Dominic DeLuca and Tony Rojas returned interceptions for touchdowns and Penn State played error-prone SMU in a 38-10 victory in the opening round of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions (12-2) took on third-seeded Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve by forcing Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings into three turnovers, including two poorly thrown floaters in the first half by DeLuca and Rojas turned into pick-sixes that sent the white crowd at wintry Beaver Stadium into a frenzy, and SMU (11-3) into one I never recovered from the funk they left.

Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen battled for points for the Nittany Lions. Drew Allar completed 13 of 22 passes for 127 yards while playing every major snap after backup Beau Pribula — who played Allar occasionally and effectively all year — entered the transfer portal earlier this week.

Jennings, whose electrifying play fueled SMU’s undefeated sprint through the ACC in the regular season, finished 20 of 36 for 195 yards with a late touchdown and three picks. He started the day by missing a wide-open tight end Matthew Hibner at the goal line to end the Mustangs’ promising first possession, and things only got worse from there.

No. 5 Texas 38, No. 12 Clemson 24

Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, the last being a 77-yard burst in the fourth quarter, and Texas defeated Clemson in the first round of the expanded College Football Playoff.

Blue’s fourth-quarter touchdown came after Clemson went from trailing 31-10 to 31-24 on Cade Klubnik’s third touchdown pass.

Texas (12-2) reached the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 and played Big 12 champion Arizona State.

Blue also scored on a cut-and-dash burst of 38 yards in the second quarter. On his second attack, he plunged into the line, shook off a tackler and then outran three more to the end zone with just 11 minutes left.

Quintrevion Wisner added 110 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the first half for Texas. Quinn Ewers passed for 202 yards and a touchdown.

No. 8 Ohio State 42, No. 9 Tennessee 17

Will Howard threw two touchdown passes to freshman Jeremiah Smith and Ohio State defeated Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, setting up a New Year’s Day rematch with No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson rushed for two touchdowns each as the Buckeyes (11-2) gave their fans an early Christmas present that should calm the outcry after a devastating fourth straight loss to Michigan three weeks ago.

Howard finished 24 for 29 for 311 yards, his second 300-yard game of the season. Smith had six catches for 103 yards, becoming the sixth rookie to have over 100 receiving yards in a CFP game.

Eighth-seeded Ohio State scored on its first three drives while also forcing three straight Tennessee punts. The ninth-seeded Vols (10-3) finally got into the game with a field goal and a touchdown in the second quarter, but were unable to generate anything in the second half until throwing a meaningless touchdown late in the game.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was 14 for 31 for 104 yards and gained 20 more yards for 47 more yards.