SMU vs. Penn State: How to watch the NCAA Football this weekend, kickoff time, channel and more

Though Penn State is still recovering from their loss in the Big Ten Championship game against the Oregon Ducks, they’re heading into the College Football Playoff with a home field advantage when they take on the SMU Mustangs this Saturday. The Nittany Lions last played Mustangs, who are also recovering from their Atlantic Coast Conference championship loss to Clemson, in 1978. The game is one of four first-round pairings going down this weekend in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the SMU vs. Penn State game, and keep up with live, game-day updates here.

How to watch the SMU vs. Penn State game on Saturday:

Date: Saturday, December 21

Time: 12 p.m. ET

TV channel: TNT

Streaming: Max, DirecTV, Fubo, Hulu with Live TV and more

Where to watch the SMU vs. Penn State game on TV:

This week’s game between SMU and Penn State will air live on TNT at 12 p.m. ET.

Where to watch the SMU vs. Penn State game without cable:

TNT, which is broadcasting this week’s game between SMU and Penn State, is available on several streaming platforms including DirecTV and Hulu with Live TV. You can also stream games on TNT with a subscription to Max.

DIRECTV has the channels you need to watch college sports, including this weekend’s College Football Playoff game between SMU and Penn State, live. The platform offers access to channels like TNT, ABC, ESPN, FOX Sports, NBA TV & 40+ regional sports networks, making it one of the most comprehensive places to watch sports. After a free trial, packages start at $74.99/month. 

Try free at DirecTV

Max has been “the one to watch” for entertainment fans for quite some time, but now it’s got sports fans covered, too. For an unspecified limited time, Max subscribers can get the new B/R Sports add-on totally free. That means you can watch every game that’s broadcast on TBS, TNT, and truTV with your Max subscription! 

$9.99/month at Max

2024 NCAAF Schedule This Week:

All times Eastern

Tuesday, Dec. 17

No. 25 Memphis vs. West Virginia (Frisco Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Wednesday, Dec. 18

James Madison vs. Western Kentucky (Boca Raton Bowl) | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN

No. 24 UNLV vs. Cal (LA Bowl) | 9 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, Dec. 19

Sam Houston vs. Georgia Southern (New Orleans Bowl) | 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Friday, Dec. 20

Ohio vs. Jacksonville State (Cure Bowl) | 12 p.m. | ESPN

Florida vs. Tulane (Gasparilla Bowl) | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN

No. 8 Indiana at No. 5 Notre Dame (College Football Playoff first round) | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

Saturday, Dec. 21

No. 10 SMU at No. 4 Penn State (College Football Playoff first round) | 12 p.m. | TNT/MAX

UC Davis/South Dakota vs. Idaho/Montana State (FCS semifinals) | 12 or 3:30 p.m. | ABC

UIW/South Dakota State vs. Mercer/North Dakota State (FCS semifinals) | 12 or 3:30 p.m. | ABC

TBD vs. TBD (DII championship game in McKinney, TX) | 2 p.m. | ESPN2

No. 16 Clemson at No. 3 Texas (College Football Playoff first round) | 4 p.m. | TNT/MAX

No. 7 Tennessee at No. 6 Ohio State (College Football Playoff first round) | 8 p.m. | ABC/ESPN

TBD vs. TBD (DIII semifinals) | TBA | ESPN+

TBD vs. TBD (DIII semifinals) | TBA | ESPN+

Monday, Dec. 23

Coastal Carolina vs. UTSA (Myrtle Beach Bowl) | 11 a.m. | ESPN

Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN

How to watch NCAAF games in 2024:

NCAA football games air across a wide range of channels, from common cable networks including the full ESPN suite (that’s ESPN2 and ESPNU too), Fox and FS1, ABC, NBC and CBS, to CBSSN, Big Ten Network, SEC Network, ACC Network and more.

Overwhelmed? You’re not alone. Here’s a breakdown of the platforms we recommend checking out ahead of the 2024 NCAA football season, so that come game time, tuning into your favorite team’s games will be as easy as simply turning on the TV….

(DirecTV)

DirecTV Stream’s Choice tier (currently $105.98/month with fees) gets you access to all the usual football suspects: NFL Network, ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox. Plus the Choice tier will get you CBSSN, FS1, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and plenty of local RSNs. The best part is, currently you can try all this out for free. So if you’re interested in trying out a live TV streaming service for football season, but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV Stream.

You’ll also get unlimited Cloud DVR storage included in whatever DirecTV package you choose.

Pros

• Full package free trial available
• Many local RSNs included
• Unlimited Cloud DVR

Cons

• Cost
• ABC and ESPN currently not included

Try free at DirecTV

(Fubo)

Fubo TV gives you access to ESPN, Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC and 100+ more live channels. Starting at $80/month, the live TV streaming service is definitely pricey (but certainly not the most expensive option on this list), but offers nearly every channel you’ll need to watch both the NCAA football season and the 2024 NFL season. Fubo subscribers also get unlimited cloud DVR storage. Right now get $30 off your first month of any Fubo tier. 

Pros

• Unlimited cloud DVR storage

Cons

• Cost
• TNT/TBS not available

$50 for your first month at Fubo