.

Penn State football and SMU will kick off in the first round of the College Football Playoff at noon. The game can be found on TV on TNT and streamed via Max.

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