Penn State finally made the big time with its first appearance in the College Football Playoffs on Saturday, facing an 11-win SMU team that came a field goal shy of winning the ACC in its first year as member of the conference.

The Penn State defense, led by a career-defining effort from DeLuca, overwhelmed Southern Methodist as the Nittany Lions prevailed 38-10. DeLuca’s two interceptions in the first half, including a pick-six for the team’s first points, helped set the tone, and he added five total tackles and half a sack to boot.

Things have not gone SMU's way in the CFP first-round game on Saturday at Penn State. First, the Mustangs went for it on fourth-and-short. Kevin Jennings had a chance to run for the first down but opted to throw a pass that went for an incompletion after a hard hit

DeLuca’s performance matched the likes of fellow Nittany Lions linebackers Shane Conlan and Pete Giftopoulos, who each had two picks of Miami’s Vinny Testaverde to deliver the program’s last national championship in 1986.